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Everything you love will die, especially in tech
A little over a year ago, Microsoft bought beloved calendar app Sunrise. For the past 14 months or so, things have been more or less business as usual ... at least for customers. But this week, the other shoe finally dropped: Aug. 31st will be the last day Sunrise exists as a standalone app. Sure, you could use Outlook, which by now shares some of the same DNA, but it'll never be the same. Indeed, some of us here at Engadget are pretty heartbroken about it. Which got us thinking about all of the other apps and services we loved and relied on that ended up being unceremoniously shuttered.
Apple will shut down HopStop's mass transit services in October
Apple kept HopStop's mass transit directions and guides running (with notable exceptions) long after it bought the company back in 2013, but you won't get to rely on them for much longer: Cupertino has revealed that it's shutting down HopStop come October. There's no explanation, but it doesn't take much effort to understand what's up. Apple had already discontinued all but the iOS and web versions of HopStop's apps, and you'll find much of HopStop's technology in iOS 9's mass transit directions. Simply put, there's not much incentive to keep the older tech running. This won't make you very happy if you still lean on HopStop to get around town, but you have at least a few alternatives if Apple Maps isn't your cup of tea. [Image credit: Shutterstock]
HopStop drops Windows Phone support in wake of Apple acquisition
When tech giants buy developers, they frequently let app support fall by the wayside -- and Apple is continuing that trend following its acquisition of HopStop. Windows Phone users can no longer download or run their version of the HopStop app. Instead, the developer is asking them to use the mobile website for directions. Curiously, though, the Android app is still hanging around; Apple isn't dismissing all competing platforms, like it did after buying Siri. Neither Apple nor HopStop have offered explanations for the move, but it's clear that Windows Phone users will have to lean on alternatives like Here Transit to plan their daily commutes. [Left image credit: Roman DeSilva, Twitter]
Apple acquires transit navigation firm HopStop
Apple is certainly beefing up its Mapping team with some interesting and exciting acquisitions. Earlier today we reported that Apple had acquired a Canadian mapping start-up called Locationary. Locationary harvests crowd sourced data to deliver what All Things D termed a "Wikipedia for local business listings." Now comes word via Bloomberg that Apple has also acquired HopStop.com, a public transit app which shows users in hundreds of cities how to get to and fro via public transit. Indeed, one of the glaring omissions in Apple's homegrown mapping app is that it lacks the public transit directions that many consumers became accustomed to with Google Maps. Hopefully the acquisition of HopStop means that Apple is finally serious about integrating transit directions directly into Maps instead of directing users to download third-party transit applications. To get a sense of all HopStop can do, the app's description on iTunes reads: Get detailed subway, bus, train, taxi, walking and biking directions, real-time transit information via "HopStop Live!", as well as official transit maps, nearby station search, and station-to-station schedules in over 600 cities throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, you'll benefit from our latest feature, HopStop Live!, which lets you see what other HopStop users are saying, in real-time, about the stations, trains, lines and buses you use most. HopStop Live! empowers our community of millions of transit riders to work together towards a common goal to get everyone to where they need to go, faster. With HopStop Live! you can: Follow your favorite lines, stations or stops Report real-time delays and issues Contribute pictures of what you're seeing on buses and trains Share to Facebook and Twitter The app also supports these great features as well: Get directions from your current location Get schedules for hundreds of regional rails, subways, buses, ferries, light rails, streetcars, trams, trolleys & more Map a location & see nearby subway & bus stops Estimate travel time & cost for a taxi & call cab companies See a list of all possible routes with Smart Route Get biking directions in NYC, DC, Chicago, & SF In the wake of Bloomberg's report, AllThingsD was able to get a confirmation on the acquisition from Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet.
Apple reportedly buys HopStop (updated)
Don't let it be said that Apple isn't working to improve its once-maligned mapping app. We're still in the rumor stages here, but Bloomberg is reporting that Cupertino has managed to acquire popular navigation tool HopStop, to help improve its own simply-titled Maps. The deal comes hot on the heels of Apple's Locationary buy -- we wouldn't quite qualify it as a shopping spree yet, but it's certainly a start. No surprise, the sources for this one are anonymous, due to the non-public nature of the deal. That said, we'll still be reaching out for comment, because that's what we do. More info when we get it. Update: Apple seems to have confirmed as much -- albeit in a fairly roundabout way, telling All Things D that it, "buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," a similarly cagey response to the one the company issued post-Locationary.
