Dark Sky

There have been quite a few takeovers and acquisitions in the tech world in recent months. Furthermore, there have also been several bans and issues arising out of socio-political complications leading to apps having limited accessibility. Adding to that list is a popular app used to check on weather conditions, Dark Sky. Apple acquired the app earlier this year, announcing it would take the app off the Android platform, and did so recently. Here’s a look at the popular weather app that Android users will no longer have access to in the future. 

Apple’s Acquisition

The iPhone maker acquired the weather app sometime in March this year, deciding to make it unavailable for Android users. Though the initial plan was to take it off the market in July, the decision was later delayed by a month. However, recently users realised that the app had been removed from the Android platform. The shutdown has been put into motion, making the app officially discontinued, and inaccessible to Android users. Also, users who had paid and subscribed for the services will receive full refunds as per reports. All the Wear-enabled and Android apps shut down on August 1, 2020. 

iOS Platforms Stay Active

However, the app’s services will remain unaffected on iOS platforms. They will still be able to install and use the app, and its complete functionality as before via the iOS App Store. However, when Apple acquired Dark Sky, they stated that the API for the app would only function until 2021. The report said that the company would not be accepting new signups after that period. According to an official weblog summit right after the acquisition, Adam Grossman, who serves as a co-founder of Dark Sky, stated that it would continue to provide top-notch services. The app aims to provide accurate and reliable information regarding the weather. He said that Dark Sky worked to help as many people as possible while respecting user privacy. The company was excited to begin their association with Apple, and Grossman stated that they were hoping to reach out to more people in a larger way. 

Delayed Removal

However, while the weather app went off Android only in August, it was supposed to leave much earlier. The app kept its doors open on the other platforms longer than initially planned. While the initial plan was to shut down operations by early July, the company moved the removal ahead by a month to August. However, the apps were taken off the Playstore in July, meaning that only users who had it installed could keep using it for an extra month, as per 9to5Google.

Refund Alert

The company has also clarified that users who had paid for services beyond August will receive full refunds. Dark Sky used to charge Android users $2.99 annually to access their full functionality. Meanwhile, iOS users have to pay only $3.99 at the time of purchase to access the app’s services. Furthermore, Dark Sky will remove maps, weather forecasts, and other embeds from their official website in August as well. However, the Dark Sky API will remain active until the end of 2021. But, the company no longer accepts new signups, resulting in third-party apps being cut off from the app’s data soon enough. 

Unfortunate Takeovers

The case, in many ways, is similar to how Amazon acquired Eero last year. Many experts were apprehensive of how a large tech-company taking over such small independent companies would affect the tech scene. A lot of people support such small companies as they run independently. However, these users are left worried about what the tech giant plans to do to the product they love and use. With Apple and Dark Sky, the acquisition has led to the app being no longer available to Android users. Users loved dark Sky as it gave them hyper-local and reliable weather forecasts that were very accurate and up-to-date.

Furthermore, users also did not have to worry about whether their data was being sold or transferred. The news is even more painful as the same fate had befallen another beloved weather app called Weather Timeline a year ago. The app was bought by a company that has a history of selling data, leaving fans discouraged. Furthermore, all the other apps that use Dark Sky’s APIs will also have to look for other weather data sources. While Android users are angry, they can no longer use this great app, the silver line here is that at least the service will remain active on iOS. Also, experts are curious to see what Apple plans to do with the Dark Sky API. We will have to wait and see whether the tech giant will incorporate it into their unique weather app or offer it as a secondary service on a monthly subscription model.

Athulya

Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.