Invalid zip code when running weather widgets

Zubaz

Shouldn't it have teh logo if it's using the service? Giving credit where due?

That's a good question. Maybe credit could be given in the future in the comments skinners make. The logo has never appeared in the past, for instance, and it never bothered anyone. I can say for sure that I would hate to see it on the skin, anymore than the DesktopX logo or the WC logo.

Since this is a global problem, can we maybe bypass moderation for this "weather fixing"? Probably not, just an idea.

If the only change is to add a message about the problem . . I'll get them pushed through. For other updates . . I'll try to get them expidited.

VistArtXPosed

reply 25

I've had that error since last week. I've tried un & re-installing the SD Weather 3.05 widget and it didn't help. Other widgets have had the same problem. So it appears that i'm not the only one with this problem...

You should try SD Weatherlab 6.3. It's got a list of 38,000 cities (at least) that you can pick from instead of entering a code. I think he's updated it, and you'll probably have to wait until it passes moderation.

If the only change is to add a message about the problem . . I'll get them pushed through. For other updates . . I'll try to get them expidited

For just editing description only, they don't get moderated. My updating by removing the weather, they will have to be moderated. Unless WC makes an exception to moderation for this problem.

The logo has never appeared in the past, for instance, and it never bothered anyone. I can say for sure that I would hate to see it on the skin, anymore than the DesktopX logo or the WC logo.

I can't imagine that any skinner here would try to skirt this rule since it is a condition of using the feed. Besides, it's the right thing to do.

We are discussing the proper way to go about this, which will be announced soon. However, we will have to respect the TOS of the feeds as we would want the same courtesy in a similar situation.

willistuder

reply 21

sViz

Will you not have to change the Zip Code entry into something else for international users?

A tweak in the script and now the international codes work. Expect a beta-testing round soon.

sViz

I forgot to mention another thing. The service agreement requires 5 links, one of which I guess is the TWC logo, and 4 ad link logos. Is your test widget going to have these by any chance? I'd like to see how much it wrecks the appearance of the widget.

Yes, they are included, but there's nothing in the agreement that says they must be visible at all times. They'll be hidden by default with a toggle button to show. The only visually obtrusive elements are the logo and the text attribute beneath it.

CarGuy1

reply 5

The logo has never appeared in the past, for instance, and it never bothered anyone. I can say for sure that I would hate to see it on the skin, anymore than the DesktopX logo or the WC logo.

I can't imagine that any skinner here would try to skirt this rule since it is a condition of using the feed. Besides, it's the right thing to do.

Not that it matters much, but skinners have been in violation of that rule from the beginning, so you don't need to imagine it. I should point out that doing the right thing and obeying the conditions of the license agreement are a phenomena that has only arisen in the last three days. All of the sudden, everybody who didn't use to care now has a deep and abiding concern for "doing the right thing" as if it's always been the case. That's not true. These matters should have been dealt with long ago. So, now that we're all converts to doing it by the book, if you SUBSCRIBE TO THE FEED, then you must have the TWC logo (a link to weather.com), and four advertising link logos. That's going to be an artistic disaster. If I made something, I'd hate to have to do it, and if I used it, I'd hate looking at it.

It's possible technically to avoid that; people have done it already. If that's not considered the right thing, there may be a way to avoid the logos. As sViz and Vad_M didn't quite get to, instead of subscribing to the feed, how about turning the widgets into web browsers instead of subscribers to a feed. You don't require a license to browse the web site, and would then not be bound to the license and required to put their logos on the widgets. The only problem I can see in that is if they changed the url for the location entry box. Maybe the user could enter the url manually on the widget if it changed. How about it? sViz and Vad_M, can it be done?

sViz

reply 9

Yes, they are included, but there's nothing in the agreement that says they must be visible at all times. They'll be hidden by default with a toggle button to show. The only visually obtrusive elements are the logo and the text attribute beneath it.

"provide four (4) promotional links, selected by TWCi and provided through the Service on each data call, back to www.weather.com for additional weather information in close proximity to the TWCi Content as set forth in Exhibit B of the Agreement"

I hope you're right about being able to hide them. It stands to reason that TWC would want them visible, and if doing the right thing is a big deal, then displaying them may be necessary. If you read that phrase, you see "in close proximity to the TWCi Content". Also, Exhibit B may specify that they be visible.

Could you please read my previous post to see if it's feasible or not. Thanks.

Yes, they are included, but there's nothing in the agreement that says they must be visible at all times. They'll be hidden by default with a toggle button to show. The only visually obtrusive elements are the logo and the text attribute beneath it.

But this will still hinge on the end user's willingness to sign up at weather.com, right?

I tried downloading SD Weatherlab, and got a 404, file not found. Maybe it's in moderation.

Yes. And you will be able to download only only when that process will be finished.

You don't require a license to browse the web site, and would then not be bound to the license and required to put their logos on the widgets.

We already discussed with Zubaz about this (look on the page 10: http://forums.wincustomize.com/358595/page/10/#replies). More than I nearly finished a script which worked with HTML. But his opinion (which I much respect by the way) is: we have no rights to do this. My work was hard, but I decided to remove that project from my PC and even already done this.

However I'm ready to repeat the code if we will find any arguments (or better - the laws) which allow us retrieve data directly from the web pages.

Not that it matters much, but skinners have been in violation of that rule from the beginning, so you don't need to imagine it. I should point out that doing the right thing and obeying the conditions of the license agreement are a phenomena that has only arisen in the last three days. All of the sudden, everybody who didn't use to care now has a deep and abiding concern for "doing the right thing" as if it's always been the case. That's not true. These matters should have been dealt with long ago.

The fact is that most of the weather widgits just used teh code from _martin_'s script. It's possible that when he wrote his there wasn't a ToS requiering all the current requierments. Or possibly he used another snippit of code offered on the internet and because it looked "free" no one bothered to check.

Now we know. So we have to fix it however we can.

In regards to using the gadget to just host a browser window: As long as your browser goes to the weather.com website without modification you would be fine. But that might beuglier than a logo and links.

The only visually obtrusive elements are the logo and the text attribute beneath it.

I suggest making this an unlocked object.[e digicons]:-"[/e]

In regards to using the gadget to just host a browser window

In my case the gadget (which have been already removed... [e digicons][/e] ) didn't open any web pages in the browser window. It only read the contents of web pages in the HTML format to retrieve the necessary data and display it in the gadget. May be I was hurried to do this? [e digicons]:omg:[/e] [e digicons]:O[/e] [e digicons]8O[/e] [e digicons]O[/e] [e digicons]uke:[/e] ....... [e digicons]:X[/e] ....... Ohhhh..... It was so hard work.....

Vad_M

reply 17

In regards to using the gadget to just host a browser window
In my case the gadget (which have been already removed... ) didn't open any web pages in the browser window. It only read the contents of web pages in the HTML format to retrieve the necessary data and display it in the gadget. May be I was hurried to do this? ....... ....... Ohhhh..... It was so hard work.....

I think you made the correct choice Vad_M

Another weather feed option (also needs logo displayed): http://wiki.wunderground.com/index.php/API_-_XML

I am using the Looking Glass Weather Suite fron Will rose. Does anyone know how to fix the feed issue on this widget? Thanks

I think you made the correct choice Vad_M

Thank you! Your reply considerably comforted me. [e digicons]|-)[/e] However I nearly finished the WeatherLab 7. [e digicons]B)[/e]

This is a new generation of weather tools which you have never seen around. And you will be the first who will play with it (certainly expect me). Wait a few days and you will get the beta version by email. I'm sure you will be very surprised when you'll see what the powerfull gadgets we can do with DesktopX! Then we will decide what I may do with it... I'm really need your expert's advice.

Have a nice day,

Vad.

PAUL NEWMAN

reply 20

I am using the Looking Glass Weather Suite fron Will rose. Does anyone know how to fix the feed issue on this widget? Thanks

http://forums.wincustomize.com/358753 ?

I am using the Looking Glass Weather Suite fron Will rose. Does anyone know how to fix the feed issue on this widget? Thanks

This is so easy! Just conect to Will Rose and ask him for help.

We are discussing the proper way to go about this, which will be announced soon. However, we will have to respect the TOS of the feeds as we would want the same courtesy in a similar situation.

Which is why I will continue to wait...I don't mind redoing tons of Widgets but I want to do once...

I suggest making this an unlocked object.

Yeah, you read my mind....I was thinking that if I had to add a ' piece ' to an existing widget I'd just make it an invisible background then the logo would not be so obtrusive and adding it as a separate piece 'unlocked' would be even better ...

willistuder

reply 11

"provide four (4) promotional links, selected by TWCi and provided through the Service on each data call, back to www.weather.com for additional weather information in close proximity to the TWCi Content as set forth in Exhibit B of the Agreement"

I hope you're right about being able to hide them. It stands to reason that TWC would want them visible, and if doing the right thing is a big deal, then displaying them may be necessary. If you read that phrase, you see "in close proximity to the TWCi Content". Also, Exhibit B may specify that they be visible.

Could you please read my previous post to see if it's feasible or not. Thanks.

Exhibit B does not specify that they be visible at all times. The only thing Exhibit B states is that they are required and must be no more than 35 characters long. They are technically in close proximity to the weather information; I'm not going to release the widget until I've dotted I's and crossed Ts, but if I end up splitting too many hairs on this I will shelve the project.

As for displaying a web page on the desktop, yes, you could create a web browser object that points to weather.com. But having a webpage on the desktop would be unsightly, IMO. Plus, there's no point in turning a webpage into a widget when a user can just fire up the internet. I checked out their web widgets and it might be possible to use one of those instead--although, the information is limited to current conditions and they come with logos and ads, too.

Another weather feed option (also needs logo displayed): http://wiki.wunderground.com/index.php/API_-_XML

Seems like a really good alternative. Someone's going to have to create all new code and icons for it. [e digicons]:-"[/e]

So it seems we have 4 choices:

- Create a widget in compliance with TWC's new rules

- Create a widget utilizing TWC's web widget code

- Create a widget based on Wunderground's feeds.

- Find another weather source

Personally, I think weaning ourselves off of TWC might be the best way to go, long-term; it'll take more work, but it's better to have variety.