Blog move

This will be my last post at this address as I've moved over to a new blogging platform: Jekyll. Jekyll is much more versatile and has allowed me to start playing around with CSS, HTML and gives me more flexibility on what I choose to do.

I'm using github pages to host the new site and I'll be writing a little bit about my experiences in the near future.

http://willprice.github.com/

Gmail Notifier

4 Years ago Tom Paton posted this and I asked him about his code, thus prompting him to post this. 4 Years later, now finally equipped with some know how and a little bit more experience with microcontrollers and programming, I thought this a fairly ideal project to have a bash at.

I adapted his python code to something a little more appropriate for my usage:

(replace username and password with your username and password. You might also need to fiddle with the serial port I've got mine setup as /dev/ttyUSB1)

Here's the Arduino code:

I'll be updating this post as I go, with pictures and videos. I've currently put a servo in a little mailbox made out of card and when I have an email the flag is raised. I'm working on getting the right sized enclosure and am currently using a Arduino Pro Mini which has no USB interface and I have to work out how to remedy this. Admittedly, this is a total waste of an Arduino as it's overkill for this project, but at the moment I don't have enough time to learn how to write C code for AVR micros, but when I do, I'll make this a little less wasteful and hopefully use a micro with USB support built in. But for the time being -- Arduino and USB to UART Adapter.