New feature: Developer API

Muriel · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject: New feature: Developer API

Some of you have done a great job developing gadgets and widgets and whatnot. I've recently developed a new feature for all the websites in the 24seven.fm network that should make your development a lot easier.
You will no longer need to parse the websites to get the queue, history and what's playing. I've put a webservice on all the sites that give you all the information you need in one go.
Those of you who are not software developers or have no idea what this is all about need not worry. This is technical stuff Wink

The webservice definition can be found here:

http://www.streamingsoundtracks.com/soap/FM24seven.wsdl

The webservice can be found on all the sites using /soap/FM24seven.wsdl

Methods provided:

GetCurrentlyPlaying(boolean GetCover)

This method returns an object with all the information about the currently playing track. It's the same information that can be found in playing.php. If you call the method with the GetCover parameter set to "true" the webservice will return the binary data for the currently playing song. "false" puts NULL in the binary data, but you still have the URL to the cover in the message.

GetQueue(int NoOfEntries, boolean GetCover)
GetHistory(int NoOfEntries, boolean GetCover)

Here you will get an array of an object that contains information about the songs in the queue or history. The information in the object is the same as can be found on the Queue/Played page.
The NoOfEntries parameter lets you control how many entries is returned. The maximum number of entries returned is 20.
The GetCover parameter behaves in the same way as for GetCurrentlyPlaying().

We would appreciate if you would limit your requests to the webservice. Use it only when a song has changed. The GetCurrentlyPlaying() includes the length of the currently playing track (in milliseconds), when the track started playing (dateTime) and what the time was on the server when you invoked the webservice. That should make it easy enough to calculate a countdown timer so that you know when the track has finished playing.
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SiriusCreations · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:11 pm Post subject:

Very nice feature!

Maybe I will use it sometime in something I do not know what for application yet. Smile

Thank you.
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Freetrack · Cadet 1 Joined: Sep 02, 2008 Posts: 2

First of all: Thanks for the API. I was able to satisfy my basic needs...

Here some suggestions you may consider the next time you build / change the API:

1. CurrentlyPlaying.CoverArt is defined as a byte array, but contains a base64 encoded string
2. All text properties (and links) are html escaped. i.e.: & instead of &, > instead of >
3. The QueueEntry class is missing the Artist property?
4. All DateTime's should be in UTC, someone may use them for i.e. time synch
5. the time CurrentlyPlaying.PlayStart does not match the real timestamp ~ 15 seconds off --> i guess this has some lawful reasons (to prevent someone to rip the stream to a harddisk)

I do not have a http space so I can't upload the little program i wrote.

SiriusCreations · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject:

Freetrack I just sent you a Private Message
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That's the beauty of music. They can't take that away from you. (Andy Dufresne)
Sirius' Concerts
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molossus · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: Some suggestions

Techo · Lieutenant Joined: Feb 12, 2004 Posts: 183

Chandler, this is great news. I wonder why I never found this thread before! Thanks to freetrack for the revival.

Currently I've been parsing the now playing php header, and every time a little change is made to the layout I have to do some recoding. On avg once every few months or as it happens twice in a week on rare occasions. And yes, the app only refetches "what's playing" after the internal timer runs out e.g. "00:00".

I've PMed the little util I've created to a few users but have been way out of touch recently so no one has the upgraded parsing version! doh! even I didn't run it for a few weeks, which is way out of the norm for me.

If anyone's curious here's the app. I've been using it myself for close to two years now. It alerts you when your requested track is on and you can sort and search faves and tracks you've requested. If interested, please PM. As I'd like to keep track of who's using it , to send updates to.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5300/logsspy3.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/1863/popupalert3an.jpg
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/962/sstutilformmenuym6.jpg
http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/9313/sstutilmainformplusoptica1.jpg
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/9453/sstutilform4ox1.jpg

Freetrack · Cadet 1 Joined: Sep 02, 2008 Posts: 2

He showed me the thread!
Your application seems to be exactly what I was looking for!

stefan_nl · Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 3:52 am Post subject:

As of a few days the 'GetCurrentlyPlaying' method returns an empty 'CoverLink' entity.

Is this something that should be fixed after the install of the new server?
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JERIC · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 12:41 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure how it is pulling that info. If you can email me at jeric@(this site) with how it pulls this info, I can try to track down what changed. The images are still in the same locations though.
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Muriel · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 7:27 am Post subject:

stefan_nl · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:28 am Post subject:

Luther_III · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 12:30 pm Post subject:

Works like a charm, indeed. My iGoogle gadget is now fixed!

Great work, gang!

Mr. Green

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masked_platypus · Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 2:19 am Post subject:

Yeah to Chandler! Great job!
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stefan_nl · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:43 am Post subject:

The SOAP service is again not returning any image data.

Can this be fixed again?
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on Flying: The knack of throwing yourself at the ground and miss.
24SeVeN.FM Gadgets

megadith · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:49 pm Post subject:

Does anyone know if there's a WinPhone app yet? if not, i'm thinking of writing one for this and the rest of 24seven site. Wanted to know if there was an app already and if the web service was still working.

thanks!
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