Apple buys Dark Sky and that’s bad news for Android users
If you have dabbled in weather apps on your smartphone over the span of recent years, chances are that you must be aware of an incredibly beloved weather app Dark Sky. This hyperlocal app has been a massive hit on both iOS and Google Play stores.
Dark Sky started its life on iOS and arrived under the umbrella of Android in 2016. It has now been snapped up by the larger fish Apple. The company announced its acquisition by the tech giant Apple on Tuesday.
“Our goal has always been to provide the world with the best weather information possible, to help as many people as we can stay dry and safe, and to do so in a way that respects your privacy,” Dark Sky co-founder Adam Grossman writes in the post. “There is no better place to accomplish these goals than at Apple. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to reach far more people, with far more impact, than we ever could alone.” The company disclosed in a blogpost.
As Dark Sky will head on to Apple, it will now be called as “Dark Sky by Apple”. As exciting as the news seems to be, it is leaving its Android users high and dry. According to the official memo, the weather app Dark Sky is relatively not changing on iOS at this time. It has the same outlook for Apple stores and other music switch platforms.
For iOS users, it is available to buy right now for $3.99. But, the app is shutting down for Android users. Dark Sky Android and wear OS apps’ users won’t be able to download it anymore. If you have already installed the app on Android platforms, you’ll only be able to use them until July 1st before the sun has completely set for Android users.
The note says: “The app will no longer be available for download. Service to existing users and subscribers will continue until July 1, 2020, at which point the app will be shut down. Subscribers who are still active at that time will receive a refund.”
Dark Sky’s API will keep on working “through the end of 2021,” yet Grossman says Dark Sky won’t be accepting new sign-ups to use the API. This implies that, inevitably, third party applications won’t have the option to utilize Dark Sky’s weather data in their own apps.
The website of Dark Sky will have the option to see weather forecasts, maps, and other information regarding weather until July first. The site will keep up after that date “for the support of API and iOS App users only.” So, now we have to wait and watch! How the dark sky initiates a life in its new home.
