How do you check Google Reader? Maybe you just load the page in your browser, or have a separate application, or an item in your menubar?

Say hello to gRead, a Google Reader widget for Dashboard which automatically checks your account for new items and links you straight to them from Dashboard. If you’ve got Growl installed, it’ll check while Dashboard is hidden and send you notifications about new items! You can even choose between a badge and colour coding to let you know about new content. Thanks go to Sam for the idea, critique and some artwork for gRead.

Surely this is the most convenient way to check Google Reader yet?! And best of all, it’s completely free. Check it out now and let me know what you think.

There’s a new widget in town - BBC Radio Widget 3.0. Featuring, by popular request, an in-widget schedule!

Hopefully the first of several widget releases in the next few weeks (due to brief access to an internet connection, hurrah!).

I wouldn’t normally post this as news, but this may be the only way:

Some time back I had a couple of emails from someone (whom I won’t name, seeing as that would be rude) who had made a Cinematic variant, and wanted permission to release it. I tried to reply twice, but my messages got bounced (grr, over-zealous spam filters) - so if that was you, please get in touch again if you’re waiting for a reply, preferably with some more details or a prototype…

Apologies to anyone who has commented or emailed me in the last few months. I’ve had no active net connection, and the only internet I can get - campus internet - is crippled with regards to email, in that they block all outgoing mail except through their server, and provide no access to their own mail server through the wifi network anyway. In short, it’s been webmail all the way, and as it’s such a pain in the behind to use then emails have gone unanswered.

If you have an urgent request and you don’t get a reply within a couple of days, feel free to send it again (via email). You’ll get a response eventually if you keep bugging me.

Not only this, but all development work has had to stop, due to our lovely excessively-firewalled campus network. I love the network admins, really I do.

Hopefully, my issues at home should be resolved soon; my ISP has promised to test and reactivate the line within the week, and that’s the final barrier to us having a net connection again. I’ll believe it when I see it though…

No internet connection for - gulp - a month or more! Please address all enquiries to my email, I’ll aim to get back to you in reasonable time. In the meantime, enjoy the fact that Cinematic is going on general release after all. Enjoy!

So, it’s been an eventful week here at Phantom Gorilla. Not only do we have a new version of BBC Radio Widget out, but the whole site has had a makeover.

Go on, have a look around. The site’s a semi-fluid design - but I’ve bounded the pages to ensure the lines don’t get unreadably long. If you get a chance, see what happens when you change the font size… The whole site is measured in ems, which means every element dynamically resizes with the text. The next stage is implementing something as cool as this dude…

As ever, your comments are most welcome.

Well, it’s finally here! BBC Radio Widget 2.2 hits the internet with the full force of… well, with full force, anyway.

I know I’ve been promising this for nearly a fortnight now but - what can I say - I’ve been busy! Speaking of which, you may have noticed a few changes around here…

This version includes a final fix for that irritating freezing problem many people were experiencing, along with speed improvements, and other fixes. Get yours while it’s hot at the all-new widgets page.

It’s fixed! Apparently some Macs are fussier than others about Javascript errors… v2.2 - which will contain a few other fixes and enhancements - will be released soon. Sorry it’s so soon after the last update!

In other news, thanks to all those who have donated their hard-earned cash to Andy’s Beverage-Based Entertainment Fund. I’m still trying to get used to the idea of receiving money for this, but rest assured I really appreciate your donations. It certainly encourages further work!

There appears to be some kind of Javascript issue with the widget on some Intel Macs - specifically, that it may freeze on clicking the Done button.

Expect an update notification on my site and through the widget when a fix is available.

EDIT: So, it appears not to be an Intel problem after all - stay tuned. If the widget freezes for you when you press the Done button, please get in touch using the links on the right.

Well, the time has come for an official release - so here it is! A slight name change, too; just because, really.

Read more about it or get it now!

Mac OS X Tiger v10.4.2 or greater is required. If you’re using Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, the widget installer appears. Click Install if you want the widget installed on your Mac. If you’re using a browser other than Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, unarchive and open it to show the widget installer.

In addition, PPC users will need a minimum of RealPlayer 10; Intel users need 10.1 or better. A restart may well be required, too.