Any Apple OS X 1.4 Mandolin Cafe fans out there? [Archive]

Steve

Dec-13-2005, 10:33am

I created a widget to monitor the mandolin cafe news and classifieds RSS feeds.

It's free to anyone who'd like to try it out. You must be running at least version 10.4 of OS X in order to use it.

If you'd like to try it, send me an email at km5gn@mac.com and I'll email it back to you.

Steve

Pedal Steel Mike

Dec-13-2005, 12:01pm

Wouldn't you know it. I've got 10.3.9

Oh well. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

Avi Ziv

Dec-13-2005, 12:07pm

me too....10.3.9

It's that extra $100 Apple wants for the upgrade...Yeah - I'm delaying too... some day we won't have a choice though

Avi

JimRichter

Dec-13-2005, 12:33pm

You know, I'm a Mac user and back when OS X1.4 was released, I started creating a widget to monitor the Mandolin Cafe RSS news feeds. Got caught up in other things and never finished. I'm glad someone found the time to create one!

Jim Richter

judith

Dec-13-2005, 5:41pm

Ok - I am about to get your widget. Thanks! Judith

Steve

Dec-13-2005, 6:46pm

I've put it up on my dot mac website, so you can get it without waiting on me to email it to you.

The address is http://homepage.mac.com/km5gn

There's a file there called MandolinCafe.zip. Download that and if you're running Safari, it'll know what to do with it. Otherwise, unzip it and copy the MandolinCafe.wdgt file in your Library/Widgets Folder.

Steve

Brad Weiss

Dec-13-2005, 7:45pm

Steve-

This is SO COOL!!! I love my widgets!! Thanks for keeping us mac folks up to speed.

swampstomper

Dec-14-2005, 1:23am

I got 10.4 "for free" when I had to replace my weary iBook with a PowerBook (the iBook trickled down the food chain to my kids). I hadn't really been into the "improvements" although Spotlight has been somewhat helpful (I had Launch Bar before so for me it's no big deal). But now... I have a reason to love 10.4! Thanks!

Scott Tichenor

Dec-14-2005, 6:30am

This is very cool (and functional) and I thank Steve for his efforts. I have yet to get around to this on my laptop, but then this stuff is always pretty much in my face anyway. It would be nice if someone could post a screen shot of what it looks like in action for those looking on.

stefeb

Dec-14-2005, 6:38am

Great work. Thanks.

Now, could you create a widget to make be play better http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif .

JimRichter

Dec-14-2005, 8:55am

Scott--here are a couple of screenshots. This just shows the News RSS feed. You can change the widget to display the classifieds, too.

By the way Steve, excellent widget. Thanks!

Jim

JimRichter

Dec-14-2005, 8:56am

close up

JimRichter

Dec-14-2005, 9:00am

And this was the widget I had started to do what Steve has done in earnest. Never got past the interface.

Jim

Steve

Dec-14-2005, 9:06am

Thanks for uploading the screen shots Jim. I was having trouble figuring out how.

I added 3 screen shots to my .mac page, but they don't show it as well as yours, although I do have one of the back of the widget where you set the settings for which feed and how often to update.

At http://homepage.mac.com/km5gn

It's called WidgetPhoto_2.png

Does'nt show the cool widget animation when the widget turns over of course...

You can also set these either of these Mandolin Cafe feeds as a screen saver with the default screen savers that come with OS X 1.4...

Scott Tichenor

Dec-14-2005, 9:23am

I think the Cafe News probably only has a valid need for one RSS feed (that which makes the widget have content), but it's also possible to split off separate feeds for just New CD releases, workshops, etc. I hesitate at this because more doesn't always equal better. Just pointing that out. If one looks at the categories on this page (http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/publish/) you get an idea what's possible. So, unless I hear a virtual cry to add individual categories that it'll likely remain as is.

Scott Tichenor

Dec-23-2005, 11:25am

Finally got around to seeing this in action. Very cool! Thanks, Steve, for your efforts on this.

mandopete

Dec-23-2005, 11:27am

All right, I'll bite, what's a widget?

Scott Tichenor

Dec-23-2005, 11:48am

Detailed summary (http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/dashboard/)

My summary: tiny pieces of software that allow you to keep (and quickly hide) bits of web information on your Macintosh desktop, if you have at least Mac OS X 10.4. For what Steve has developed this allows Cafe News headlines on your desktop with links into the article if you choose to read them. No need to go to the Cafe to see what's new in that section. You choose if you want to read the article. All kinds of uses for them. I've now seens someone track a UPS package through a widget. You can access the classifieds for this as well. I'll let more experienced users explain further if they wish. I just write the code on the server that allows the connection to a document so there's content within a widget.

Scott Tichenor

Dec-23-2005, 11:57am

Let me provide a more realistic use for this. You're sitting at work and you like watching the classifieds as they're posted but it's not too cool to have a window open all day long hitting refresh to see new ads (sound familiar anyone?). With a widget open you can watch new entries appear as they're added and then click on the link into the ad only if desired. So, say you're in the market for a Pegasus case but everyone and their brother hops on one when they appear (and they do), with a widget open you're going to get instant notification in that window with a link right into the ad on the Cafe. Now, I haven't tested this but I'm assuming the widgets update dynamically. If that's not true, someone will correct me.

This is more realistic use than News probably since a new news article probably only appears daily or every other day on the average. Still, nice to be able to check lots of resources without having to go to the site.

Steve

Jan-03-2006, 8:25am

On the back panel of the widget where you can switch between the news feed or the classified feed, there's an option to set how often the widget refreshes. The options are every 5 minute s or every 15.

Steve

pickinchik

Jan-03-2006, 9:27am

Steve,

Thanks soooooooo much! #What a cool idea. #I love my widgets! # # MACS RULE!!!!!

Mandy:;):

Dan'l Terry

Jan-13-2006, 12:06pm

Steve,
this looks so cool and useful, it's enough to make me risk, dare, invest in the upgrade to 1.4. Thanks!!

Seth Austen

Jan-14-2006, 8:57am

Too cool! Thanks for making this available. Of course, this could be dangerous hooked up with the classifieds javascript: InstaSmilie()

Seth

judith

Jan-14-2006, 10:34am

Steve - I've got your widget...its dangerous when flipped to the classifieds, but it works great! Judith

John Bertotti

Jan-14-2006, 6:36pm

Great thanks! I wonder does anyone have a link to a mando chord widget. I have a guitar widget one but can't find a mando one. Thanks John

Christopher Howard-Williams

Jan-15-2006, 3:39am

Cool widget. Thanks.
Christopher

dasspunk

Jan-15-2006, 12:56pm

FYI,

You can use the Cafe's classified RSS feed for a screensaver in 10.4.x. In Safari, bookmark the RSS feed #http://www.mandolincafe.com/classifieds.xml. Then open your System Preferences, choose the Screen Saver pane, choose the RSS Visualization screensaver, click the options button and select the feed bookmark. You should now see the latest stuff for sale for your screensaver... Note: this could be considered a bad thing if your a MASochist

p.s. I don't recall Apple releasing OS X 1.4 ? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Scott Tichenor

Jan-15-2006, 1:59pm

You can use the Cafe's classified RSS feed for a screensaver in 10.4.x. In Safari, bookmark the RSS feed http://www.mandolincafe.com/classifieds.xml. Then open your System Preferences, choose the Screen Saver pane, choose the RSS Visualization screensaver, click the options button and select the feed bookmark. You should now see the latest stuff for sale for your screensaver... Note: this could be considered a bad thing if your a MASochist
What you said there hurts my brain! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Alright, I'm upgrading 10.4 as soon as I can. Besides, I have occasion to make a widget for someone here in the near future so this will be part of the fun. Seems fairly straight forward.

Seth Austen

Jan-15-2006, 4:44pm

They just released 10.4.4 at the expo earlier this week. I just updated this morning, working smoothly so far. They also released the new MacBook on Tues, barely a month after I bought a new powerbook G4 :-( Oh well, at least my new PB came with tiger, so I can use the mandolin cafe widget.

Seth

dasspunk

Jan-15-2006, 7:58pm

Lol...

Sorry Scott... though I see you upped the number of items displayed in the RSS feed. So at least some good came from your brain pain?

Scott Tichenor

Jan-15-2006, 8:20pm

Haven't increased the numbers. Should I? Never did any research on that but certainly can if needed. What's the norm?

dasspunk

Jan-15-2006, 9:54pm

Hmmm... for a moment, I thought I was seeing more than the 6 I'm seeing now. Not sure about a norm Scott... I would think something like a dozen might make sense? A few more would allow the widget creator to offer more items if they like. A user's aggregator can always cut back on the number displayed...

Chris Burt

Jan-15-2006, 11:11pm

Excellent. Thanks.

jaizbones

Jan-17-2006, 7:29pm

How about one for Windows users? No smack please.

Scott Tichenor

Jan-17-2006, 7:54pm