The purpose of this thread is to compile and post fixes for the recent weather widget problem for anyone who has the patience to implement them. I'll try to edit this post to keep it up-to-date.
Edit 7/10: Important information for DX authors.
Edit 7/12: Added clarification to 2a for DX users - ZubaZ
Edit 7/13 : Removed fixes due to legal ambiguity
Contents
1. The Problem
2. The Fixes
e. Disable the Weather
3. For Authors
a. Using The Weather Channel Feeds
b. Using Another Source
c. Weather & DX Themes
If your weather widget has suddenly stopped working properly, it is likely because the source, Weather.com, has changed their site to prohibit unlicensed usage. The majority of weather widgets on this site were built with the same code which is now outdated.
Symptoms of this particular problem are:
-You get a message saying the location is invalid-When you try to clear this message it keeps popping up
2. The Fixes (as far as we know)
*** UPDATE 7/13/09 ***
I have tried to find more information and understand the legalities of the TWC XOAP data feed services and due to ambiguity I have removed these fixes so as not to put anyone else at risk of violating known or unknown weather.com license agreements.
A very good read on the situation with weather.com and their feeds can be found here: http://www.rainmeter.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=615
At the present time the only remaining option for end-users is to disable and/or discontinue using the weather widgets.
E. DISABLE THE WEATHER:
If you are using a combo widget or theme and would just like to disable the weather parts read below.
There are a few objects that need to be "turned off". To do this you will open the widget/theme in DX Builder (be sure to turn off internet connection first,) find the object, right-click and uncheck Script Enabled.
These objects may be several of the following. (You can ctrl + click to select more than one object in the object list, then r-click and uncheck Script Enabled.)
Version 1:
"weather_image""weather_temp""weather_location"
Version 2:
"kdockweatherimage" (and/or "kdockweatherimage2")"Kdockweatherlocation" (and/or "kdockweatherlocation2")"kdockweathertemp" (and/or "kdockweathertemp2")"kdockforecastimage1" (through "kdockforecastimage5")
Version 3:
"Weather_Output""Weather_Script""WeatherFunction_ToggleUnits""CUI_SCripts""WeatherFunction_SetLocation"
A Notice From the WC Staff:
See here for more details.
Q: Can't I fix and reupload my widgets?
It's fairly certain that our widgets are not in compliance with The Weather Channel's license agreements. Among other things, a widget using TWC's feed now needs to include their logo and 5 advertisement links (to see the full details get registered and download the SDK file included in your confirmation email.)
This is aside from the fact that most of these fixes hard code YOUR license ID and KEY, and you CAN NOT allow others to use these; uploading a fixed widget with your ID and KEY is in violation of the license agreement.
The short answer is no. We can't use these fixes and then reupload our widgets.
Q: What CAN I do?
Right now you need to archive your skins before they are deleted from the galleries.
Q: So that's it? No more weather widgets?
Not necessarily. We have two options: A. Re-build our widgets in compliance with TWC's license agreement or B. find another data source.
A. USING THE WEATHER CHANNEL FEEDS
If you are looking to rebuild your widget in compliance with TWC's agreement you'll need to do the following:
- Register, download and thoroughly read the SDK file included in your confirmation email- Comply- Add a function to allow the user to input their license key and partner ID.- Add a link to the registration page so users know where to get the key and ID.- Be mindful of the fact that TWC could change their site again and consider putting contingencies in place to prevent further headaches. (i.e., Use and external script that can be copied onto the user's computer, and have as little code in the actual objects.)
To be clear, anyone looking to make a weather widget using weather.com services MUST be in compliance with their terms of service and license agreements.
B. USING ANOTHER SOURCE suggestions by Zubaz
If you decide to part ways with TWC, here are some alternative weather feed sources to consider (You will need to abide by their Terms of Service as well):
- Wunderground.com -- LINK
- Yahoo! -- LINK
- rssweather.com -- LINK
Again, I strongly advise using an external script to save yourself (and by extension your end-users) from any headaches in future.
C. WEATHER & DX THEMES
If you are a DesktopX theme author, the best advice for now is to exclude the weather widget from your theme and consider uploading weather as a separate widget in future.
That's all for now...
Leave questions, comments, and your experience reports below.
From reading the Rainmeter forum, I see that AccuWeather (which Stardock uses in their own MyColors gadgets) seems to have just gifted Rainmeter skinners with the authority to use their weather information along with access to official icons and logo (which isn't as strict as what the readers of this thread are led to believe are the terms of service for TWC's).
Up until this point, I thought it would make sense if Stardock purchased a license to the the rights to use TWC, or extended their license with AccuWeather to be used as script for (their product) DesktopX...something that in my mind made fiscal sense -- Stardock could sell more DesktopX programs if they provided free access to weather feeds along with their product. I thought Stardock was just being very conservative in these tough financial times, by not extending this generosity of purchasing the rights to either TWC or extending AccuWeather access to those who own DesktopX. So you can imagine my surprise to read on Rainmeter that AccuWeather is providing this access to Rainmeter for free AND advertising Rainmeter at AccuWeather's site!
Why hasn't Stardock followed the same route as Rainmeter? This just doesn't make any sense to me.
I didn't see in the TWC licensing terms of use ANYTHING speaking about cost, which for me means licence is FREE
Right, I understand that, but what I'm referring to is the fact that Stardock uses AccuWeather for the MyColors gadgets, and when this whole thing started with TWC changing their code, and everyone's weather world went into hurricane mode, the mods implied that Stardock would have to purchase a license extension for DesktopX skinners if they wanted to use AccuWeather (which was still working for the MyColors gadgets since Stardock has a corporate license for AccuWeather), rather than saying "hey...why don't we talk to AccuWeather, since we already have a corporate association with them" -- and then discovered AccuWeather was willing to allow their data to be used for free AND would provide free advertising back here.
I perfectly understand what you mean k10w3 ... and can just agree
BUMP!
I'll be uploading the TWC widget later this week for everyone to try out.
Working on a NOAA/wunderground hybrid that's around 80%:
thanks sViz
Question: should we delete our weather widgets in the gallery or will stardock take them off?
Perhaps you'd better use free time to find a solution to the weather widgets problem
I was under the impression that was done on July 20th.
Here's a Gloss Burgundy WTC widget with logo and link to WTC
The problem is that the widget includes MY licence key, which may be used by anyone else having DesktopX.
Though i need an upgrade of DesktopX whith an option to "export as non-editable widget" (i mean it would be still a widget - which needs DesktopX to be installed on the PC - and not a gadget)
N.B: I call back that end-user has in no case to get a licence as he's just a user (and it will be certainly the same with any other weather feed )
Haven't looked into them, yet. The reason I went with TWC is because it's familiar and the code is already in place. There are a few other, lesser known weather providers out there who might be interested in giving TWC a run for their money in the desktop widget market; the key is finding one that provides API--that's the raw data in an easy to parse XML form--and one that might be willing to negotiate their terms.
Hey friends,
I think we are in a dead end with this damned problem! Nobody except a few people here could not use new scripts or edit/replace their own because the skinners could not be a coders.
Besides this DesktopX lost the most of its former great popularity and the leading position on the market. And seems the speed of this falling down will be significantly accelerated if Stardock will not solve this problem in general by purchasing the TWC License for DesktopX. Don't forget that Weather Informers was one the most popular DX applications...
1. You may not change the color of TWC logo.
2. You may not put the TWC Copyright on your own widget without their permission.
Yep i know
i thought it was one of the rules conditions
BTW, i've send a mail to them explaining the global situation of skinners doing weather widgets with DesktopX application ( ) and ask them who must do what and how, and if they can reconsider the recoloring Logo restriction because of the (in general) ported GUI weather widgets ... I'm waiting for answer ...
You must put the LINK to wether.com but hot the TWC Copypight! Otherwise you must be the TWC employee and they must pay money for your work. May be they already hired you?
That's good but... I think that letter must be written and sent from Stardock or at least from Wincustomize. Otherwise this makes no sence. Nor one from us have no rights to conduct the formal negotiations with TWC about so global problems...
We have talked with some weather outlets, and they are not interested in partnerships for this type of thing.
As we have said before, we aren't going to be purchasing a license. DesktopX hasn't stopped functioning because of this problem, it's the situation with the weather feeds that is the real issue. Skinners have even approached some weather outlets willing to purchase licenses, and they weren't even interested in that.
The bottom line I'm sorry to say is, you have to comply with the feed terms for whichever weather outlet you are using.
Amen I.D.
Thread need close..
That's not at all what's explained in the "TWCi XML Data Feed Licence Agreement.pdf" notice. Here's the part concerning the Logo & weather.com and usage of the symbol © (see examples given )
click to see it in original size
BTW, who cares in fact (you know what i mean )
Who said there's any licence to purchase ?? Did skinners who got a partner ID and Licenced Key have to purchase anything ? i didn't
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT BEFORE INDICATING YOUR ACCEPTANCE AT THE END OF THIS AGREEMENT. BY CHECKING "I ACCEPT", YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ALL 16 SECTIONS OF THE AGREEMENT BELOW AND EXHIBITS A, B AND C. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND ITS EXHIBITS, OR IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, CLICK "CLICK TO DECLINE."
I read the above in the PDF document sent to me by TWC in the SDK. I found no place to click I accept or decline.
Yes. But it should lose a lot of its popularity for developers. At least for me...
Who know what of the other rules or copyrights (which are totally unknown for me by the way) may be violated in one of my next project? Media Player may violate the copyright of Composer or Singer. Web Browser may violate the copyright of Site Owner. And even my Rainbow Clock may violate Stardock's copyright bacause it reads and hacks the UIS Skin Format.
This looks like a permanent hammer kicks on a big grenade...
So. If I don't know what I may do and what I may not do I'LL BEGIN TO DO NOTHING... This work takes much more time that I'm ready to spend for development gadgets which may be removed from gallery in any moment because of somebody's idiotic rules or copyrights. Besides I have a lot of other hobbies and interests in my life.
I said all...
I know...
I totally agree...
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