Apple-Acquired Weather App Dark Sky Reminding Users That iOS App Shutting Down on January 1

[Agilis]

That’s to report an issue with the prediction accuracy of the weather. Not to alert everyone in the area that it started raining. Raining isn’t an issue unless it’s predicted to be sunny.

Do you honestly think Dark Sky worked/behaved that way? Because I sure don't. Dark Sky did not notify users in the area. If it truly worked like you described there would be so many implications of intended and unintended abuse.

 

[VulchR]

Do you honestly think Dark Sky worked/behaved that way? Because I sure don't. Dark Sky did not notify users in the area. If it truly worked like you described there would be so many implications of intended and unintended abuse.

Agreed. I am almost certain the user reports were used to train machine algorithms to use weather data inputs to make more accurate predictions. Crowdsourcing knowledge and encapsulating it with numbers... we live in an amazing age.

 

[gaximus]

Do you honestly think Dark Sky worked/behaved that way? Because I sure don't. Dark Sky did not notify users in the area. If it truly worked like you described there would be so many implications of intended and unintended abuse.

I don't think it was an instant direct alert if one person reported it raining in an area, but it definitely had crowd sourced data. Here is an article that explains it (kinda), it's an old article, but should still be relevant. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/dark-sky-for-iphone

 

[richie510]

You seem educated on this subject. Is it true that since acquisition the accuracy hs gone down? Or has Apple improved this service?

The fact developers can use the API still, tells me this is another "greedy Apple" debunked.

I don't have any details on the accuracy, and I have no way to even understand how to test this...

 

[Agilis]

I don't think it was an instant direct alert if one person reported it raining in an area, but it definitely had crowd sourced data. Here is an article that explains it (kinda), it's an old article, but should still be relevant. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/dark-sky-for-iphone

Thanks for that info! So I would venture to guess that Apple’s “Report an issue” is attempting to do the same thing. It’s been available in Apple’s weather app prior to iOS 16. Have you tried it yet?

I’d also assume that Apple is automatically submitting barometric pressure readings (atmospheric pressure) from the iPhone’s barometer to help gauge current weather.

That all would be considered crowd-sourced data.

 

[GadgetBen]

This is what frustrates me the most with Apple and their Weather app, you give them fine tuned location data and their UI is to give you the precipitation for the whole of Europe 🤦🏼‍♂️

Apple still haven’t grasped the point of Dark Sky, we want LOCAL precipitation data as the macro image! The main bloody point of Dark Sky was to let us know when it’s going to rain and track the movement of rain locally over the day!

 

[dwaite]

Isn't that for bugs rather than weather reports?

“Report an issue” is never for bugs.

 

[TwoBytes]

I use WeatherPro. It shows total sun per day in hours which is fantastic for planning outside coffees, etc and rain per hour..for the same reason

 

[BeatsBeats]

I don't have any details on the accuracy, and I have no way to even understand how to test this...

Yeah I have no idea how people are coming to this (accuracy) conclusion, must be all opinion-based.

 

[BeatsBeats]

View attachment 2068946

This is what frustrates me the most with Apple and their Weather app, you give them fine tuned location data and their UI is to give you the precipitation for the whole of Europe 🤦🏼‍♂️

Apple still haven’t grasped the point of Dark Sky, we want LOCAL precipitation data as the macro image! The main bloody point of Dark Sky was to let us know when it’s going to rain and track the movement of rain locally over the day!

Email Apple about this. They actually read emails.

 

[Scott H]

I purchased Dark Sky for my iPad as the iPad has not had a weather app. Now Apple is killing off Dark Sky and I still will not have a weather app as my iPad will not run iOS 16. My iPad is at end of life on iOS 15.7. Killing off Dark Sky so quickly was poorly thought out, thanks Apple!

 

[testcard]

Carrot might be worth considering - works with iPadOS 13 and later.

 

[SheldonMPLS]

Apple weather is missing a lot that I depend on Dark Sky for. I bike a lot and rely on the hourly forecast for wind, wind speed and wind gusts. That all seems to be missing on Apple Weather--especially the hourly wind gust forecast a day or week in advance.