Apple has acquired the popular weather app Dark Sky.
The app is one of the most popular on the App Store, offering a stunning user interface, superior accuracy and storm warnings around the world, as well as hyperlocal reporting.
Dark Sky’s developers shared the news in a blog post yesterday (March 31), revealing that the app had been acquired by Apple and hinting that Dark Sky would be folded into the iOS weather app in a future release, perhaps as soon as iOS 14, which will be revealed in June.
“Today we have some important and exciting news to share: Dark Sky has joined Apple,” the developers said in a press release.
“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.”
“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.”
Though Dark Sky will continue to offer an iOS app for the time being, the company has confirmed that Apple will shutter its Android and WearOS apps immediately, and they will no longer work from July 1, 2020.
Those who subscribe to the app will be fully refunded.
The Dark Sky website will continue to operate until July 1, 2020, and the API will work through the end of 2021, giving independent app and web developers chance to find an alternative.
Apple’s exact plans for the application remain to be seen, but as the company looks to boost the number of new features included in iOS updates, it is clear that Dark Sky will eventually be folded into the company’s native offering, and perhaps even sold via APIs to third parties.
What are your thoughts on the app? Do you think Apple has made the right decision? Let us know and check back soon for more news and rumors on everything Apple, every week.
