Verizon Minutes Used Firefox Extension Version 1.8
This version fixed a the txt message display and usage projection.
You can download the new version here .
posted by Winston Huang @ 5/30/2008 08:36:00 AM
Friday, May 30, 2008
You can download the new version here .
51 Comments:
Looks great! Thanks, Winston!!
Winston is a GOD.
Thanks for the Projection fix. It showed me paying about one million to Verizon.
Thank you Winston...
All is good!
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Can you please update this to work with FF3?
Getting an error that says "will not be installed because it does not provide secure updates".
Because I'm running FF3RC1, I already have a flag set to ignore add-on compatibility checking. So it might not have even gotten that far on a normal setup.
Any chance on a fix?
Just a show of interest as well in a FF3 update. I get the same "secure updates" error.
Love this extension! Another vote for FF3!
I would LOVE to see a FF3 version!
One thing I have noticed with the new Verizon website is that they cache it much more heavily now. Refreshing doesn't seem to refresh the numbers. I need to log off and log on. So perhaps the extension should log off after it gets its numbers (depending on the frequency specified in the Options) and then log back on the next time.
hmm as of today, i have to log into the verizon billing site before any data displays. Something change again?
yeah, a FF3 update would be awesome! I love love love this extension!
Love this extension! Please please please update it for FF3!
pls pls pls update for FF3.....i love this add-on
Winston, You are our hero! And once again our new FF is waiting for your magic.
Cheers.
@-
We need FF3 compatibility, please!
Definitely want a FF3 version. It was almost a deal breaker for me to go to FF3 knowing that this extension wouldn't work.
please please release one for FF3
Winston - looks like you may somehow need to implement "secure updates" to get this working with FF3. I used this extension:
http://www.mrtech.com/extensions/local_install/
After installing Mr Tech, uninstall, then reinstall the Verizon extension. It will prompt you to "override max version checking."
But while that works for most other extensions, with the Verizon extension, it gives an error as you will see.
Thanks for all the work!!!
i am not sure how to get the "secure update" to work. anyone knows a good source to look it up? besides, historically this extension was not allowed by mozilla to be hosted on mozilla's web site. not sure if that's required for secure update...
Winston, there is a whole article telling hoe to update extensions to work with FF3. See http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Updating_extensions_for_Firefox_3
Winston, per documentation Anonymous sent, it seems for the moment, you can get away without Secure Update by just removing the UpdateURL line from the install.rdf file. That might be a good temporary solution for us now until someone figure out a secure web hosting to host this for you (or us!). I was able to get it installed by doing this, but couldn't get it to save my account settings. looks like some password API's changed in FF3 as well. thanks again for your time and effort. @-
Winston, I also wanted to express my gratitude for all your efforts creating a wonderful Fx plugin (and ask very meekly for a Fx3 version).
Regarding Amir's post on FF3 handling passwords differently...
"If your extension accesses user login information using the Password Manager, it will need to be updated to use the new Login Manager API."
Details here:
http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Updating_extensions_for_Firefox_3#Password_Manager
Hope that this helps. I looked through it, as well as your code; but unfortunately it is a bit beyond my ability to sort it all out.
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you can make this work with firefox 3 by digging into the xpi and editing the minutesTicker.js file thats kept in verizon-minutes.jar, and setting usePwdMgr on line 98 to false. this seems to be an old method of storing the username and password left over from previous versions of the extension. the only drawback is it stores the username and password as plaintext in about:config
i tried looking at how the passwords are stored and fixing it, however i do not know much about how firefox stores passwords. http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Using_nsILoginManager might be of use, its examples of how to use the new password management scheme
Just to confirm that Billy's instruction WORKED and it is now fully functional on FF3 with no problem. Thanks Billy and Winston who is THE MAN with his kick-@$$ add-in! Can't wait to see the final version from him.
Thanks,
Amir-
Billy's instructions for modifying the jar file worked. However you also need to modify the install.rdf file by:
1)Changing the em:maxVersion line to 4.*.*.*
and
2)removing the update url in between the em:updateURL and em:updateURL tags.
I made the modifications per Billy's and Gadianton's instructions... all is working now! Thanks!
Billy/Gadianton: Great instructions! I also have re-packed my XPI file and it's working swimmingly with FF3. W00t!
Of course, mad props to Winston for making this add-on in the first place!
Hi guys.
I've posted an updated plugin that works with FF3 per instructions of Billy and gadianton, below. I will remove at your request, Winston (I will check this forum periodically). Otherwise, enjoy with the caveats Billy has described: http://aristotle.uhwo.hawaii.edu/vmu/
I'm doing the HAPPY DANCE! It worked. I thought I was going to have to go back to ff2. Winston I love this program and have donated before. My Thanks to you again. Also my Thanks to everyone else involved with this and to bargain blog for making it so easy to do.
Thanks a TON everyone for getting VMU to work with FF3. It's high time that Mozilla recognizes our Plugin as a official and an ethical one. This plugin absolutely rocks.
Installed "fixed" extension and it works. Thanks for all your efforts.
I too installed "fixed" extension and it works. Thanks for all your efforts.
is just me or does the "fixed" extension work for a while then goes to 0 for anyone else?
I just got the same experience: it displayed the correct number of minutes, and then it reverted to zero.
I'm using FF3.
Yea I've noticed that too. It seems verizon has made some changes with their session timeouts and the extension is not staying logged in. This seems to be the cause, Id say try setting how often it checks your usage to something like 10 minutes. So far from what I've seen 10 will work, at least it has been for me. This will generate extra bandwidth usage but should keep the session active.
I doubt that a change by Verizon caused this. I am still using FF2 with Winston's original extension without any issues. I would think it has more to do with FF3 having changed password handling.
I stand corrected.... Same issue here with FF2 and Winston's original script. If I am logged on for a while, as soon as the minutes are rechecked, I am seeing 0 minutes displayed. Shut down FF and reopen... minutes are once again correct. Too bad that maintaining his wonderful extension has become such a chore.
there is a slight change on the verizon's web site. i have fixed it (in firefox 2). i am planning to upgrade this extension to work with firefox 3 and use its password manager to store the password. i really have limited time recently. so there is no guarantee when this can be done.
It is great to hear that you haven't given up on this altogether, as we have all come to love and depend on this extension. Thank you.
Thank you Winston. Like Phil said we really really appreciate this ext
Thank you Winston! Looking forward to the FF3 version!
~CMT
Wow, thanks. I can't wait for the ff3 version. Losing this extension is the one hiccup I had when changing to ff3. Can't wait!!!!
Having just paid an extra $50 for extra minutes used, I'm hoping this extension will save me money in cycles to come. But what would make this helpful extension significantly more helpful (to me, at least, and I doubt I'm alone) would be a "send text-message" and "send email" option when the "red if exceeded" minutes are, well, exceeded. I'm not always around my own computer, and even if I am I could conceive that I would simply not catch when I go over my minutes.
I image this would require entering email information, and be a pain to program (maybe appropriate as a thunderbird add-on?), but I cannot stress how much more useful this extension would be for some of us who travel often or need an instant, beeping reminder for such things. In general, I really appreciate your effort, Winston, for taking the time to write this extension. But please take it to the next level!
Well I feel silly, it looks like this is exactly what the "Verizon Alert" extension, which Winston has linked to, does. But it doesn't look like it is released (?). It's a little too bad there are two different extension for what is in essence the same task. But hey, if these both work, wonderful, no complaints here!
Repost with working FF3 plugin:
I've posted an updated plugin that works with FF3 per instructions of Billy and gadianton, below. I will remove at your request, Winston (I will check this forum periodically). Otherwise, enjoy with the caveats Billy has described: http://aristotle.uhwo.hawaii.edu/vmu/
yet another request for an update =) love the program!
Mr. Huang,
Thanks for the excellent program! It has saved my family lots of money! Is there a Fire Fox 3 version planned? Thank you again for your good work.
Thanks very much for this extension. I along with everyone else look forward to an official Firefox 3 version.
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