RE: Outlook, Caller ID, Intranet was Idea for new xAP software

["Paul Gale" <groups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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Sounds good James =96 when will it be available?

=20

Paul.=20

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________________________________

From: James [mailto:james@xxxxxxx]=20
Sent: 20 February 2005 16:00
To: xap_automation@xxxxxxx
Subject: [xap_automation] Outlook, Caller ID, Intranet was Idea for new
xAP=
software

=20

Hi,

This is a little update to let you know whats going on in mi4 land,
especia=
lly as its crossing over with what is discussed here.

Caller ID
---------
I am currently putting the final touches to a caller id lookup
application.=
It's initial role was to translate incoming caller id messages to names a=
nd locations, but has actually gone much further.  The functions include
Logging of all calls, both incoming and outgoing with all details such as
r=
ing count and duration
Sending alerts, which are very customisable, to display devices on
incoming=
calls
Sending lookup information over xAP, including STD info.
If available the lookup info will include a url to an image of the contact
=
and this is served by the internal webserver (good for xAP Desktop popups)
RSS feeds for incoming calls only, outgoing call only, all calls
Web interface for the logs.
Web interface for the contact database, with full editing. Each contact
scr=
een also shows the call history for that contact
New and unknown calls get entries made automatically in the database so
it'=
s quick to add new contacts
Searches of all logs and contacts
Dial any contact by clicking on the number in the web interface
Participates in the xAP Intranet system  (more later on this)

Originally i was going to make the app directly search Outlook's address
bo=
ok as well as the internal one.  But issues such as the new outlook
securit=
y model and the fact the lookup app would run on a server and outlook
would=
n't, meant this idea was not really useful. This also only allowed 1 copy
o=
f outlook to be scanned.  So I have switched over to using an outlook
plugi=
n.  Now when Outlook starts it syncs up it's contact database with the one
=
used by the lookup app. So now calls can be matched from any number of
Outl=
ooks and it doesn't matter if Outlook is running when the call comes in. 
T=
he plugin will also allow the lookup app to instruct Outlook to open the
re=
levant contact when the phone rings, or on outgoing. In time I can add to
t=
his plugin things like new mail alerts and appointment alerts, amongst
othe=
r things.  Doing things this way should also make it possible to sync up
Th=
underbird clients too,  once i/someone figures out xul!

Intranet
-------
A while back I started working on a xAP web front end. It was based on
phpn=
uke and ran on a central server. While functional, it needed configuring
fo=
r any new app, was a single point of failure and updates became harder as
a=
ny updates to any app became more involved.  Step in it's replacement!
Each application that takes part in the new intranet is self contained.
Eac=
h have a mini webserver and are totally functional on their own. Each app
o=
ccasionally and on request sends over xAP information on it's web
services.=
Each app tracks all available intranet services and can provide links to =
them in it's own web interface.  The result of all this is a very modular
s=
ystem with all the apps acting as one.  Should one node fail or be
shutdown=
then links to it are removed and the system is still functional. Updates a=
re easy as you simple update the app in question, thats all. You can run
mu=
ltiple copies of any app too. The first two apps to use this will be xAPTV
=
and the new callerid lookup app. News and weather will follow along with
th=
e HomeSeer plugin.

Screenshots and downloads will follow soon


James



=20

Paul Gale wrote:=20

I know there's other stuff around - I'm particularly after Outlook
integrat=
ion though.=20
=20
Paul.
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: Johan Helsingius [mailto:yahoo@xxxxxxx]=20
Sent: 18 February 2005 14:51
To: xap_automation@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [xap_automation] Idea for new xAP software
=20
=20
=20=20

How about an =91Outlook Connector=92 that would connect to your account
=09=20=20=20=20

=20
=20=20

=B7       Notification of new emails =96 again sent to a device or TTS =96=
=20
option to only announce certain emails based on an Outlook rule or those=20
moved to a particular folder?
=09=20=20=20=20

=20
Would definitely need the filter functionality, otherwise you would=20
quickly get tired of a robotic pronunciation of the word "Viagra"
:)
=20
=20=20

Wouldn=92t this be a great piece of software =96 truly integrating HA into=
=20
your everyday life J
=09=20=20=20=20

=20
Well, many of us already have HA integration to our mailbox and to our=20
agendas/calendars.
=20
=20=20

Anyone fancy having a go a writing something?
=09=20=20=20=20

=20
The basic functionality is easy and there is a lot of software out there=20
that performs pretty much what you ask for - apart from the Outlook=20
part. If you are using a calendar/agenda/address book/email system based=20
on open, accepted standards the work is not hard (as witnessed by all=20
the software available already). It's the integration into the closed=20
and proprietary Outlook program that makes it hard. And if you manage to=20
crack that one, Microsoft will change something that will  break your=20
connector, as they don't seem too happy with third party applications=20
encroaching on their turf.
=20
Julf
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