Now that MailTags 1.2.1 is out , Scott Morrison has begun work on improvements and features for the next version.

These things are too interesting to keep to one’s self, so here is a teaser of what is still to come…

Listview enhancements

The next version of MailTags will allow you the option of displaying your metadata in the Message Listview window. Here it is – live and real – in Scott’s own inbox:

IMAP support

Up until now, MailTags has stored its metadata in the local IMAP cache at the end of each message’s individual emlx file like this:

(Here you can see a message which among other things belongs to my “Hawk Wings” MailTags project).

Unfortunately, this data was only readable on one Mac.

Scott is working on a method for storing the metadata (encoded in base64) in an X-Header on the server itself, so that the information will be readable by any Mac (with MailTags installed) which connects to your IMAP account.

This is how it looks when you display an email’s headers (View > Message > Long headers):

The method that Scott is using may also allow you to enclose tags (at your discretion) when sending email to others and be able to accept the tags that are enclosed in email you receive.

In addition, Scott is working on something inspired by Boris Anthony’s ideas for an iCal-Mail.app mash-up and which will be well worth waiting for.

This continued development of MailTags outmatches any mail management system/enhancement at any price. The USD 20 suggested donation is outstanding when you think of what you get.

If you have been holding off your support of MailTags, now is the time to encourage its future development.IMAP support, mailtags, listview, projects, keywords, ical, plugins, metadata, tagging

Tags: iCal, IMAP support, keywords, listview, mailtags, metadata, plugins, projects, tagging

Ever wondered what the “Categories: Xxxxx” entries in the Notes field of your Address Book are and where they came from?

Christopher Breen describes at MacWorld’s 911 blog how they result from importing the contacts, either from your own Address Book or someone else’s.

He also points out that you can use the Notes field as a quick and dirty way to “tag” your contacts. By adding more specific information than Address Book’s other fields allow, you can then construct Smart Groups that will match on those keywords.

His drag ‘n’ drop trick will cleverly tag multiple contacts in this way at the same time.address book, contacts, categories, notes field, keywords, tagging, tips

Tags: Address Book, Apple Mail Tips, categories, contacts, keywords, notes field, tagging