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


Comments (Page 15)
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on Jul 14, 2009



No need , just have to change "xoap" by "xml"

Yep, just use what neophil said

on Jul 14, 2009

No need , just have to change "xoap" by "xml"

But is this a legal solution? Is it approved by Stardock mods?

on Jul 14, 2009

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.

on Jul 14, 2009

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!

on Jul 14, 2009
thanks much for all the input..went to TWC web site and downloaded their free download, took about 5 mins. and got a lot of free stuff..plus my dx's all work.. for me this was the answer...so easy..thanks again.
on Jul 15, 2009

thanks much for all the input..went to TWC web site and downloaded their free download, took about 5 mins. and got a lot of free stuff..plus my dx's all work.. for me this was the answer...so easy..thanks again.

Really? I didn't get nuttin free except my numbers...lol. 

on Jul 15, 2009

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).

on Jul 15, 2009

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.
I don't know yet what solution will be approved but I do not mind if people wish to update my widgets, in fact I would be grateful. I am not very good at understanding scripts and coding so any help would be great. I just want the weather widgets to continue to function and to keep on making them.

on Jul 15, 2009
This whole thing would have been a lot eaiser if the "something for nothing" crowd would have stayed out. I do not understand why it is that when something screws up, the so called customer is owed a lifetime of riches in return, and I mean RIGHT NOW! It's like they skulk in the shadows just waiting for human error, then WHAM here's a ripple in the smooth flow of things, you OWE ME. Authors, as I understand it all you have to do in the week is download it. Then fix it when you can and re-post it. Customers who feel they are OWED something. When you reach a point in life where you NEVER have something unexpected happen, and NEVER make a mistake, then moan about appoligies and what you are owed. If you are not perfect in your own life, do not expect to gain because someone else isn't.
on Jul 15, 2009

Authors, as I understand it all you have to do in the week is download it.

If by 'it' you mean 120+ DesktopX themes, 6 years work, then you are right.

By the way, I am not complaining.

on Jul 15, 2009

By the way, I am not complaining.

Lol!! I was, but to no avail. Shit happens, we move on, right Gef? 

on Jul 15, 2009

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"

on Jul 15, 2009

No need , just have to change "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."

 

on Jul 15, 2009

No need , just have to change "xoap" by "xml"

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°)

on Jul 16, 2009

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)

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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