DesktopX Weather Widget Fixes

Published on July 8, 2009 By sViz In DesktopX

The purpose of this thread is to compile and post fixes for the recent weather widget problem for anyone who has the patience to implement them. I'll try to edit this post to keep it up-to-date.

Edit 7/10: Important information for DX authors.

Edit 7/12: Added clarification to 2a for DX users - ZubaZ

Edit 7/13 : Removed fixes due to legal ambiguity

Contents

1. The Problem

2. The Fixes

e. Disable the Weather

3. For Authors

a. Using The Weather Channel Feeds

b. Using Another Source

c. Weather & DX Themes

1. The Problem

If your weather widget has suddenly stopped working properly, it is likely because the source, Weather.com, has changed their site to prohibit unlicensed usage. The majority of weather widgets on this site were built with the same code which is now outdated.

Symptoms of this particular problem are:

-You get a message saying the location is invalid
-When you try to clear this message it keeps popping up

2. The Fixes (as far as we know)

*** UPDATE 7/13/09 ***

I have tried to find more information and understand the legalities of the TWC XOAP data feed services and due to ambiguity I have removed these fixes so as not to put anyone else at risk of violating known or unknown weather.com license agreements.

A very good read on the situation with weather.com and their feeds can be found here: http://www.rainmeter.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=615

At the present time the only remaining option for end-users is to disable and/or discontinue using the weather widgets.

E. DISABLE THE WEATHER:

If you are using a combo widget or theme and would just like to disable the weather parts read below.

There are a few objects that need to be "turned off". To do this you will open the widget/theme in DX Builder (be sure to turn off internet connection first,) find the object, right-click and uncheck Script Enabled.

These objects may be several of the following. (You can ctrl + click to select more than one object in the object list, then r-click and uncheck Script Enabled.)

Version 1:

"weather_image"
"weather_temp"
"weather_location"

Version 2:

"kdockweatherimage" (and/or "kdockweatherimage2")
"Kdockweatherlocation" (and/or "kdockweatherlocation2")
"kdockweathertemp" (and/or "kdockweathertemp2")
"kdockforecastimage1" (through "kdockforecastimage5")

Version 3:

"Weather_Output"
"Weather_Script"
"WeatherFunction_ToggleUnits"
"CUI_SCripts"
"WeatherFunction_SetLocation"

3. For Authors

A Notice From the WC Staff:

Starting Monday, July 20th, we will start exiling weather widgets from the WinCustomize galleries that have not been updated and/or violate any ToS/ToU in regards to weather feeds.

See here for more details.

Q: Can't I fix and reupload my widgets?

It's fairly certain that our widgets are not in compliance with The Weather Channel's license agreements. Among other things, a widget using TWC's feed now needs to include their logo and 5 advertisement links (to see the full details get registered and download the SDK file included in your confirmation email.)

This is aside from the fact that most of these fixes hard code YOUR license ID and KEY, and you CAN NOT allow others to use these; uploading a fixed widget with your ID and KEY is in violation of the license agreement.

The short answer is no. We can't use these fixes and then reupload our widgets.

Q: What CAN I do?

Right now you need to archive your skins before they are deleted from the galleries.

Q: So that's it? No more weather widgets?

Not necessarily. We have two options: A. Re-build our widgets in compliance with TWC's license agreement or B. find another data source.

A. USING THE WEATHER CHANNEL FEEDS

If you are looking to rebuild your widget in compliance with TWC's agreement you'll need to do the following:

- Register, download and thoroughly read the SDK file included in your confirmation email
- Comply
- Add a function to allow the user to input their license key and partner ID.
- Add a link to the registration page so users know where to get the key and ID.
- Be mindful of the fact that TWC could change their site again and consider putting contingencies in place to prevent further headaches. (i.e., Use and external script that can be copied onto the user's computer, and have as little code in the actual objects.)

To be clear, anyone looking to make a weather widget using weather.com services MUST be in compliance with their terms of service and license agreements.

B. USING ANOTHER SOURCE suggestions by Zubaz

If you decide to part ways with TWC, here are some alternative weather feed sources to consider (You will need to abide by their Terms of Service as well):

- Wunderground.com -- LINK

- Yahoo! -- LINK

- rssweather.com -- LINK

Again, I strongly advise using an external script to save yourself (and by extension your end-users) from any headaches in future.

C. WEATHER & DX THEMES

If you are a DesktopX theme author, the best advice for now is to exclude the weather widget from your theme and consider uploading weather as a separate widget in future.

That's all for now...

Leave questions, comments, and your experience reports below.

Comments (Page 8)

106

Vad_M

on Jul 13, 2009

YES!!! Thanks sVis! I found it!!! Please show me where Microsoft forbid me to get weather data for my widget.

Microsoft Service Agreement Last Updated: May 2009

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING MICROSOFT!

1. What the Contract Covers.

This is a contract between you and the Microsoft company referenced in section 29. Sometimes the Microsoft company referenced in section 29 is referred to as "Microsoft," "we," "us" or "our". This contract applies to any Windows Live, Bing, MSN, Microsoft Office Live or other Microsoft software or services, including updates, that display or link to this contract and that you use while this contract is in force. All of the software or services are referred to in this contract as the "service."

Please note that we do not provide warranties for the service. The contract also limits our liability. These terms are in sections 20 and 21, and we ask you to read them carefully.

2. When You May Use the Service.

You may start using the service as soon as you have finished the sign-up process. No withdrawal right or other "cooling off" period applies to the service and you waive any applicable "cooling off" period, except if the law requires a "cooling off" period despite your waiver and even when a service starts right away.

3. How You May Use the Service.

In using the service, you will:

obey the law;
obey any codes of conduct or other notices we provide;
obey the Microsoft Anti-spam Policy, which is available at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=117951;
keep your service account password secret; and
promptly notify us if you learn of a security breach related to the service.

4. How You May Not Use the Service.

In using the service, you may not:

engage in, facilitate or further unlawful conduct;
use the service in a way that harms us or our advertisers, affiliates, resellers, distributors and/or vendors, or any customer of ours or our advertisers, affiliates, resellers, distributors and/or vendors;
use any portion of the service as a destination linked from any unsolicited bulk messages or unsolicited commercial messages ("spam");
use any unauthorized third party software or service to access the Microsoft instant messaging network (currently known as the .NET Messenger Service);
use any automated process or service to access and/or use the service (such as a BOT, a spider, periodic caching of information stored by Microsoft, or "meta-searching");
use any unauthorized means to modify or reroute, or attempt to modify or reroute, the service;
damage, disable, overburden, or impair the service (or the network(s) connected to the service) or interfere with anyone's use and enjoyment of the service; or
resell or redistribute the service, or any part of the service.

107

Vad_M

on Jul 13, 2009

Or screenscraping (also called webscraping). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_scraping

Zubaz,

this exactly illustrate how I'm feeling after reading the article... NO! NO! NO! I will never use any screenscraping software!!! Only a few lines of simple VBScript code!

108

sViz

on Jul 13, 2009

Vad I am not entirely sure about MSN's rss weather.

After entering a location and clicking on the RSS button they state:

Subscribe to this feed in an aggregator that supports one-click subscription, or copy the following url and paste it into your RSS reader: http://weather.msn.com/rss.aspx?wealocations=wc:USNY0996&weadegreetype=F

The bolded part 'could' mean that you can paste the url into whatever your RSS reader is, which 'could' include widgets. But then we get into what they mean versus what they say and that leaves me befuddled. MSN is too ambiguous. I'd go with a site that clearly offers their feed to developers, but it's up to you to decide how to proceed.

109

Vad_M

on Jul 13, 2009

We live in the Democratic World where everything is allowed if it is not directly forbidden! I just want to understand where in the Microsoft TOS is at least one word that exactly forbid me to use their weather data (like TWC). And where is stays their Copyright in the XML file? I can't find nothing...

On this reason I make a simple conclusion: WE MAY USE THE WEATHER DATA PROVIDED BY MICROSOFT in our widgets. Just let's call them "RSS Readers".

I'd go with a site that clearly offers their feed to developers

Where did you found the site which owners is so kind to developers? And what type of weather data they provides?

MSN is too ambiguous.

May be. But I'm sure that their Weather Service is one of the best in the World. Besides I'm sure that I will be never hear from them the same words that we hears now from TWC. Why? Because the weather service is not the main business of Microsoft unlike TWC. They earn enough money by selling to us Windows and a lot of other software...

110

sViz

on Jul 13, 2009

Where did you found the site which owners is so kind to developers?

Thus far, only wunderground and TWC. BUT it is in return for attribution among other stipulations.

111

k10w3

on Jul 13, 2009

Vad_M

reply 9

We live in the Democratic World where everything is allowed if it is not directly forbidden!

It's soothing to my heart just to read those words, let alone to realize there is somebody else in the world who believes them. Thanks.

112

Vad_M

on Jul 13, 2009

Thus far, only wunderground and TWC. BUT it is in return for attribution among other stipulations.

Ok. I understood. Thank you!

However I much want to get answer to my simple question: MAY WE USE THE WEATHER DATA PROVIDED BY MICROSOFT OR NOT? AND IF "NOT" - WHY?

It's soothing to my heart just to read those words, let alone to realize there is somebody else in the world who believes them. Thanks.

113

sViz

on Jul 13, 2009

However I much want to get answer to my simple question: MAY WE USE THE WEATHER DATA PROVIDED BY MICROSOFT OR NOT? AND IF "NOT" - WHY?

I don't think anyone can tell you with certainty whether or not Microsoft's weather data can be used as you suggested. MSN is the final arbiter in the matter, I'm afraid.

114

Lantec

on Jul 13, 2009

4. How You May Not Use the Service.

In using the service, you may not:
# resell or redistribute the service, or any part of the service.

In my opinion, this relates to modifying the xml and redistributing/selling it as an xml, NOT providing/distributing a program to access it which is what is being done.

115

S J N

on Jul 13, 2009

SJN, you can either fix them for personal use following the instructions in the original post or discontinue using them. Deleting them forever is up to you.

I will keep them, as I have tons of space. I am however, not a skinner and have no idea what to do to fix these on my own.

116

moonlynx

on Jul 14, 2009

Ok.....Here is a question to be answered. What if developers put in weather widgets, but have them disabled by default?

One could download the theme or widget, enable the script on their own and add the proper link to weather.com or whoever.

By doing so, no developer or Wincustomize or Stardock would be in violation of any terms. It would be up to the end user to add the proper lines to the script to get it to work (Thus they could get a license from TWC or whoever for their own use.) The developers cannot be held accountable because, yes the widget is there, but there is no way to access the weather data without knowing how to code the script and obtaining a license from whoever. The "monkey" is on the end user's back and their responsibility. Kind of like my Satellite radio. I bought it, it includes all I need to listen to it, and I can get 2 channels (what they allow without activation and paying). It is up to me to activate it to get the rest and pay for it. Same here. Developers create the scripts and the widgets, but it is up to the end user to get the license and the link from whoever and add it. Plus, instructions could be given on how to add the links,etc. once you do comply. Nothing illegal about it because if you don't get "licensed" and get the proper link, that part just never functions. And people can be warned ahead of time.

117

RedneckDude

on Jul 14, 2009

One could download the theme or widget, enable the script on their own and add the proper link to weather.com or whoever.

That is being worked on, I believe.

118

willistuder

on Jul 14, 2009

Vad_M

It looks like you might found the gold mine. If there's some way to keep logos and links off the widgets, a lot of people are going to be happy.

I've read the agreement a few times, and it sure looks like all you have to do is have an RSS reader to legally access it. There's no mention of any logos or links at all. I hope this is deemed suitable.

It is just a plain ordinary RSS feed, is it not?

119

neophil78

on Jul 14, 2009

Ok.....Here is a question to be answered. What if developers put in weather widgets, but have them disabled by default?

One could download the theme or widget, enable the script on their own and add the proper link to weather.com or whoever.

By doing so, no developer or Wincustomize or Stardock would be in violation of any terms. It would be up to the end user to add the proper lines to the script to get it to work (Thus they could get a license from TWC or whoever for their own use.) The developers cannot be held accountable because, yes the widget is there, but there is no way to access the weather data without knowing how to code the script and obtaining a license from whoever. The "monkey" is on the end user's back and their responsibility. Kind of like my Satellite radio. I bought it, it includes all I need to listen to it, and I can get 2 channels (what they allow without activation and paying). It is up to me to activate it to get the rest and pay for it. Same here. Developers create the scripts and the widgets, but it is up to the end user to get the license and the link from whoever and add it. Plus, instructions could be given on how to add the links,etc. once you do comply. Nothing illegal about it because if you don't get "licensed" and get the proper link, that part just never functions. And people can be warned ahead of time.

Hehe, you're right, the author of widgets will have just yo mention in text presentation that user which is downloading have to register to weather.com to activate the widget

(and BTW, the downloader will have just a litlle adjustment in script to alow widget to work)

120

Vad_M

on Jul 14, 2009

You are very strange people. I've asked two simle questios:

1. Where is in the Microsoft TOS at least one line that directly forbid us to read and use weather data from their site? Why you decided that it must be only the damnet XML? I've told abuot weather data!

2. May we use the weather data if this is not directly forbidden by Microsoft?

But what I see in a result? Several incomprehensible and confusing words which didn't answered to my questions...

Who told here about "resell or redistribute the service, or any part of the service"? We only discussed about a development of some widget that will read weather data. And nobody of us has no any plans to resell or redistribute their service! We just want READ THE DATA!

Microsoft allow their users to get this data through any RSS Readers. Where the hell they forbid us to read the same data through HTML Reader (created with Microsoft's object Microsoft.XMLHTTP by the way)?

Finally. If you like to see TWC or some other LOGO in your widget and click on the advertisment links each time when you run it - good luck. I just tried to find the other way that help us to see the Weather Forecast instead of UGLY LOGOS...

Seems I need to rest not only from skinning but also from the participate in any "empty" discussions...

P.S. As this follows from your logic, you should immediately remove the widget SD Skin Checker 2.0 (https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=1086&libid=34) from the gallery because it "grabs" and "redistributes" the part of WC service.

That's all at the moment...

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