Apple has shut down the Twitter analytics company Topsy two years after it was acquired.
Topsy is (or was) a company that analysed raw data from Twitter to help gauge public opinion. It had rare access to the Twitter’s unfiltered data stream.
We reported on Apple’s acquisition of Topsy for around £122 million on December 3, 2013, making it one of Apple’s more expensive purchases. Now it’s been confirmed that Apple is shutting the service down.
9to5Mac notes that heading to the Topsy website will now see you redirected to an Apple help page concerning search on iOS. Meanwhile Topsy itself recently tweeted that it was finished.
https://twitter.com/statuses/676919759435399168
Topsy’s Twitter profile also reads: “Every tweet ever published. Previously at your fingertips.”
Related: iPhone 6S review
It’s still not entirely clear what Apple has used Topsy for, though the above redirect suggests that its technology can be found in iOS 9‘s powerful search function. This Google Now-like feature proactively seeks out services you might need based on context, and places this alongside data sourced from the internet.
There’s also a chance that Topsy’s technology has been put to use behind the scenes of Apple Music and Beats 1.
Next, take a look at our iOS 9 feature video:
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
