Apple has bought weather app Dark Sky, which is highly regarded for its radar maps and accuracy of its hyperlocal, by-the-minute weather predictions. It'll still be available on the iOS App Store, as you might expect, and will be shutting down the Dark Sky Android and Wear OS apps in 1 July, Dark Sky announced in a blog post today.
"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," the Dark Sky team wrote in a blog 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."
Dark Sky's forecasts, maps and embeds will keep working on the web until July 1st. The website will stay online after then "in support of API and iOS App customers." As for the API, it'll remain active until the end of next year, but Dark Sky won't let anyone else sign up.
There aren’t any changes coming to Dark Sky for iOS “at this time,” and you can still buy it on the App Store right now for $3.99. But you won’t be able to download the Android and Wear OS apps anymore, and if you already have them, you’ll only be able to use them until July 1st before they’re entirely shut down. If you still have an active subscription by that date, you’ll receive a refund, according to Grossman.
It seems likely Apple will use Dark Sky's know how to bolster its own Weather app. Apple has used data from Yahoo and The Weather Channel to power the app over the years.
You’ll also only be able to view weather forecasts, maps, and embeds on Dark Sky’s website until July 1st. The website will stay up after that date “in support of API and iOS App customers.”
Dark Sky’s branding on its website has already been updated to “Dark Sky by Apple.”
