8gadget is there anything better

Servo · 24 Aug 2021 at 17:50

Hi all
Been using this app for years, but today "The Sky News" feed stopped working.
Is there anything else like it. The old one used to update the news headlines and you could click on the link and open full screen into edge. Just need something to run on the desktop.

Bob

ASW · 23 Sep 2021 at 17:32

Bob,

Did you fix the problem with your Sky News Gadget? If not, I can help you.
They recently changed all of the server url's from http to https. It's a matter of searching and replacing all of the entries in the installation file.
I can give you the details of which files to change. Do you know how to edit Gadget files? To make it easier, I can send you a copy of the modified file if you like.

Alan

Servo · 24 Sep 2021 at 11:27

Hi Alan, thankyou for the reply. I really have no idea on how to change the app. Do you have links for downloading the sky app.
Cheers
Bob

Edit, yes please

ASW · 24 Sep 2021 at 11:47

Bob,

It's not available to download anywhere as it's my own modification of the original Sky News Gadget as previously mentioned.
If you let me have an email address, I can send you the installation file as an attachment.

Alan

Servo · 24 Sep 2021 at 14:36

cheers mate. where do the files goto?

ASW · 24 Sep 2021 at 15:34

Bob,

I sent an email with the attachment to the address you gave me (at replaced with @) but it bounced back to me.
Does this email address accept attachments?

Alan

ASW · 24 Sep 2021 at 15:42

Bob,

Rather than mess about trying to get you the file by email, try this link:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AjE0T2E2VWlAhfBIf_CEDHG2oqJpDw?e=PadbYG

It's my OneDrive account.

Simply unzip the file and run "SkyNews.gadget". No need to uninstall the existing version.

It should then work exactly as it did before. Let me know how you get on.

Alan

Servo · 24 Sep 2021 at 16:35

Hi Alan
A massive thankyou, works great

ASW · 24 Sep 2021 at 16:47

Glad to be of help

Servo · 5 Oct 2021 at 13:43

@ASW hi Al, I seem to have a problem with the sky app. It doesn't refresh the news headlines until I do a reboot. Am I missing an option?

ASW · 5 Oct 2021 at 15:40

Bob,
Yes, I've just checked and mine is the same. Has it been working OK until now or have you just noticed it?
I'm sure it was updating OK before. Something must have changed. This could be tricky to sort out. It's not easy trying to modify some else's code.
In the meantime, you can get it to update without rebooting by closing the "Windows Desktop Gadgets" task in the Task Manager
and then restarting the "Gadgets" app.
Also, have you tried the "Sky News RSS Reader" in the Microsoft Store? It might be an option if I can't get this to work properly

Alan

Servo · 5 Oct 2021 at 16:01

Cheers Alan, I guess it's been happening for awhile. It's like it isn't refreshing. If you sort it I want it

will take a look at Sky News RSS Reader. Not to put pressure on you i'm depending on you

Servo · 5 Oct 2021 at 16:06

Lol, that was terrible.

ASW · 5 Oct 2021 at 16:42

As a workaround, I've put another file in my OneDrive folder called "Restart Gadgets.cmd"
This automatically closes and reopens the Gadget App which results in the Sky News Gadget updating itself.
You could create a scheduled task which automatically runs it every 15 minutes or so.

Servo · 5 Oct 2021 at 17:01

Hi Al, I can only see one file Sky News updated gadgeet

ASW · 5 Oct 2021 at 17:22

Whoops! Sorry.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AjE0T2E2VWlAhfBJCa1fnyXerxt2vw?e=Mi0FEr

Servo · 5 Oct 2021 at 17:34

Sorry about the delay replying, I pulled the wrong plug out. Got the file and that works great.
Thankyou again

rumple9 · 6 Oct 2021 at 02:32

brilliant thanks for sharing. Got anymore gadgets?

Servo · 6 Oct 2021 at 10:26

rumple9 said:
brilliant thanks for sharing. Got anymore gadgets?

There should be loads within the app. Must admit I only use The sky and The weather app

ASW · 6 Oct 2021 at 12:31

Bob,
I'm coming to the conclusion that there's nothing wrong with the Sky News gadget.
Have you tried using the Sky News RSS Reader yet?
It appears to show the same problem. The headlines do not update here until I close and reopen the app.
If you go to https://news.sky.com/ you can see the news stories in the order they're supposed to be displayed in the gadget and the app.