Scriptures Dashboard Widget

Hi everyone, first post here. The usual disclaimers that I'm a church employee at SLC headquarters and such (Interaction Design team).

I'm curious to know if any of you are interested in putting in some time to develop a Mac Dashboard Widget and/or Yahoo Widget for accessing scripture references quickly from one's desktop? My team has talked about building one in our downtime, but we have yet to find the time.

I recognize many of you are waiting for a scriptures API (see http://tech.lds.org/forum/showthread.php?t=78), but I also realize it's possible to put together an initial prototype even without an API.

At a minimum, I envision the widget being extremely simple, having a search field that functions like the one on this prototype:

* Go directly to a verse or search by keyword
* Shortcuts for book names: Try selecting the "Go to" radio button with these searches: "al 32 27", "1 ne 1", "jo 1"
* Full text of search results/verses would link to scriptures.lds.org

I'm excited to hear any replies here or by email.

This sounds like a great idea. I have created some Gadgets for WIndows Vista and am very interested in working on a Windows version.

I'd be much more interested in a google gadget. Because of the over abundant use of advertising on too much of the screenspace, I have switched over to igoogle.com

Additionally, If one uses a DNS provider/blocking system like http://www.opendns.com then the pages for yahoo.com don't even display correctly.

BTW http://www.opendns.com is AWESOME for preventing even accidental loading of pornography or other malware because it prevents the domain from even resolving correctly, and advertisements on "legitmate" websites that are being served up by domains flagged by the system (and at a level that you have chosen to block) show up as blank boxes rather than racy pictures, or pictures that link to malware. It has my highest recommendation!!!

Jim

cameronmoll - I LOVE your prototype! You've added meaning to my otherwise gutless 'free' phone. I also used it in a Religion class today when I forgot my other scriptures and we were called on to read a scripture together. I really owe you lunch.

I would love to do what I can to bring these widgets to life (though I can't promise the stars with time and talent). Like jimr17, I would also prefer a Google Gadget - particularly with the (IE) Toolbar beta 5 that lets nests widgets into the toolbar buttons now emerging (as I expect the Firefox version will soon follow). It is SO nice not have to go back to a homepage to use a widget.

But, in fairness, Google gadgets weren't your proposition, and we may be better serving to go to the Google Gadget thread to further that cause.

Let us know how you want to proceed with your widgets - I'm all ears.

Awesome, thanks for the feedback and volunteering.

Anyone else?

jimr17 wrote:I'd be much more interested in a google gadget.

I'd like to put my vote in for a Google gadget.

Your prototype looks great by the way!

I thought you weren't serious about this widget thing. Ask Clifton to make a shinny html page and I will port it to Mac. It will take about 2-3 months though. hahaha. Sorry, school is killing me softly.

I decided to whip up a prototype for the Mac OS X Dashboard. It needs plenty of work, but it was pretty easy to get this far and wouldn't take much to finish the build out if you guys want to give me a hand with the aesthetics.

Download it here: http://www.scripturesapp.com/Scriptures.zip

Try searching for "1 ne. 3:1", "1 Nephi 3:1", "tent", "temples".

-Chuck

chuckphillips wrote:I decided to whip up a prototype for the Mac OS X Dashboard. It needs plenty of work, but it was pretty easy to get this far and wouldn't take much to finish the build out if you guys want to give me a hand with the aesthetics.

Download it here: http://www.scripturesapp.com/Scriptures.zip

Try searching for "1 ne. 3:1", "1 Nephi 3:1", "tent", "temples".

-Chuck

I'm not running a Mac. If you have a screen shot that you can post, I'm sure that there are a lot of people that would love to see what you are doing.

Tom

Tom,

I've uploaded a screenshot. It's not much to look at, but I'm going to work on both the aesthetics and the functionality to make it a bit more than a working prototype. I'm aiming to match the look and feel of my iPhone web app http://www.scripturesapp.com (screenshots attached)

Chuck

I'm studing XUL that could be a mutiplatform Widgets builder being a User-Interface language of XML.
What do you think about it?

chuckphillips wrote:Tom,

I've uploaded a screenshot. It's not much to look at, but I'm going to work on both the aesthetics and the functionality to make it a bit more than a working prototype. I'm aiming to match the look and feel of my iPhone web app http://www.scripturesapp.com (screenshots attached)

Chuck

I think that it is looking great. Keep up the great work!

Tom

chuckphillips wrote:Tom,

I've uploaded a screenshot. It's not much to look at, but I'm going to work on both the aesthetics and the functionality to make it a bit more than a working prototype. I'm aiming to match the look and feel of my iPhone web app http://www.scripturesapp.com (screenshots attached)

Chuck

I don't know what all you need help with but I am a bit of a graphic designer and programmer. I'm all Apple so I might be able to help you out.

Email me at cgreninger at evocomps dot com and send me any ideas you have for an interface.

I realize this post has been left alone for a while, but I am setting some time apart to take a crack at a Dashboard version for a simple scripture widget. I am a fairly unexperienced programmer, but perhaps I can get somewhere, if anyone has experience with Dashboard Widgets or any tips along the way, I greatly appreciate the help.