The reason both the OptusNet Widget and Application is not currently working is due to a change at the Optus end.
As per the below information Optus has decided to no longer provide usage information easily to 3rd part developers.
We will have to work around this before the widget/App will work again.
For the full text of the Optus announcement please read the rest of this story.
UPDATE (18 Jan): We now have a beta version of our ISP usage app for iPhone working with the Optus usage pages. Due to the changes we’ve had to make, before we release an update, we need to check that this version correctly obtains usage information for all of Optus’ different plans. If you are an Optus customer, we’d like your help! Click here to submit your usage page to us so that we can test it and get the update to Apple for approval.
UPDATE 2 (24 Jan): This issue is resolved in version 1.1.0 of the ISP Usage app which has been submitted to Apple for approval.
Removal of Member Services URL
From 15 January 2009, Optus will remove access to the following URL :-
https://memberservices.optuszoo.com.au/myusage/usage.txt
from customers across all of our Internet products. This will primarily affect customers who have installed a third party usage meter which uses this data to provide updated usage information to customers.Among many such meters, one is available as a Google gadget (which can be added to an iGoogle homepage), there is a Firefox extension (which appears in the menu bar), and a Vista desktop gadget.
A post will be made to the Service Status page indicating that access is no longer available :-To all customers using a 3rd party usage meter to retrieve their Optus usage: Please be advised that effective 15th January 2009, the plain text usage file previously available via Member Services will no longer be available. This will likely result in a number of these usage applications ceasing to function as intended, as they will be unable to retrieve data from Optus. Optus is looking at potential replacement feeds that may provide a similar service, however until that time, users should access the Optus Usage Meter at https://memberservices.optuszoo.com.au/myusage directly to obtain the most up to date information on their usage.
Q: When will the change take effect?
A: 15th January 2009Q: Will this change impact on existing customers already receiving usage feeds?
A: All customers, new and existing, will be impacted by the removal of the text file representing usage.Q: Which products does this apply to?
A: All Cable, DSL Direct, Resale DSL and OWB customers using this method to retrieve usage details will be affected.Q: Why are the changes being made?
A: The primary reason that the access is being removed is to maintain security of customer details. As the username and password are sent as part of the URL, this is sent in plain text rather than being encrypted by the https:// protocol used by Member Services login.
This is a shame. Hopefully they’ll have an alternative soon. But going by the status of their iPhone plan usage maybe not :P.
My fave widget is dead! Oh noes! Love your work and hopefully you guys/gals can find a workaround..
Cheers..
Hi guys, when is the ETA for the fix? i love your work! long time fan!
We are working to resolve this as soon as possible. Keep an eye on the website for updates.
I rely on the Optus widget big time, keep up the good work guys & hopefully we will see a fix soon
I’m with you jimmy! I hope Optus gets around to resupplying the feed! Thanks for providing such a wonderful widget.
Is this not an attempt by Optus to force users to the terrible “Zoo” website? I hope this gets rectified – I hate that site, and love the usage widget!
I use your widget every day and have had to log on to Zoo to get my usage much to my chagrin! You’ve done us a great service providing such a useful tool and you have my vote of appreciation!
looking forward to that “a new version is available” message! keep up the great work, appreciate it.
My widget on iPhone is not working !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why
Keep up with the good work guys.
Interesting that Optus previously allowed plain text username and passwords sent as part of URL though…
No more Widget :-(( OptusZoo Sucks!
Your widget is great and I do use it a lot, but I also wrote my own Optus-specific application, so that I could express the elapsed days as a percentage for easier comparison (just like the Optus Site). My application has also been rendered useless by this change. Bummer! It’s not impossible to get around the problem, but it obviously requires a lot more code to negotiate the HTML log-in page and then extract the usage data from the raw html version of the report page. And there might possibly be some rendered variations to contend with for different plans? Yuck! So I really appreciate the work you are doing.
Great widget. I was looking for a reason to dump Optus. I guess this is it.
TPG here I come.
Great work on the apps and widgets. You do some mighty fine work.
Although I miss the LemonJar Optus widget now that I know my username and password were sent in the clear I am pleased that Optus have removed the usage text file. I’m sure the clever folks at LemonJar will have a new and improved widget once Optus have a more secure solution.
Keep up the good work guys,
Long time user and lover of the whole lemonjar widget concept. I am an optusnet customer. And I hate them. To cut a long story short, I can not leave them; that is beyond my control. However, I can and will hope to help in any way I can to get the new version of the widget working. Keep up the good work, and I hope I can help some time. (I am on the Unlimited Pro Plan… heh, yeah, unlimited my ass. 2GB on peak downloads… stupid optus)
*** 20GB I mean
I am really disappointed on what optuse did , I called tham and report , that I am not happy with them , I think this is a trick for optuse to let people to reach their limit !! and decide to upgrade ,!!
Loved your widget for so long – am so lost without it.
I submitted the source for my usage page a few weeks back – is there anything else we can give you to help?
Is there an ETA?
Hi,
thanks for the new working app. Are our password and usernames being sent securely now?
Hi Geoff,
The application has always sent usernames and passwords securely to Optus. It was just an excuse that they used to validate their removal of the usage feed.
The App uses HTTPS and SSL to transfer all usage data and login information.
-Richard
If you are that concerned about security for this why not change it to have the username and password sent vua HTTPS as ‘post’ data rather than ‘get’ data in the URL.
That would make it just as secure as HTTPS which is as secure as ytou normal login forms.
A lot of client programs can handle post data, as is, and it is trival for more usage meters and scripts to switch from ‘GET’ to ‘POST’ data formats. For example wget, curl, lynx, etc etc all allow you to set POST data easilly.
So rather than disabling it, FIX it to be more secure. Use of 3rd party usage meters is vital for good service, to customers.
I for one need it as I need to download the information to automatically pass it to the actual users (tenets in a rental property), who would not otherwise have access. I can’t do this if the download of the data is not scriptable!
Guys any news on when this will be ready?
Gosh it must be an incredibly difficult task if it has taken more than 3 months for the widget to be fixed!!
Find it hard to understand how you could fix the iPhone app, but can’t seem to crack the widget.
Good call Jane. I am sure it has nothing to do with the fact that the iphone app costs money and the widget doesnt.
Lemonjar, please inform us if you have no intention of fixing the Optus usage widget…then we can delete our dashboard widget and stop checking this site. Thank you for the widget in the first place. It was very useful.
I ended up switching to “MUM” running from wine. Arrggghhh….
Yeah, any news on the widget, vs the application? I really appreciate the work you guys do, and have been a long time user of the widget. Unfortunately I’m not looking for an iphone app for this as I’d like to be able to check my usage on my mac. I can see why you’d want us to buy the app, and that’s fine, you deserve to make money
If you have no intention of updating the widget then I’ll just have to sadly move on, after two years or something of using it. It was my first useful dashboard widget, and the only one I actually used a year later!
What the heck &@#$# are you people at Lemonjar doing? fix the app we have all paid for!!! iam sick of waiting, i am going to post on itunes that no one should buy anything from you.
Dear Lemonjar
It’s obvious when you scan through all the comments here that your widget was a cherished thing until Optus soiled the nest. It’s also obvious that your fans are frustrated with the lack of progress on releasing a revised widget that works.
Suggest you post a message here that gives us some indication of progress on your negotiations with Optus about getting the fix approved. You are clearly losing faith with your devoted (albeit freeloading) fans. Please be aware that it is not our fault that you originally offered your brilliant widget to us for free. If this “arrangement” is not to continue then perhaps you should inform us.
Personally I agree with others that patience is wearing thin checking this site repeatedly waiting for the fixed widget fix to appear. We still love you… but for how long?? Should we be more blunt? It’s nearly May. Who do we have to sleep with?
Yay, just installed new working dashboard widget. It works.
THANKS!
ZOMG! It works! Huzza!
Thanks, y’all.
To update or not to update – that, my friends, is the question..
Widget v2.00 says yay. This site says nay..
Thanks for giving me good information.Ensure safe and secure delivery to your precious goods such as delicate materials, paintings, heavy machineries, etc.