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 #162 Sunday, July 12, 2009 1:58 PM
Which section do you think indicates this?
Reply #163 Sunday, July 12, 2009 1:59 PM
Hi,
I finally got on my other PC to change the script on a couple of weather widgets using neophil78's fix and just noticed the Objectdock weather docklet is still working on weather.com's feed!
I didn't register coz I'm in Europe.
Very odd...
Reply #164 Sunday, July 12, 2009 2:02 PM
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.
Join the club. I have more than that. And as Jafo stated, even when they're gone, they're not gone. All mine are gone, but I'm still updating them. I hope you had copies of all your work? If not, and if I understand correctly, you can still get them from WC if requested.
Reply #165 Sunday, July 12, 2009 2:16 PM
My gosh people...It's a WEATHER WIDGET!!! It's not the end of skinning as we know it! This, IMO, has been so blown out of proportion it's pathetic. Let's move on. No reason for people to be leaving WC over a weather widget. Seems very extreme, all of this does.
..maybe .. for you..
Not for me, and some other skinners..members.. maybe the community..
This was my hobby (and lot of skinners too), it was part of my life... so ..You DON'T TRY suggesting: "I'ts not so big problem" ..
Reply #166 Sunday, July 12, 2009 2:21 PM
the funny part of all this... to me....
all those posts that popped up every once in a while...
from users and dtx skinners....
complaining in one form or another...
how tedious it was to go through dtx gallery....
to find a decent this or that.....
cuz the gallery was full of nothing but weather widgets.....
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carry on
Reply #167 Sunday, July 12, 2009 2:29 PM
Just a thought:
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 #168 Sunday, July 12, 2009 2:31 PM
You know whaqt would be cool? If artists that had to rebuild thier widgets anyway could make "10 packs" of one widget that you could switch themed graphics on.
Reply #169 Sunday, July 12, 2009 2:35 PM
Reply #170 Sunday, July 12, 2009 2:53 PM
Not for me, and some other skinners..members.. maybe the community..
This was my hobby (and lot of skinners too), it was part of my life... so ..You DON'T TRY suggesting: "I'ts not so big problem" ..
I stand corrected, Bilbo. I must realize that my use of DX isn't the same for all. Sorry, I meant no disrespect for your hobby.
Reply #171 Sunday, July 12, 2009 3:09 PM
I stand corrected, Bilbo. I must realize that my use of DX isn't the same for all. Sorry, I meant no disrespect for your hobby.
oki doki.. then
*Manhug*
Reply #172 Sunday, July 12, 2009 3:13 PM
no one is saying that skinning weather widgets is dead.. just that we need time and sugestions to find a solution that satisfies all. We need to respect the rights of the owners of the data streams just as much as we respect the skinners rights in terms of ripping.
If they stipulate usage terms, they must be followed to be posted on WC..the same go's with the data feeds used..
Also it was offered that any who failed to gather their skins with the weather wights, before removal from the galleries could request copies from the administration. Basically they are all just hidden from public view at this point.
I wish everyone would understand this issue is all of ours and together we can find a solution, if we keep cool collective heads and work together. the fighting will only serve to divide us..
Reply #173 Sunday, July 12, 2009 3:23 PM
Could you quote the section? I read the whole thing and don't see that anywhere. All I saw was this:
To my understanding, the bolded part pretty much authorizes a TWC weather widget as the TOS for the XOAP data feed expressly permits, in writing, the licensee to distribute Their Desktop Application.
In any case, if any author is uncomfortable with all of TWC's legalities (which is understandable after this debacle) they don't have to use a TWC widget. Myself and other DXers are looking into other weather sources for just that reason. No worries.
Reply #174 Sunday, July 12, 2009 3:24 PM
I wish everyone would understand this issue is all of ours and together we can find a solution, if we keep cool collective heads and work together. the fighting will only serve to divide us..
well said brother..
Reply #175 Sunday, July 12, 2009 3:24 PM
Also it was offered that any who failed to gather their skins with the weather wights, before removal from the galleries could request copies from the administration. Basically they are all just hidden from public view at this point.
Could someone edit the original post to include this important clarification (it gets lost in the numerous replies.)
Reply #176 Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:15 PM
Ah man! I just looked out my window and saw a prompt in the sky that said I had to get the TWC permission to see the weather! Can you believe that! All I see is a broken image of the sun and clouds now! 
Reply #177 Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:21 PM
Reply #178 Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:22 PM
You are sick...lol.
Reply #179 Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:23 PM
I gotta get off here, too much to do. Zu, check your PM.
Reply #180 Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:25 PM
maybe this part:
In the event of any permitted copying, redistribution or publication of copyrighted material,
key word: permitted
fall under:
Terms of Use
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF USE CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE SERVICES (THE "SERVICES") FROM THE WEATHER CHANNEL INTERACTIVE, INC. ("TWC"). BY USING THE SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS OF USE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS OF USE, PLEASE DO NOT USE THE SERVICES.
3. Restrictions on Use
C. You shall not e-mail, upload, post or otherwise make available on the Services any material protected by the copyright, trademark, or other proprietary right without the express permission of the owner of the copyright, trademark, or other proprietary right and the burden of determining that any material is not protected by copyright rests with you.
emphasis in 3c is mine
I noticed under "create your own widget" - it actually creating code to put a widget on your site - nothing about a standalone
under the "Affiliate Program" - is a questionaire you have to fill out and wait for a reponse
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Reply #161 Sunday, July 12, 2009 1:58 PM
My gosh people...It's a WEATHER WIDGET!!! It's not the end of skinning as we know it! This, IMO, has been so blown out of proportion it's pathetic. Let's move on. No reason for people to be leaving WC over a weather widget. Seems very extreme, all of this does.