What Apple’s acquisition of Dark Sky means for Android users

The forecast is dreary for Dark Sky on Android.

The popular weather app announced Tuesday that it had been acquired by Apple, making it the latest company to come under the umbrella of the tech giant.

“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,” Dark Sky’s blog post reads. “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.”

While this is just another sunny day in the world of Silicon Valley mergers and acquisitions, it’s sad news for Dark Sky Android users. The blog post informs iOS users that there “will be no changes to Dark Sky for iOS at this time.” But for Dark Sky on Android, the sun has set.

“The app will no longer be available for download,” the post reads. “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.”

Dark Sky is a beloved weather app because of its clean interface and detailed weather information (especially in comparison to Apple’s Weather app). Moving to Apple’s walled garden has prompted a downpour of sadness on social media.

Dark Sky will also be transitioning to shutting off its API by 2021, meaning the services and websites that pull in Dark Sky data may face a torrent of technical issues.

Apple’s Weather app could get a lot smarter. But for Android users, it’s dark skies ahead.