Phantom Gorilla » News

Introducing gRead

Hawkman — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:29:41 +0000

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.

BBC Radio Widget v3.0

Hawkman — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:08:58 +0000

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!).

Did you mail me about a Cinematic variant?

Hawkman — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 14:13:39 +0000

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…

Internet problems

Hawkman — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 15:09:30 +0000

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…

I’m going outside now - I may be some time

Hawkman — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 13:43:57 +0000

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!

Site Redesign

Hawkman — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 23:55:53 +0000

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.

BBC Radio Widget v2.2

Hawkman — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 23:46:05 +0000

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.

Freezing problem update

Hawkman — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:59:21 +0000

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!

Widget + Intel

Hawkman — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 14:45:12 +0000

~~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.~~

Apologies for my late recognition of this - I’ve been away for a month.

As I don’t own an Intel Mac myself, I may be getting in contact with some of those who have already emailed me about the issue in order to resolve it. You lucky people.

~~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.

BBC Radio Widget 2.0 release

Hawkman — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 11:34:00 +0000

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