Current Project: Orcon NZ Usage Meter Gadget

So I have been meaning to have a play with building a Sidebar Gadget and I had an idea to build one that I can use to see my current broadband usage on Orcon. Orcon currently show you your current usage on their website but I thought it would be great as a learning exercise.

And it sure has been a learning curve! Either way I have a functional (emphasis on functional, haven't put any time into the layout) example which I am going to contact them about, just to make sure they are ok with me using some of their code and taping into their feed.

If you are currently on Windows 7 (should work in Vista or the Sidebar plugins for XP) and use Orcon as your provider, please check back as I will be in need of some testing :)

I have spent a total of a solid day on this, getting my head around the structure and the ways to get the Settings/Flyout views working. In the end I have scrapped using the Flyout, purely as there was no need for it.

So I am going to package it up and send it to @Orcon to see what they say before spending anymore time on it :)

Update 13/01/10 - I have heard back from @Orcon and they have been very supportive (Thanks Duncan). So now I am going to make it look nice as best I can and put it out for feedback.

Update 21/01/10 - Ok so here it is Orcon NZ Usage Meter (unofficial) (see below for download links). Go ahead, download, install and let me know what you think :) Please note that Orcon may change somethings on their end that may stop this from working. If it does and you notice, please let me know. Thanks!

Update 24/01/10 - At the request of my brother there is a Mac version in the works and not too far off.

Update 09/02/2010 - Two releases this time. An updated one for Vista/Win 7 and one for the Mac (Intel).

The new Windows one has some changes to it. First I have removed the ability to set the update time, instead it is set at 60 min and there is now a 'Update now' link. Some feedback was that this would be better. There are no other changes so you can keep the first version if you wish.

The Mac version (currently tested on Intel based OS X 10.4.10 / OS X 10.5.8 / OS X 10.6.2) and resembles the new Windows version in functionality. If it works (or if it doesn't), please comment with details of your Mac.

Update 02/03/10 - Have now updated both the Windows Version and the Mac version to include a check to see if there is a new version available for download and a link back here. Download Links updated. Only one version for each OS will be available for download (ask if you want previous versions).

Update 19/06/10 - We now have a PowerPC version! Also I have updated some of the wording in the other versions (thanks @bnorozi).

Update 24/12/11 - I have removed the download links till I can fix the Widgets. Thanks for the patience.