As many of you know from reading the forums over the past couple of days, that weather feeds being pulled in from DesktopX created widgets/objects have stopped working. To make a short story even shorter, TWC has shown a requirement put upon all widget creators and users, and anyone else accessing their data to abide by new and quite specific demands/rules. This goes for anyone using the feeds, not just WinCustomize users.
If you want to continue to use TWC weather feeds you will need to abide by their new rules, which includes a requirement to place a logo and links back to them. Several DX coders including sViz and Vad_M have been posting new feeds, and some code fixes to help others fix their weather objects.
An ongoing thread from sViz can be found here:
Which ever new weather feeds creators decide to use, they need to make sure they also abide by any rules or guideline imposed by the originating feed provider.
Starting Monday, July 20th, we will start removing broken weather widgets from the WinCustomize galleries that have not been updated and/or violate any ToS/ToU in regards to weather feeds. The WC moderators are going to keep a close eye on the DesktopX queues so that updates will be pushed through as soon as possible. When updating a current skin, please be sure to make a note in the description that it has been updated with a new weather feed. If authors are do not have a copy of their widgets and are not able to retrieve them from Wincustomize, they are available by request to an admin.
We understand this has caused quite a stir, but this is nothing that can be easily fixed as it’s an issue that is not in Stardock’s nor WinCustomize’s hands. Please keep an eye on the forums for updates from DX coders who are looking at alternative solutions.
Regards,
Spencer WC Admin
Well, though it might be to know how much it will cost
Stardock would be the company and skinners are doing widgets for the company Stardock
Though, there will be no solution. End of story.
The bottomline is, though, TWC does not want anyone accessing their feeds without a license. Lets say they offer SD a license and let's say SD creates a template that uses a universal key and ID so skinners/users don't have to get one. Unless SD can come up with a way to secure the id and key and disallow unlicensed access to the weather data/code of the widget (i.e. gadgetizing it) TWC will not be happy. And if SD gadgetizes the widget (as they do with Accuweather, as Julynessi did with his Accuweather, and as Martin did with his full Desknotes gadget with Weatherbug support,) then the skinners will not be happy as they can't modify anything.
So it's back to the drawing board: A. a widget where everyone gets a license key and id, skinners can modify it, and TWC is happy that everyone must become a licensee before accessing the weather data or B. Find another source.
A. Is done.
B. Is in the works.
C, let Stardock do it, is not the only viable solution. We search for other solutions because we are capable of doing so, and frankly, because getting stuck with one weather provider (who 'burned' us once) isn't a practical long-term solution; there should always be variety in life. It may not be the quickest, most expedient route, but I think it's well worth the effort.
I understand it's a frustrating situation to wade through, believe me, but it's the hand that's been dealt and we just have to deal with it.
Lemonade out of lemons and all that.
Yep, A works, thanks for that sViz!
..just noticed: If you have TWC ID and key, to use xoap..
that will allow you to see ONLY 4 (5) Day's forecast..not a full 10 day's like before...
Guys, girls....listen quite closely to sViz. Hers is the 'good oil' and is apparently almost the only skinner here who understands the situation.
Stardock obtaining a licence will assuredly result in a closed script that is an end product NOT accessible to third party skinners.
The only kind of likely contractual situation would be the end-product distribution of a widget directly to the user. A skinner would be outside of that loop and would still require their own contract to create/distribute their own widgets that also use the feed.
Or...
As sViz mentions in option 'A' the skinner creates his widget in accordance with the requirements of the feed supplier [no matter who] and the end user obtains the licence/permission to access the feed.
'B' has NEVER NOT been an option.
Hey, read my posts...lol.
Where is it? Did I miss something?
Beta-testing round 2 is coming soon; you'll get a PM. Also tying up a few loose ends for the full release.
At the moment you have two options. You can sign up free at weather.com for an I.D.# and Key, then put it into the script as follows: https://forums.wincustomize.com/358753
Or, you can delete them all and redownload when this is fixed. Mine are being fixed now and are in the gallery with no weather.
Or a 3rd choice would be, if you are good with DX, just go into builder mode and delete the weather parts, all of them, then your themes will run. But you must load DX with you internet connection turned off so you don't get the errors. After removal of weather parts, you can reconnect.
Sorry, but right now, that is all I have.
You can find working DX Themes here: http://redneckdude.wincustomize.com
No need , just have to change "xoap" by "xml"
Yep, just use what neophil said
But is this a legal solution? Is it approved by Stardock mods?
NOT for widget/theme/gadget makers (uploaders) but what someone does on his own computer is up to the individual.
That's what I thought, thanx!
Really? I didn't get nuttin free except my numbers...lol.
In the email, there is a link to the SDK. It's only the TOS in pdf form along with all the weather images. Nothing special really (and no proper XML feed documentation for sure, almost as bad as Weather Underground).
If by 'it' you mean 120+ DesktopX themes, 6 years work, then you are right.
By the way, I am not complaining.
Lol!! I was, but to no avail. Shit happens, we move on, right Gef?
Sorry to bring it back on stage but i've read again the WTC terms of use and things seems simple to me
1°) it's Stardock which should be THE Affiliated WTC partner because of purposing their widgets done with DesktopX, and not to skinners which are just an intermediary between Stardock and end-user (end-user which has not to register in any case by definition)
2°) Registration is free (as nothing indicates the opposite )
3°) source: https://premium.parature.com/ics/survey/survey.asp?type=web&deptID=2552&surveyID=1524
( ... If you are interested in distributing The Weather Channel's downloadable products or partnering with us to drive your distribution ... )
4°) though, it remain's just a question of logo and link back to TWC ... (should it be possible for skinners to recolor for example the logo to be fitted with the widget / desktpX theme ? )
5°) for now and for users, the easieast fix to make any widget or so to work is still to edit the widget and replace "xoap" by "xml"
But is this a legal solution?
I've been following these weather posts here and at Rainmeters Forum, and I've copied below some info that I found about using xml instead of xoap, to read the whole post, here's the link... http://www.rainmeter.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=622.
"Considering a lot of folks are flocking to this fix I am going to say, that Weather.com will snap to the bandwidth influx real fast and close this site down as well.
The XML is an old back-up to Weather.com's XML OAP (XOAP) site, so if one goes down the other is available. This was provided under an old contractual agreement. As of July 08, 2009 00:00 EST, those contracts became null and void as the new business agreement went into full effect. Weather.com has proven an inability to monitor traffic at this site (For whatever unknown reasons), so usage of this site can not be properly tracked at this time.
Due to there being no ability to sign a contract for this particular XML Information set: enforcing the copy righted material would be unlikely in a court of law. It could be argued that if weather.com and it's associates had taken proper steps (as they have with the new contracts) to secure and regulate their information, then the usage would not be freely had. The US Federal Government is very clear on this: if your information on the internet is not secure, do not come crying when it is stolen.
Since apparently weather.com has not secured this site, or shown any interest in regulating by encryption or proper monitoring, we can use the information as general internet usage privileges, so long as we do not advertise weather.com or utilize their logo in any way (we would not be authorized to advertise weather.com in our skins)! With there no longer being any binding contractual agreements bound to this web site, it can be considered abandoned internet flotsam.
For the new XML Feed that you are required to sign up for to get your codes and ID, you bet you are bound. You are bound collectively to a whole bunch of things that the average individual will not want to get entangled with. This code has been assigned to you for individual in hose business and development only. You are expected to follow a lot of strictures in order to maintain your Code and ID from being banned. Weather.com is finally making their move to secure their information. Unlike the XML over XOAP URL: which is open and available, not encrypted, apparently not regulated, and has no contractual binding.On the other hand this site does belong to a company that is still maintaining the information on an updated timely manner, there for their request of none usage, except by authorized individuals should be honored, and the copyright respected.
Understand that any usage of this site may be considered piracy. Weather.com has requested that we respect their information."
That fix is just a temporary solution for end-user and has nothing to go with what i say in #222 1°) 2°) 3°) 4°)
actually....Al Gore should be the TWC affiliate.....he invented the internet and Stardock's just an intemediary between the internet (Al Gore) and the end user......
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