Forecast at your fingertips

You don't have to go online or watch the Weather Channel to plan your next day trip. The Weather Watcher by Cambridge-based Ambient uses up-to-the-minute data from AccuWeather -- the same information your local meteorologists use -- to give you your own five-day forecast whenever you need it, wherever you are in the United States. It doesn't use outdoor sensors or computer downloads (the data is transmitted by satellite) , and it automatically sets the time and recognizes your location as soon as you pop in two AAA batteries, displaying the weather conditions for five nearby cities using easy-to-see icons. The regional forecast is free; for $6.95 a month (or $19.95 for three months) , you can customize your device to show information for any big city in the world. The Weather Watcher costs $85 at Brookstone stores, online at brookstone.com,and through their catalog (866-576-7337). For more information, go toambientdevices.com or call 866-311-1999.