‘Dark Sky’ 6.8.5 Adds Improved Location Search, New Watch Complication

Apple recently updated the Dark Sky app to 6.8.5 and it adds a couple of new features and improvements. Adds the extra large watch complication with watchOS 7; Improves location search with more suggested and relevant results; Adds a new location icon to indicate when Precise Location is disabled; Fixes an issue that could cause a duplicate forecast page after moving it from Recent Searches to Saved; Includes stability and performance improvements. Although Apple acquired the Dark Sky app it still requires a US$3.99 purchase.

ClimaCell Aims to Replace Dark Sky’s Weather API

After Apple acquired Dark Sky, one announcement noted that its weather API would no longer be available. ClimaCell recently upgraded its API with new features and pricing, hoping to entice developers. The company has some impressive clients it works with, like the U.S. Air Force, Ford, United, Delta, and others. One new feature is a new data layer to track pollen.

With more than 50 million Americans allergic to some form of pollen, this proprietary index includes data on when airborne irritants are in season to inform people who suffer from pollen-related aggravations, such as asthmatics. API users can add this data layer into their app to offer users alerts when pollen levels are high.

Good news for developers. ClimaCell tells me they had been upgrading their weather API when the news of Dark Sky’s acquisition hit.