DesktopX Weather Widget Issues - Read This
Friday, July 10, 2009 by Island Dog | Discussion: OS Customization
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
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Reply #182 Sunday, July 12, 2009 5:01 PM
I try. 
[Insert theme to Jaws] 
Reply #183 Sunday, July 12, 2009 5:01 PM
I will not leave this place right now. I just stop all projects and will wait for a new version of DesktopX. Then I will take the final decision...
Vad_M
You're not just some Ukrainian guy, you're a great explorer. It's always exciting to see your latest effort, because I know you'll have done something nobody else has. You've never disappointed me yet. I don't think you're just wanted, you're needed.
I can appreciate your frustration--you have a clever and capable mind, and it's hard sometimes to restrict it. I've read a bit about some of the things you're working on, that you must have devoted a lot of time to. It would be a tragedy if they didn't bear fruit when they are so close. If you aren't appreciated now, you will be some day, especially if you carry on.
The wonderful sViz is working on some of your problems; so wait and see. All your other projects aren't affected by this.
A lot of us would hate to see you go.
Just a fan
Reply #184 Sunday, July 12, 2009 5:26 PM
I'm not a skinner or coder so I don't know what's involved in making a dx widget or gadget. I don't know if it's at all similiar to the making of a rainmeter, but the people over at Rainmeter Forum are workng hard to find a solution to this. Maybe they have information or ideas that you'all might be interested in... http://www.rainmeter.net/forum/index.php
Reply #185 Sunday, July 12, 2009 5:28 PM
... and as far as i can understand, any kind of use of the service has to be priory authorized directly by WTC, it's not only a question of logo and link to them, that means (i think) that each skinner have to get the WTC permission to do what he wants to do, widgets or so
Which section do you think indicates this?
See post #180 by Bichur
Reply #186 Sunday, July 12, 2009 5:43 PM
Reply #187 Sunday, July 12, 2009 6:01 PM
under the "Affiliate Program" - is a questionaire you have to fill out and wait for a reponse
Thanks. Is the affiliate program for companies? What do I do with that field? Seems like they want partners for the affiliate program and I'm not looking to become a partner.
And does this apply to the XOAP feed or TWC products that must be installed? *sigh* I wish TWC would respond to their emails.
Reply #188 Sunday, July 12, 2009 6:08 PM
Thanks. Is the affiliate program for companies? What do I do with that field?
apears that way... maybe...
I'm thinking... putting ' none ' or ' n/a ' or something along those lines - whatever it will take
and maybe putting in what you want to do in box 8
and then wait for the email, which hopefully would at least give you a contact address for futher correspondence to iron out any particulars...
box 5 - I'm guessing option one - distribution - is more applicable than bundling
box 6 - I'm thinking your WC personal site - that way if they look, they'll have an idea
just thinking...
Reply #189 Sunday, July 12, 2009 6:09 PM
I have a feeling their mailbox is overflowing......
Thanks for your help sViz 
Reply #190 Sunday, July 12, 2009 6:12 PM
I have a feeling their mailbox is overflowing......
me too..
or they don't work on weekends
or check your spam folder
Reply #191 Sunday, July 12, 2009 6:37 PM
Thank you for your interest in becoming a partner affiliate.
Please be advised that we may not respond to every inquiry request due to high volume
I have a feeling their mailbox is overflowing......
I guess so.
Reply #192 Sunday, July 12, 2009 6:40 PM
It make non sense for me that each skinner will have to become a WTC "partner"
In fact "Affiliate Program" is DesktopX Weather Widget, and there we are, it's to Stadock to get a license / permission from WTC and give the codes to skinners who wants to do weather widgets 
Reply #193 Sunday, July 12, 2009 7:41 PM
KaciReply #194 Sunday, July 12, 2009 7:45 PM
In fact "Affiliate Program" is DesktopX Weather Widget, and there we are, it's to Stadock to get a license / permission from WTC and give the codes to skinners who wants to do weather widgets
not really.. a template does not automatically makke all weather widgets the responsibililty of Stardock
Stardock did not create all those weather widgets
Stardock created the tools to make widgets
Reply #195 Sunday, July 12, 2009 8:00 PM
Reply #196 Sunday, July 12, 2009 10:52 PM
Stardock did not create all those weather widgets
Stardock created the tools to make widgets
Sure, but it would be much more simple for everyone (mean skinners) if Stardock would get the permission / license 
Reply #197 Sunday, July 12, 2009 11:19 PM
...and it would be even simpler still if TWC had not broken people's access to their service.....and the status quo remained.
It's always easy when people do things FOR you, but at last check the feudal system is history and slavery is outlawed [mostly] ....
Reply #198 Monday, July 13, 2009 3:45 AM
Also, I tried to update themes because of this issue but unfortunately, I missundersttod what is required so those themes are now impossible to update again because they are not there to update.
Why are they not available to update by you? If you do not have a backup, we can provide one to you. Or were you talking about the end-user not being able to update them?
If you hide the weather widgets/themes, how they authors can find them to make an update (if and when it will be possible)?
How about put them in a special hidden weather-widgets library, which will be accesible to authors, but not to users, like the one we have now when a work is updated and goes to "In Moderation" library.
It can be named as "Hiden Weather Widgets", just an idea...
Very well said! 
Reply #199 Monday, July 13, 2009 6:33 AM
I say it again, it would be much more simple if Stardock would obtain a license / permission from WTC which can be used by all skinners, than if each skinner has to do it (it would be a step in the right direction) especially, if license / permission is free as it seems to be
Why turning the problem in every way, searching other solutions using other weather services when everything is already working fine with weather.com (there will be just the ID and KEY to add in "solid" in existing scripts )
Reply #200 Monday, July 13, 2009 8:38 AM
neophil78: Using weather.com feed is not "free", you have to show promotional links and the TWC logo. Getting a redistributable license which would bypass the promo links/update interval restrictions is probably going to cost Stardock a lot of money (which they will have to get somewhere), if it's even available to third parties. Note that getting a license for your company allowing you to redistribute widgets is different from one that allows sub-licensing to third-parties.
It's the same for most other weather providers BTW. A lot of them do not allow commercial use without first acquiring a license (some with specific restrictions, some with actual money).
In the end somebody is going to have to pay for such a license. Asking Stardock do to that is fine (while I personally do not think this is a good idea or that it's going to happen in the way you want, this is certainly within your rights to demand that), but it's neither free or simple.
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Reply #181 Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:49 PM