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Dark Sky iOS app will no longer work from Dec 31

blog.darksky.net

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Re: Dark Sky iOS app will no longer work from Dec 31

#41

Post by cryptoz »

Does anyone know if Apple is actively using the barometer data from iPhones to work on improving weather forecast accuracy? Dark Sky claimed they were doing this but offered no information about it, so I am skeptical that they actually did work on this.

AFAIK they were not weather nerds / atmospheric scientists, and did not work with researchers on the use of the data, or do any work on statistical verification to know if their barometer data was helping or not, so I expect that they just collected some data but didn't use it.

But Apple could be in a prime position to use the barometers to make weather forecast accuracy improvements.

Google too, of course, but AFAIK they are not working on this.

Re: Dark Sky iOS app will no longer work from Dec 31

#42

Post by aaomidi »

WaitWaitWha wrote: post #37

I had home automation based on Dark Sky API. Sad to see it go. (mental note: make sure there are always alternate solutions and manual over-rides for external resources.)

They will have a REST api again.

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/weatherkitrestapi

Re: Dark Sky iOS app will no longer work from Dec 31

#43

Post by jamesdf »

WaitWaitWha wrote: post #37

I had home automation based on Dark Sky API. Sad to see it go. (mental note: make sure there are always alternate solutions and manual over-rides for external resources.)

The API is replaced by https://developer.apple.com/documentation/weatherkitrestapi which is available as a REST API and can be used on non-Apple platforms.

Re: Dark Sky iOS app will no longer work from Dec 31

#44

Post by sklargh »

arh68 wrote: post #28
morley wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've used the weather.gov site for the last ~5 years, and it has been great. I bookmark both the 7-day local forecast[1] and the hourly dashboard[2]. [1] https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=40.71234500000... [2] https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w3u=1&w5=pop&...

Along these lines, I also really like the Aviation Radar maps [1] https://aviationweather.gov/radar/plot?region=alb (feel free to change, in the top left, Type = Comp Ref, and to Loop)

https://nasstatus.faa.gov - will give you exceptionally accurate information about flight delays unrelated to your aircraft. wx & airspace.

Re: Dark Sky iOS app will no longer work from Dec 31

#45

Post by OGWhales »

nazgul17 wrote: post #17
CrazyStat wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It must vary by location. Dark Sky is usually right on point for me. I was pissed when they cut off Android support. I eventually got over it and subscribed on my iPad so I could continue using it, because nothing else I've tried comes close.

Check what their source is: surely, they don't compute the forecast themselves.

The data is public and comes from NOAA but they are doing their own forecasting.

Here is a blog post from one of the devs about their process (2011): http://jackadam.github.io/2011/how-dark-sky-works/

Re: Dark Sky iOS app will no longer work from Dec 31

#46

Post by outworlder »

hollywood_court wrote: post #8

I’ve used this app for years. I will have to check out the new iOS weather app. Honestly the Dark Sky rain predictions are usually wrong more often than not. I use it to monitor rain to keep my zoysia nice, but it has been disappointing me recently.

For me they were on point, sometimes down to the minute. That is, until Apple bought them.

Re: Dark Sky iOS app will no longer work from Dec 31

#48

Post by katbyte »

atchoo wrote: post #38

A platform buying up cross-platform apps and making them uni-platform really should be slam dunk anti-trust. It's obviously anti-consumer and concentration of market power.

fwiw it wasn't available in Canada, i'd been waiting years for it, and now via the apple weather app it will be.

Re: Dark Sky iOS app will no longer work from Dec 31

#49

Post by Gigachad »

atchoo wrote: post #38

A platform buying up cross-platform apps and making them uni-platform really should be slam dunk anti-trust. It's obviously anti-consumer and concentration of market power.

It's a weather app. There is no monopoly on weather info. The data is pretty much public and anyone could start their own alternative.

Re: Dark Sky iOS app will no longer work from Dec 31

#50

Post by wpietri »

Gigachad wrote: post #49
atchoo wrote: post #38

A platform buying up cross-platform apps and making them uni-platform really should be slam dunk anti-trust. It's obviously anti-consumer and concentration of market power.

It's a weather app. There is no monopoly on weather info. The data is pretty much public and anyone could start their own alternative.

In which case, it sounds like there was no need for Apple to buy this.
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