Listen Again - Last Broadcast

Looks like the ListenAgain widget has played it's last tune.

The widget works by gathering the radio programme information from the iPlayer website. Sometimes the BBC changes the layout of the iPlayer site slightly forcing me to tweak the widget to adapt to the new layout. Unfortunately this time it looks like the changes were much larger, at least internally, and I can't seem to find the URL for the Real Audio stream of each programme. In fact it doesn't look like they use Real Audio at all anymore - only Flash.

This spells the end for the widget I think, from now on you'll have to listen directly with iPlayer.

MyCaltrain back on sale!

I've reposted the MyCaltrain iPhone app to the app store and updated the schedule due to popular request - depending on your definition of popular - it's currently undergoing Apple review and if it passes it should be available in a few days.

If you like it, please take the time to give it a nice review.

Thanks,

Neil.

MyCaltrain Source Code

If you'd like to have a go at updating the Caltrain widget to the new schedule, then here's the source code.

The schedules are stored in the app as text files which were created by cut and pasting the timetable from a page on Caltrain's website.

As long as the text file format is the same, you should be able to do the update, rebuild and test.

The source code is licensed under the GPL.

Let me know if you get something working.

Source Code

MyCaltrain removed from sale

The Caltrain schedule undergoes a revision this week, as the app isn't up to date I am withdrawing it from sale to prevent confusion for riders.

As I currently don't ride Caltrain, and because the app is given away for free, I can't justify spending time on this project anymore - so I currently have no plans to update it and bring it back.

Thanks to everyone who used the app and liked it, especially the guy who gave it the stella review.

If you like the app and fancy a bit of iPhone development I am more than willing to send or post the code so you can update it and put it back up for (free) distribution. Please email me or post a comment if interested.

Listen Again v3.5

Listen to the large archive of recent BBC Radio programmes directly from Dashboard.

Currently supports: Radio 1, 1xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, 5 live, 5 extra, 6 Music, 7, Asian Network, Radio Scotland, Radio Ulster, Radio Wales, and all local radio. 55 stations in total.

Requires RealPlayer 10.1
Update, RealPlayer 11 doesn't play when Dashboard is hidden. Use RealPlayer 10.1

Download BBCListenAgain Widget

Shortcut Keys:
Space - Play/Pause
Up/Down - Volume
Left/Right - Skip
s - Stop
v - Voiceover feedback
p - Focus on station popup

What's new:
3.5
- Fixed to work with another iPlayer change
- Added local radio (55 stations in total)

3.4

- Fixed to work with another iPlayer change

- Fixed 'Listen Live'

3.33
- Fixed to work with another iPlayer change
- Added auto update mechanism
- Pressing the 'v' key will enable additional spoken feedback.

3.31
- Descriptions of programmes fixed (broken due to BBC slightly rearranging their iPlayer content)

3.3
- Works with new BBC iPlayer website
- Accessibility: Voiceover use is detected and certain actions are spoken if turned on.
- Better font resizing
- Busy feedback

This has been developed and tested on Mac 10.5

VoiceOver users: when selecting stations use VoiceOver keys with the arrows to select the station from the menu.

Troubleshooting:
Try and play directly from the BBC website. If it works there then it will almost certainly work in Dashboard. If not the problem has historically been issues with RealPlayer - try uninstalling and reinstalling RealPlayer using the version from the BBC website. Reboot after the reinstall to restart Dashboard.

Let me know any other problems.

Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger is required. If you're using Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, Show Dashboard, click the Plus sign to display the Widget Bar and click the widget's icon in the Widget Bar to open it. If you're using a browser other than Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, unarchive it and place it in /Library/Widgets/ in your home folder. Show Dashboard, click the Plus sign to display the Widget Bar and click the widget's icon in the Widget Bar to open it.

My Caltrain iPhone App

Update: My Caltrain has been updated an re-issued by Wendy Ju as CaltrainSchedule. Enjoy!

For riders of the San Francisco peninsula Caltrain: a new iPhone app to show the upcoming times of trains at your stations.

You tell it the stations you're interested in and the directions that you usually travel and the next time you start it you'll see upcoming scheduled train times customized for you with no more clicking.

Bullet and express trains are highlighted and the full time table for the whole week and weekend can be browsed without connecting to the internet.

Available from the iTunes app store.

This is version one, if you find any problems or have requests for it to do something it doesn't then email me and I'll see if I can get it in the next update.

Updated for March 2nd Schedule Change - This will appear as a free update to existing users.