My Facebook gadget

myFacebookIt's been a while since my last post but that's only because I've been working on my Gadget competition project. Some may already know what this was, the rest of you must probably have already figured it out from this post's title, yes it's a Facebook gadget.

The myFacebook gadget allows you to bring Facebook right into your windows vista desktop. With it you'll be able to change your status, see your friends statuses, groups, notifications, albums and events without even having to open your web browser.

It's probably the largest and certainly the most challenging gadget I've created (so far ;-) and it's all written with JavaScript and DHTML. To retrieve facebook data, I've created a JavaScript wrapper of Facebook's API that I'm also planning on releasing (its source code).

Once you've installed it you will have to authorize the gadget to see your facebook data just as you would for any other facebook application, before being able to interact with it. Extra authorization is needed though (from the facebook API) if you wish to be able to change your status as well.

In some cases you might have to login more than once (only the first time), as some (Patrick) noticed sorry for that but my intention is to avoid storing usernames and passwords and let Facebook handle authentication and authorization.

Note also that in some cases a javascript error may occur on the facebook login form preventing you from logging in. In such a case try changing your browser security settings to overcome the error or add http://login.facebook.com to your trusted sites zone.


Comments

# Breaking the barriers
Posted by K# on 10/22/2007 2:55 PM
Breaking the barriers
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Jeff on 10/26/2007 8:27 AM
I like the gadget and am using it. Thanks!
One request would be to let you choose to show or hide the friends status part. This can be distracting when writing a paper and takes more CPU power than the rest of it. Thanks again.
# Vista Facebook Sidebar Gadget
Posted by Sarah In Tampa on 11/1/2007 9:41 PM
A new Vista sidebar gadget brings the power of your favorite social network to your desktop. The
# Vista Facebook Sidebar Gadget
Posted by Noticias externas on 11/1/2007 10:03 PM
A new Vista sidebar gadget brings the power of your favorite social network to your desktop. The MyFacebook
# Download Facebook Gadget for Vista Sidebar
Posted by Guy Burstein [MVP] on 11/2/2007 2:05 PM
Download Facebook Gadget for Vista Sidebar I've been using facebook a lot lately, creating groups
# MyFacebook Gadget Update
Posted by K# on 11/9/2007 11:01 AM
MyFacebook Gadget Update
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by srinu on 11/14/2007 9:40 AM
Hi,
I couldn't download this gadget.
I am using windows XP sp2. other than this,
what I nedd to have to use this in my system.
I to want to develop the same type of facebook gadget to use in my webapplication. How can I build?
Thank you,
Srinu
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Scott on 11/25/2007 7:39 PM
Also make sure that the browser you are using with MyFacebook is your default. I uninstalled firefox and started using IE again, and when I tried running the gadget through IE it wouldnt load due to it trying to open in firefox.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by kostas on 11/25/2007 11:44 PM
I'm not using any specific browser.
I'm just using hyperlinks and let the underlying platform decide which browser will be used.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by kostas on 11/25/2007 11:50 PM
Srinu, you'll need windows Vista in order to run myFacebook in your sidebar. There is however a project called vaio, you can read more about it here http://blog.pantos.name/archive/2006/12/15/213.aspx, which allows you to run sidebar gadgets on Windows XP. myFacebook hasn't been tested for it though and thus cannot guarantee that it'll work.
To include something similar in a web page I would suggest you check Popfly's Facebook provider...
Hope this helps.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Jon H on 1/3/2008 2:52 AM
I was wondering if it would be possible to have a cut down version of MyFacebook showing only poke, friend request and notification numbers, as well as a hyperlink to the facebook homepage. Here is an image of the sort of thing I'm thinking of.
http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/MyFacebook Lite.png

I have no idea how complicated or time consuming this would be to impliment, so please forgive my ignorance.
However I think it would make a neat gadget to compliment the one you already have.

Keep up the good work
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by cheeesman on 2/2/2008 4:01 AM
ok so i like my facebook sidebar. it is sweet but every time i shut the comp off and then turn it back on i have to get a new code. is this supposed to happen???

thanks
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by josh on 2/10/2008 3:24 PM
I love the gadget, but in a future edition, can u have a friend online now option
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Blake on 2/23/2008 6:37 PM
This gadget works great all accept for the notifications and the status updates. It just keeps telling me that need to put them into the correct boxes in the settings. I have done this for both of the link boxes and got them even from clicking the link it says to.

Please Help
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Chris on 3/14/2008 11:14 AM
For those of you like Blake having the problem where it tells you to put the notification link in the correct box.
What you need to do is click the link above the box on the settings page, however, this is NOT the link you need, the one you want is found on the right hand side, where is says "Subscribe to Notifications". Right click on that link and hit Copy Link or something to that effect.
Its the RSS link you want, not the webpage one.

Hope this helps some people.
Chris
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by AGNES on 4/2/2008 2:40 PM
idon't have a problem at all
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by yungdrel on 5/17/2008 5:00 AM
i downloaded and installed this gadget, however wen i click 'get login code' i get an error message that says "http://www.facebook.com/code_gen.php?v=1.0&api_key=4dc86706b3c8dca7ae7b1e4b8b1281....."

i tried searching for a fix but since i cant get the rest of the API code i get another error message that says "invalid api_key code" is there a fix to this that im missing?
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by kpantos on 5/19/2008 11:10 AM
I don't see the error message, can you please sent the whole error message please.
# I want Notifications, not Friend Updates
Posted by steve on 6/20/2008 11:30 AM
Hi
Love the gadget, it works fine. Can you make it so that instead of Friend Updates on screen we have friends notifications instead? I find that if I click on the notifications tab, there is about a 30-45 second lag before I get the notifications popup come up (by which time I could have logged in to FB on a web page!) I actually know that you can do this by substituting the notifications address in the friends address bar. the downfall of this is that the size of the scroller box where the output is displayed is not big enough. This would be better because you are more likey to act on a notification than just a status update. Can you do both?! :)
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Heather_Bob on 7/14/2008 3:47 PM
Hi, I'm a facebook/vista newbie and want to get the most out of both. Saw your gadget recommended in 'Windows Vista' magazine and thought would give it a go as it looks great. Downloaded A-OK but am having problems with the RSS feed - possible same problem as Blake? I've tried the solution put forward by Chris (many thanks) but no joy; still getting message under friends status box that says 'Set status feed...' When I click on the notification/status RSS feed in IE tool bar I get a 'IE can display this feed, the feed download was interrupted' message. I've set facebook as a trusted site... Help! It's driving me MAD!
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by kpantos on 7/15/2008 11:32 AM
you need to copy and paste the URL's from under the subscribe part of each feed to get the status updates and notifications to work. just going to the link the options page takes you to is not enough. it's on the right side of the screen on the bottom. just go there and copy the URL. Don't worry about actually subscribing, all you need is the URL.
You might also wanna check the gadget's page on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/notifications.php#/apps/application.php?id=8040585574) lots of guys have put on comments on how to subscribe to those feeds.
HTH.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Net Framework Development on 9/8/2008 11:32 AM
Nice work dude... keep it up!!!
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Benny on 9/23/2008 9:31 AM
Thanks for the help with the correct notification and status links.. The RSS feed link is definitely the one you want, not the actual page it sends u to in the first place.
I was wondering what the problem was with that until I found this great help. Cheers!
# messages within My Facebook gadget
Posted by Pierre on 10/1/2008 3:34 PM
is it possible to read messages within My Facebook gadget or is it only possible to know the count of unread messages ?
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by william on 10/6/2008 10:54 PM
hope this gadget works well
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by fourketas on 10/8/2008 4:59 PM
thank you
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Olivier on 10/21/2008 1:33 AM
Great work dude ... keep us updated for new gadgets ... thnx
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Injy on 11/6/2008 7:52 AM
ithink it's much easier than the website.
# My Facebook gadget
Posted by Be_Lead Blog on 11/16/2008 11:36 AM
When you attend these great conferences, it’s not only about technical content, it is also a good opportunity
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Coolone on 11/18/2008 8:52 AM
Hey glad to find out about the rss. Now its working.

Thanks. good Job
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Eskimal on 12/25/2008 4:44 PM
I Love Facebook
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by feras sayegh on 1/1/2009 2:46 PM
very nice gadget
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Pete H. on 3/18/2009 12:25 AM
have you released your source code yet? I'd like to try it out on my FB JS application. Thanks.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by testicular cancer symptoms on 4/15/2009 1:59 PM
Great work ... keep us updated for new gadgets ... thanks !!
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by sharf on 6/16/2009 2:36 PM
SDFG
# Wie finde ich den Facebook Friends Status Feed?
Posted by Giza-Blog.de on 6/27/2009 8:43 PM
Facebook hat in den letzten Tagen / Wochen irgendwie so manche komische Änderung
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by TheUSMale2 on 7/6/2009 6:17 AM
Love the Gadget, updated to the new version. it doesn't get past the one timecode. it just sits there doing "0". null. how to get past this problem would be welcomed my friend. The only request i have is the size of the box it's contained in is a little too small. Mine stops on the right side in the middle of the Icons. or do i need to change something? using 1920x1080 landscape. Thanks in advance for any help.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by kpantos on 7/6/2009 11:38 AM
Close the gadget and re-open it. I'm guessing that your problem is a cached session key.
Let me know if that doesn't work.
I'll think about the size, maybe in a future version ;-)
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by hendrawan on 7/8/2009 5:40 AM
i want to gadget desktop in my computer
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Johnny on 7/9/2009 9:51 AM
It is the latest gadget which has a capability to change our status, see our friends statuses, groups, notifications, albums and events without even having to open our web browser....Although it is the best gadget i have ever seen with HTML and Java Script as well...........
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Computer Repair Toronto on 8/2/2009 1:59 AM
Nice gadget with good feature
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Will on 8/16/2009 8:25 PM
Your gadget is awesome and inspiring. It inspired me to dream of a vista gadget retrieving friends' information automatically from people' social networks like Facebook, MSN and ICQ. Instead of knowing a friend's news from Facebook only, the application could get his/her information from other social networks if applicable. Your gadget exemplifies part of my idea.
I saw it was written in JS where no server needed for computation remotely. It suggests me that such an approach is good. But I know nothing about Facebook API. Could give me some hints how to retrieve info from Facebook API via JS? I want to write my own, because I want to learn and write such a gadget for MSN, Xiaonei also. Please forgive my arrogance if any. I'm just so exited seeing your gadget. Thank you.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Echy on 8/20/2009 10:58 AM
thanx.. :)
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by anna ong on 8/30/2009 8:05 AM
ok
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Becki Major on 9/11/2009 11:20 PM
This is very tedious and it doesn't always work the way I think it's supposed to work. It is neither simple nor simplistic.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by kpantos on 9/12/2009 9:42 AM
Everyone is entitled of his opinion
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Muhammad Bhatti on 9/28/2009 2:50 PM
Thats great
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Muhammad Adnan on 12/1/2009 1:39 PM
its amazing
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Jinyoung Choi on 12/16/2009 10:38 AM
good~!
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by dirtdog on 12/29/2009 7:36 AM
uhm i need a code dude
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by ce on 1/3/2010 6:54 AM
ok nice
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Quoc Dat on 1/7/2010 3:19 AM
15
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Adnan Mahbubul on 1/10/2010 11:49 PM
Nice
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Manuel Quintero on 1/16/2010 10:23 PM
oooe!!
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by cheap computers on 2/5/2010 5:11 AM
I am happy to read your blog and admit the webmaster has done a very good job by putting all the information content at one place. I'd like to recommend it with reference to my website http://www.pctechoutlet.com
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by D on 2/28/2010 8:54 PM
learning how this works still but seems alright.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by harshal on 3/8/2010 4:28 PM
i am always online yarr
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by RAYAN on 3/10/2010 8:56 AM
:)
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Touch Up Paint on 3/12/2010 7:44 AM
Nice app. make a feature where it's always the foremost window and you have a winner.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by hello on 3/22/2010 3:06 AM
always online with this sidbar fantastic
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by christina on 3/25/2010 7:45 AM
hey!!
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by joeski on 3/26/2010 2:57 AM
hey i have one problem...
it is that when i try to set up the notification too in settings it asks for url but it sends me to my notifications to geturl. but it doesnt work..
http://www.facebook.com/notifications.php
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by BarOo Daggag on 3/27/2010 9:55 PM
Download Facebook Gadget for Vista Sidebar
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Tie on 3/30/2010 7:59 AM
pretty cool little gadget, thanks for sharing it :)
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by ali jalel on 4/21/2010 2:49 PM
hi evcery one
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Marcos on 5/18/2010 5:46 PM
uuuuuu kiero bajarlooooo yaaa
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Almalek on 5/29/2010 1:07 AM
I wish all the best
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Akshay Munsing on 6/12/2010 6:52 AM
kOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL........
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by hans on 6/24/2010 2:04 PM
Do it
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by astran_08 on 6/25/2010 6:20 AM
hehehehehe ok!!!!
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by TIM SUNDBERG on 6/26/2010 1:07 PM
HWJ
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Bardha E Arso Gashi on 6/26/2010 7:06 PM
i will try
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by raffaele on 6/26/2010 8:24 PM
ke devo commentare
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by etka88 on 6/26/2010 9:43 PM
cOOL
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Marcolino on 7/26/2010 4:08 PM
I've a problem with my gadget on W7 O.S. When I try to connect, after the login and password, Facebook said: " There a problem with mysidebarbook. try later." Anyone can help me? TKS :)
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Larry on 7/29/2010 10:11 PM
Hello, this sounds like a cool gadget but I cannot log in. I keep getting the following error. "An error occurred with BuildAGadget.com Sidebar Gadget. Please try again later." I tried adding Facebook to trusted sites but I also got an error saying it had to start with HTTPS not HTTP. Thanks for any help.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by kpantos on 7/30/2010 11:14 AM
Hey Larry, BuildAGadget.com Sidebar Gadget has nothing to do with "my sidebar gadget" though. They are two seperate downloads. I would suggest contacting BuildAGadget.com.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by James on 8/6/2010 1:23 AM
Hi, i too am getting an error from FB saying please try later, any advice?
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Sohail on 8/9/2010 8:06 PM
Hi,

When I tried getting the FB one time code, I got the following error message:

"An error occurred with mySidebarBook. Please try again later."

Please advise.
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Sohail on 8/9/2010 8:08 PM
What should I do with this error:

"An error occurred with mySidebarBook. Please try again later."
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by Tim on 8/9/2010 9:23 PM
Ditto - is there a recent change? I just moved to a win7 machine, and trying out the gadget I cannot get the code to connect it to FB. I added both of the suggested sites to my trusted sites, but every time I click on the gadget to get the code - the FB page that comes up in IE states "An error occurred with mySidebarBook. Please try again later."
Help??
# KEEPS SAYING ERROR :(
Posted by Samantha on 8/20/2010 5:47 AM
i've tried this several times. idk what im doing wrong. i downloaded it. and clicked on the link that says i need to get the one time code from the gadget itself. then it takes me to the internet and says there has been an error. i cant seem to get it to work and would realllly like to have it. hellpppp
# re: My Facebook gadget
Posted by tAWNYA on 9/2/2010 6:54 AM
Having problem with getting code to take-

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