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 #202 Monday, July 13, 2009 9:02 AM
It's always easy when people do things FOR you
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 )
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. 
Reply #203 Monday, July 13, 2009 9:19 AM
A. Is done.
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... 
Reply #204 Monday, July 13, 2009 9:28 AM
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.
Reply #205 Monday, July 13, 2009 1:44 PM
Hey, read my posts...lol. 
Reply #208 Monday, July 13, 2009 11:33 PM
Reply #209 Tuesday, July 14, 2009 12:30 AM
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
Reply #210 Tuesday, July 14, 2009 2:51 AM
No need 
, just have to change "xoap" by "xml"
Reply #211 Tuesday, July 14, 2009 3:39 AM
No need , just have to change "xoap" by "xml"
Yep, just use what neophil said
Reply #212 Tuesday, July 14, 2009 12:51 PM
But is this a legal solution? Is it approved by Stardock mods?
Reply #213 Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:01 PM
NOT for widget/theme/gadget makers (uploaders) but what someone does on his own computer is up to the individual.
Reply #214 Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:17 PM
That's what I thought, thanx!
Reply #215 Tuesday, July 14, 2009 11:02 PM
Reply #216 Wednesday, July 15, 2009 12:08 AM
Really? I didn't get nuttin free except my numbers...lol.
Reply #217 Wednesday, July 15, 2009 1:05 AM
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).
Reply #218 Wednesday, July 15, 2009 6:13 AM
Any artists that do not want to update thier own widgets to conform to weather.com's terms that Wincustomize has to respect could always grant permission to other artists to update them instead. Those artists could put in stipulations to give credit to the original artists or even approval before submission.
Reply #219 Wednesday, July 15, 2009 12:10 PM
Reply #220 Wednesday, July 15, 2009 1:01 PM
If by 'it' you mean 120+ DesktopX themes, 6 years work, then you are right.
By the way, I am not complaining. 
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Reply #201 Monday, July 13, 2009 8:56 AM
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.