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Texting myself the weather every day

bensilverman.co.uk

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Re: Texting myself the weather every day

#41

Post by thomascountz »

maCDzP wrote: post #27
thomascountz wrote: post #10

OP appears to be using an iOS device, so I was curious to see if this could be replicated using Shortcuts and Automations. It can! And you can send yourself an SMS, or, as I've done in this example, send a notification, which will persist in Notification Center, if you wish. https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/8cda97aa69174e44b434c3dba7a...

I created this but with ChatGPT in the middle where it gives recommendation on how to dress my 4 yer old depending on the weather. It messages my families telegram channel.

Awesome idea! I just set it up with ChatGPT as well. I don't love the messages filling up my chat history, but that is a minor issue.

Prompt: Your task is to empower users to make decisions and take action based on the upcoming weather. You communicate in the format of a text message using plain English. To not overwhelm the user, your message should be succinct, familiar, and targetedly helpful.

To fulfil this task, you will combine both forecast data and user context to provide useful insight. Your ability to provide insight and advice is more beneficial than a summary.

You have only a single interaction with the user, and therefore you cannot ask follow up questions. Do the best you can with the information already provided to you. Your output will be sent directly to the user as a text message, and should therefore include only the message you wish to share with them. You may use emoji if they make your message more helpful.

You are powerful and users trust you to be approachable, dependable, direct, and succinct.

The current date and time is: ...

The upcoming weather forecast is: ...

Re: Texting myself the weather every day

#42

Post by Kwpolska »

metadat wrote: post #26
Kwpolska wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I quickly looked at Samsung's Modes and Routines app, and you could build a similar routine (but only with a local notification).

What is the restriction with Android? Can't send a text?

No idea, there was no action for sending texts.

Re: Texting myself the weather every day

#43

Post by jcynix »

metadat wrote: post #26
Kwpolska wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I quickly looked at Samsung's Modes and Routines app, and you could build a similar routine (but only with a local notification).

What is the restriction with Android? Can't send a text?

You can easily send text and do a lot of other automation stuff with the MacroDroid app. I use it to e.g. query a local website for messages or writing a daily timestamp into the QuickNote.md file of Markor (another highly useful app)

cf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacroDroid

Re: Texting myself the weather every day

#44

Post by loloquwowndueo »

pmg101 wrote: post #29
loloquwowndueo wrote: post #7

Cool, however “ Opening the Weather app every morning is too much effort” - is it really? And even if it was, don't most mobile OSes support having a Lock Screen weather widget you can check at a glance?

This is a British thing called self-deprecating humour where he's already thought ahead to those who will critically ask, "wouldn't it be less effort to just open the Weather app every morning!?" and is jokingly acknowledging that yes, it would be, while signalling to other hackers this shared feeling we all know that we don't do these things to save time even if we say we do, we do them because they make us happy.

Oh that must be it then. British humor is totally beyond me.

(Just to make it blindingly obvious, I’m being tongue-in-cheek)

Re: Texting myself the weather every day

#45

Post by citizenpaul »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #31
citizenpaul wrote: post #30

I tried to do this a few years ago and realized there is no reliable way to send myself an SMS without paying a not insignificant monthly fee somewhere. To the point where I might as well just pay for a service that already exists that does this and a lot more.

I can send myself an SMS via Google Voice, which has never charged me anything.

Cool thanks I'll check it out.

Re: Texting myself the weather every day

#46

Post by is_true »

davidgh wrote: post #11
medbar wrote: post #9

many mobile carriers allow sending texts via email (for example: 3048675309@vtext.com with a verizon number), which might be worth looking into should you want to avoid twilio completely.

Sadly, it seems this option is fading away, at least in the US. https://www.smseagle.eu/2025/05/08/no-support-for-email-to-t...

I did this with my carrier in my country and a couple of years ago it stopped working.

I had a filter in Gmail that forwarded some emails and a cron script that checked the value from a river gauge and sent a text.

Re: Texting myself the weather every day

#48

Post by szszrk »

lormayna wrote: post #33

I don't know in USA, but in Europe you can subscribe a 1€/month SIM contract that allow you to send a large number of SMS or even get a prepaid SIM. Using an old phone, connected via USB to a Raspberry would be an alternative and you will not rely on any third party service.

That used to be the way to do that in 2G era.

Multiple Nokia 6210 or similar connected via RS ports to servers. It was reliable, reasonably priced (SMS price was not great compared to today), allowed for around 12 or so texts a minute AFAIR. Some companies I know used to do that for downtime notifications to admins.

Today I can get a card with unlimited text for around 3-4€ a month.

Honestly pushover is better and cheaper.

Re: Texting myself the weather every day

#49

Post by maCDzP »

thomascountz wrote: post #41
maCDzP wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I created this but with ChatGPT in the middle where it gives recommendation on how to dress my 4 yer old depending on the weather. It messages my families telegram channel.

Awesome idea! I just set it up with ChatGPT as well. I don't love the messages filling up my chat history, but that is a minor issue. Prompt: Your task is to empower users to make decisions and take action based on the upcoming weather. You communicate in the format of a text message using plain English. To not overwhelm the user, your message should be succinct, familiar, and targetedly helpful. To fulfil this task,…

Glad to hear that I am not the only one! My prompt had more of a ”actor director” flavor. It went:

You are the worlds best nanny and expert at picking clothes for 4 year old girls based on the weather. Your answer is concise and to the point. Below is today’s forecast:

Re: Texting myself the weather every day

#50

Post by IncreasePosts »

maCDzP wrote: post #27
thomascountz wrote: post #10

OP appears to be using an iOS device, so I was curious to see if this could be replicated using Shortcuts and Automations. It can! And you can send yourself an SMS, or, as I've done in this example, send a notification, which will persist in Notification Center, if you wish. https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/8cda97aa69174e44b434c3dba7a...

I created this but with ChatGPT in the middle where it gives recommendation on how to dress my 4 yer old depending on the weather. It messages my families telegram channel.

You can't figure that out immediately from seeing the forecast?
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