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Apple-Acquired Dark Sky Officially Shuts Down Android App
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This is strange - doesn‘t Apple try to build app services like TV+, Arcade, Music - and now they buy an app with a huge consumer base and a weather service and they shut it down.
Doesn‘t Apple understand that services are always multiplattform?
Doesn‘t Apple understand that services are always multiplattform?
If you live in the UK this is one of the best Weather Apps as the weather here is very variable. It can be glorious sunshine one minute then raining a few minutes later. Dark Sky can show you a forecast over the next hour specific to your location. It is surprising accurate when is says rain starting in 15 minutes for example.
Becausw there's a lack of weather apps on Android.... 😅
This particular purchase might be more for 1st party app development.
Apple frequently buys 3rd party apps for 1st party app development. Even iTunes. It was originally soundjam, then Apple bought it.
It could happen. Their map api is open to other platforms as well. Perhaps they are integrating the API into their developer platform, with associated keys etc and then make it available again for other applications.
If it was me I wouldn’t keep it running in an non integrated way either.
It is the opposite. Apple removed themselves from the Android market making it easier for the small guys there.
I've used Dark Sky in the UK for the last few years. By far the most accurate for local, next hour weather predictions - rainfall down to minute accuracy. They slightly changed the interface a year or so back to add more features but, by and large it has just got better at allowing the user to access current information quickly. I really hope that Apple don't try and "improve" this to the point where it looks a lot prettier but has most of the features hidden away and difficult to find. My experience of Apple over the last 20+ years have shown be that they prefer clean interface design rather than functional. I'm all for clever designers finding a way to achieve both but if not then PLEASE let the functionality show through. I have to say I'm worried about the future of Dark Sky but we'll see.
it wasn’t shut down early it was delayed by another month. So android users got an extra month plus a refund for active users.
If they do take over the world, I hope they start building Apple spaceships. I would love to zip around the galaxy using my iPad Pro to control navigation. Knowing Apple, it will not come with a Q36 Immodium Space Modulator. One might come in handy on Mars, should aliens try to kill me. I will have to order directly from Acme.
I hope Apple don't stop Dark Sky app for iOS before they add in their weather app cos I use it everyday here UK and unfortunately at moment Apple only add Dark Sky info for USA in their weather app. It is best weather app I ever used and rain so accurate here. I can prepare better for rain and decide bring jacket/coat or not.
The world is a lot more than just the US, contrary to popular belief.
Is it your approach to intelligent debate?
The point is that Apple’s own software should be at least functional.
Single developer third-party widgets are more functional at the moment than something that Apple owns - with tens of thousands of developers working for them!!
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Not that I would have done anything different being offered a bag full of money, but they are sell outs and screwed over a loyal fan bass I am sure... Again, being offered a bag full of money from Apple, hard to argue against that, screw the little people!
It is massively overrated with an interface that requires to much clicking to see each weather measurement (temp, wind, humidity, etc).
This is bad new for everyone, except I guess the owners of Dark Sky. Competition is good, choice is good, and this is precisely the opposite of those. And it just makes Apple look grubby, rude, and bullying.
Contrast to Microsoft who bought MoJang years back but have kept supporting Minecraft on every platform.
Contrast to Microsoft who bought MoJang years back but have kept supporting Minecraft on every platform.
Well... that's divided among literally hundreds or even thousands of companies. Certainly you're not that out of touch.
Looks like a really nice app. Not gonna pay $4 for it though, given how predictable and boring our weather is here. Would be curious how accurate it’s rainfall forecasts are, as Weather Channel and Accuweather are abysmally wrong every time... but then again when we go four months without rain all the time I guess it’s kinda hard for the models to ‘learn’ much.
Bummer about the Android app. I was hoping they'd come around to keeping the Android app after a while. Most iOS'ers don't know the Android app is actually a subscription based App (iOS version is a one time buy) - so it was quite likely they were making good money with it. iOS is my main driver, but my work phone is an Android and has it on it.
I think the short term precipitation projections are the cool thing for it. Besides hourly forecast for the next 24, it gives an expanded 60 minute precipitation forecast showing the intensity of expected rain etc. with the start of that precipitation (minutes ahead) and more often than not (for me here in the U.S. midwest) the projected time is spot on. i.e. Showing rain in 15 mins and it starts then (or 10 or 5 or 30, whatever, its very cool that way) now its weather of course so its not always spot on, but its pretty cool.
I think the short term precipitation projections are the cool thing for it. Besides hourly forecast for the next 24, it gives an expanded 60 minute precipitation forecast showing the intensity of expected rain etc. with the start of that precipitation (minutes ahead) and more often than not (for me here in the U.S. midwest) the projected time is spot on. i.e. Showing rain in 15 mins and it starts then (or 10 or 5 or 30, whatever, its very cool that way) now its weather of course so its not always spot on, but its pretty cool.
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