Magic Mirror is an open-source platform that allows users to create smart mirrors or digital information displays. It offers extensive customization options, which can be further expanded with the use of third-party modules. These modules are additional packages created by the Magic Mirror community to extend the functionality of the platform. Third-party modules can greatly enhance the capabilities of a Magic Mirror by adding new features or integrating with external services. These modules are developed by individual contributors and can be easily installed and managed through the Magic Mirror interface. One popular type of third-party module is the weather module.
MagicMirror Module for displaying Discourse notifications
We made a module (plug-in) for the MagicMirror (see it here). That is a smart mirror, driven by a Raspberry Pi, that shows you news, information and notifications. Our plugin makes it possible to show notifications of every website that uses Discourse, a discussion/mailing/forum platform used by over 10.000 organisations.
What is a MagicMirror?
A MagicMirror is a see-through mirror in front of a display, that is hooked up to a Raspberry Pi. While it works as a mirror, you can see the screen through the glass. Right now, there are 671 3rd-party modules publicly released for everybody to use, and ours is the 672th!
Modules can: Show the time and date, show the weather forecast, show when your train leaves, show news and much more.
What is Discourse?
Discourse is an open source Internet forum and mailing list management software application that is used by many sites. One of them, is RobotExchange.io, the site where our minor communication takes place.
One popular type of third-party module is the weather module. These modules provide real-time weather information and forecasts, allowing users to display weather data on their mirror screens. They can pull data from various online sources and present it in a visually appealing format.
Project description
Problem
When someone sends you a message, you don’t want to let them wait. Especially when it’s very urgent. When the message is showed to you in the mirror, you don’t have to check the site or your mail every time.
Solution
Having the notifications displayed on a mirror is a nice solution. That way, you see the message casually when you walk by your mirror in the living room. The message can be dismissed by reading or acknowledging the message on the user’s Discourse-platform.
Discourse is getting more popular every day. That means that every day, the module we will create gets more popular.
Another common type of module is the calendar module. These modules enable users to display their upcoming events and appointments on the mirror screen. They can sync with popular calendar services such as Google Calendar and display the events in a customizable format. There are also modules that provide news feeds, sports scores, and even integration with smart home devices. With the wide range of third-party modules available, users can personalize their Magic Mirror to suit their specific needs and interests. Installing and configuring third-party modules is a fairly straightforward process. Most modules come with detailed instructions on how to install and configure them within the Magic Mirror interface. Users can simply follow the provided instructions and make the necessary adjustments to customize the module to their liking. It is important to note that while third-party modules expand the functionality of Magic Mirror, they are created by individual developers and may vary in terms of support and updates. Users should carefully consider the compatibility and reliability of a module before installing it. Overall, third-party modules are a valuable asset to the Magic Mirror platform, offering users the opportunity to customize and enhance their mirror displays. With the wide range of modules available, users can truly make their Magic Mirrors unique and tailored to their preferences..
Reviews for "The top 5 3rd party modules for news and updates on your Magic Mirror"
1. Jane - 2/5 - I was really excited to try out the Magic Mirror 3rd party modules, but unfortunately, I was left disappointed. The modules were not user-friendly at all and required a lot of technical knowledge to set up and configure properly. Additionally, I found that many of the modules were not very useful and did not provide the functionality I was looking for. Overall, I was not impressed with the Magic Mirror 3rd party modules and wouldn't recommend them to others.
2. Mark - 2/5 - I had high hopes for the Magic Mirror 3rd party modules, but they just didn't live up to my expectations. The installation process was quite complicated and time-consuming, and I struggled to get the modules working properly. Even when I did manage to get them up and running, I found that they were often buggy and unstable. I also felt that the selection of available modules was lacking and didn't offer much variety. In the end, I was left feeling frustrated and unsatisfied with the Magic Mirror 3rd party modules.
3. Sarah - 3/5 - While the Magic Mirror 3rd party modules have some potential, I found them to be lacking in terms of customization options. The modules themselves were decent, but I wanted to be able to personalize and modify them to suit my specific needs. Unfortunately, there were not many options available for customization, which was disappointing. Additionally, I experienced some compatibility issues with certain modules, which further hindered my overall experience. Overall, the Magic Mirror 3rd party modules have some potential, but they need to offer more customization options to truly stand out.