Astrophotographers’ favorite Dark Sky app to become iPhone-only after Apple buys it up

Dark Sky is a popular weather app among astrophotographers, but it’s soon to become unavailable for Android. Apple has acquired Dark Sky and as of July this year, it will become available for iPhone users only.

Co-founder of Dark Sky Adam Grossman has announced the acquisition today in a blog post. He writes that the company’s 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.” According to Grossman, “there is no better place to accomplish these goals than at Apple.”

If you are an iPhone user, nothing changes for you. You will still be able to buy the Dark Sky app in the App Store. But Android and War OS users won’t be able to get the app anymore. If you already have it, note that you will be able to use it until 1 July 2020. Your app will be shut down on this date, and in case your subscription is still active at that time, you will get a refund.

The same date is a turning point for the information available on Dark App’s website. Right now it shows weather forecasts and maps, and they will stay there until 1 July 2020. After that, the website will stay active in support of API and iOS App customers. The API will continue to function through the end of 2021, but it won’t accept new signups.

Knowing that many astro and landscape photographers use this app, I can only say that this is… not cool. Do you use the Dark Sky app? How do you feel about this decision?

[via The Verge]