beyond frustrated with weather widgets

i just want the damn thing to work

I pay yearly for my subscription but the better part of the last 2 years I have been unable to utilize DesktopX because of the weather widget malfuntion. I don't have time to find solutions to a problem that should not be mine. I don't have enough time to learn the software on my own to do list, this is why I pay for a subscription. NONE of my emails to authors have EVER been answered when I have asked for help on this. I couldhave swore that I read that all the skins, etc were required to be updated with the appropriate fix to/for the weather widget. This is not the case. I don't have time to learn scripting language and quite frankly do not feel as I should have to. My subscription is up for renewal, the answer to this post is what I will base my decision to renew or not on.

Much thanks,

DeAnna

82,746 views 25 replies
Reply #1 Top

i don't blame you for feeling frustrated DeAnna, While i cannot speak for the people who create these widgets or for stardock in any way. Can i offer an alternative?. I use yahoo widgets for my weather and it works perfectly. There are 100's of different designs to choose from. You must install the yahoo widget client in order for these to work. it's up to you but it is an alternative :). I am very sorry to hear of the problems you are having with the desktopx weather widgets. This is the reason i stopped using desktopx widgets myself. Good luck :)

Reply #2 Top

I would like to see a fix too, but a fix is probably beyond Stardosk's control. They can't ban a user for not updating a skin they made 2 or more years ago and copyright infringement prevents Stardock from updating widgets themselves. At least new weather widgets work and thier are alot of options: Windows gadgets, Yahoo widgets, SysMetrix, and Rainlmeter.

My frustration is the Impulse sell out. One of the most appealing elements of Object Desktop is the easy software management. Instillation and updates were a simple 1-Click (update all process), but now I need to make a list of version numbers and compare it to my list of registered software. Download the software, install the software, and provide my own support if there is a problem. Impulse updates took just a few seconds of my time, and now they are a chore.

Reply #3 Top

The issue with DesktopX weather widgets was based on a licensing issue with one of the service providers.  This is something beyond control for WinCustomize, and really has nothing to do with the subscription we offer.

Solutions for scripts were offered by the community and many people have updated their skins, but there are hundreds, maybe thousands of them in the galleries from people who no longer maintain them.  We can't require anyone to update an older skin.

 

Reply #4 Top

Use Rainmeter.  

Reply #5 Top

All the current Weather Widgets that are being uploaded to the WinCustomize Gallery Library are working on my computer running Win 7 64 bit.  :sun:

Reply #6 Top

May I suggest Yahoo Widgets for getting your weather information  ( http://widgets.yahoo.com/download/ ).  If works great and I use it on XP, Vista and Windows 7 with no issues at all.  While the weather widget is not highly customizable, it still provides accurate (as accurate as can be) weather information and you can switch between locations easily, as well as switching between Celsius and Fahrenheit settings as well.  Lots of widgets for it too! 

Reply #7 Top

  DeAnna, weather widgets in the gallery by RedneckDude will work for you, they have all been updated. Some other skinners redid a few as well, so most of the recent ones in the gallery should be ok.RND chose to just remove weather from all his themes, so again, any of those will work for you also.

end/shameless plug for my friend:grin:

 Unfortunately, older DX themes with included weather will need to be modified to even load. It's a bummer but as ID said, it's not really Stardocks fault. If you have some older favorite themes and asked the community, perhaps someone will help you with the mods.

Reply #8 Top

My subscription is up for renewal, the answer to this post is what I will base my decision to renew or not on.

 

As far as DeskTopX goes I wouldn't bother to renew it as it hasn't been updated in a long time and probably never will be.  But you  can continue to use it for as long as you like because you have paid for it.
 
Not sure what version you have but if it's version 4  Your best bet is to go back to version 3.5 as it seems to work best with  windows XP, Vista and windows 7.
 
If your using an older Theme the best thing to do is remove the weather object from it and  find a newer weather widget to use with it.
 
As far as skinners updating all the old skins it just isn't worth it to update a skin that might get 1 or 2 downloads a month. Also a lot of the skinners that made the themes are no longer around.
Reply #9 Top

I also use the Yahoo widgets for everything.

Reply #10 Top

I use Rainmeter, DX 3.5 and Sysmetrix. All three work beautifully on my laptop running Win 7 64 bit. Either one of the three will do what you want.

Reply #11 Top

Quoting Uvah, reply 10
I use Rainmeter, DX 3.5 and Sysmetrix. All three work beautifully on my laptop running Win 7 64 bit. Either one of the three will do what you want.

I also use the Weather docklet in ObjectDock Plus V2, so there are lots of options to get weather information.  :sun:

Reply #12 Top

Quoting Philly0381, reply 11
I also use the Weather docklet in ObjectDock Plus V2, so there are lots of options to get weather information.
I look out my window.  :sun:

Reply #13 Top

Quoting Zubaz, reply 12
Quoting Philly0381, reply 11I also use the Weather docklet in ObjectDock Plus V2, so there are lots of options to get weather information.I look out my window. 

That was supposed to be boarded up!!!  :O

Reply #14 Top

Quoting Zubaz, reply 12

Quoting Philly0381, reply 11I also use the Weather docklet in ObjectDock Plus V2, so there are lots of options to get weather information.I look out my window. 

My DX Gadget (by RnD):

Reply #15 Top

Doc....I gave on like that to SD when I visited...;)

Reply #16 Top

Use HTC Home it's great!!!

Reply #17 Top

Chasbo has some working weather widgets too, nice ones. Richard Mohler too. All you have to do is look.

 

  I have expressed several times that WinCustomize should remove, or have the artist remove, all non working weather widgets, and those that violate the TOS of the feed providers. WC said that all non working weather widgets be removed, or they would remove them for us,back when we lost the TWC feed and I complied, which was a lot of work, some didn't and this is why there are bad widgets in the gallery making people leery of the working ones as well.

It is, IMO, only fair to those who remade their's and also the only way to solve the problem of the OP.

Reply #18 Top

Quoting Robbie_Boy, reply 16
Use HTC Home it's great!!!

 

Very nice widget indeed Robbie_Boy, only drawback is that it cannot do multiple locations like Yahoo's weather widget (from a dropdown list), but still very nice.  Using it now.

Reply #19 Top

Robbie_Boy   Dude!!  Wassup!!

Reply #20 Top

Priceless!!!!! I'll have to make myself one of those....

Reply #21 Top

I am personaly updating all my Dx themes at this time for weather to work. It will take a long time to get them all done for old weather and new weathe are not same in most ways. If it one of mine you need email me and i will jump on it.

 

Sorry for all the headeach. its one we all share.

 

WeatherBound

 

Dark Vista Desktop is now working. Its a old one but has most downloads.

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Reply #22 Top

Those old weather widgets should be removed, as was indicated at the time of the feed cutoff. As Jim says, they give a wrong impression when someone downloads them, and they don't work.

Even if Stardock doesn't update DesktopX, it's still a highly useful program, and I always use it and the tools made for it without fail.

I remember well making a prediction during the weather feed disaster that it could be the end of DesktopX, and amusing some people, but nothing since then has changed my mind about that. Then, as now, I said it would be a shame. Thanks to the remaining DesktopX skinners for keeping it alive.

Reply #23 Top

Quoting willistuder, reply 22
Those old weather widgets should be removed, as was indicated at the time of the feed cutoff. As Jim says, they give a wrong impression when someone downloads them, and they don't work.

Well yes, my thinking also when the weather.com  feed imploded.

Now, I just use the more recent widgets especially by RedneckDude. Also the OD weather docklets (which use accuweather), most gadgets by Richard Mohler (aka relhom at DA) and WSXtreme weather modules by webgizmos.  Weather gadjects by adni18 work fine too. that's plenty of choice right there.

Reply #24 Top

Its not easy fixing all. But gettin faster every day at it..lol

Reply #25 Top

Thinking of deleting a lot of them.