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Apple acquires Dark Sky

blog.darksky.net

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Re: Apple acquires Dark Sky

#61

Post by fooey »

huhtenberg wrote: post #36
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a few companies owning the data The data are public [1]. Dark Sky et al process and repackage those data, along with their own analytics and UI. [1] https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/webservices/v2

Et al - maybe, but Dark Sky built their own near-future "hyperlocal" forecasting engine and they were the first ones to do that. They basically invented the whole genre. Perhaps they expanded into repackaging NOAA data now, but that's not what Dark Sky is about.

Hyperlocal forecasting, who just ejected most of the world from their data collection pool.

Re: Apple acquires Dark Sky

#62

Post by ngngngng »

kevindong wrote: post #59
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a few companies owning the data The data are public [1]. Dark Sky et al process and repackage those data, along with their own analytics and UI. [1] https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/webservices/v2

As someone that's tried using the weather.gov API, let me just say it's atrociously bad. I'm sure the data is accurate and all, but the API is actively hostile towards developers.

Is that all of Dark Sky's value proposition? They take a beastly API and repackage it into something pleasant?

Re: Apple acquires Dark Sky

#63

Post by joncp »

Let's not forget that, at least in the US, weather data is publicly funded and excellent forecasts are available at a very granular level. For example, here's the weather at Apple Park: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-122.009263237...

... And here's the graph for up-to-the-minute detail: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.3367&lon=-1...

It ain't pretty, but it works and you've already paid for it.

Re: Apple acquires Dark Sky

#64

Post by toomuchtodo »

joncp wrote: post #63

Let's not forget that, at least in the US, weather data is publicly funded and excellent forecasts are available at a very granular level. For example, here's the weather at Apple Park: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-122.009263237... ... And here's the graph for up-to-the-minute detail: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.3367&lon=-1... It ain't pretty, but it works and you've already pai…

More importantly, this should be protected and demanded to be expanded upon by citizens. No one can acquire and shut down the National Weather Service, nor any apps they develop with public money released to the public domain. Protect public goods.

Re: Apple acquires Dark Sky

#65

Post by applecrazy »

kevindong wrote: post #59
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a few companies owning the data The data are public [1]. Dark Sky et al process and repackage those data, along with their own analytics and UI. [1] https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/webservices/v2

As someone that's tried using the weather.gov API, let me just say it's atrociously bad. I'm sure the data is accurate and all, but the API is actively hostile towards developers.

It's designed that way. AccuWeather and other weather companies actively lobby to make sure that people continue using them, and not the free government sources of weather data.

See https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/14/politics/noaa-nominee-accuwea...

Re: Apple acquires Dark Sky

#66

Post by windyaskew »

> Our goal has always been to provide the world with the best weather information possible

Sounds like they gave up on their goal or changed the definition of "the world" to 13% [1] of smartphone users.

I always loved Dark Sky as an Android user, guess I'll find something else.

[1] https://www.idc.com/promo/smartphone-market-share/os

Re: Apple acquires Dark Sky

#68

Post by Larrikin »

tony101 wrote: post #45

> "Android and Wear OS App" > "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." That's unfortunate. I have been using it for years. Any recommended alternatives?

This is awful, atleast they are offering a refund but there is no point they couldn't just maintain the Android app

Re: Apple acquires Dark Sky

#69

Post by kube-system »

kevindong wrote: post #59
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a few companies owning the data The data are public [1]. Dark Sky et al process and repackage those data, along with their own analytics and UI. [1] https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/webservices/v2

As someone that's tried using the weather.gov API, let me just say it's atrociously bad. I'm sure the data is accurate and all, but the API is actively hostile towards developers.

And it's US only.
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