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Microsoft Office Outlook has been around as part of the office suite since 1997, with newer versions released an average of every two years. It was already at version 8 by 1997 with earlier versions for MS-DOS, Mac, etc. Although each new release comes with with some added features and functionality, there has always been room for improvement. As a result, there is a plethora of add-ins for this program, both freeware and commercial software.
HTML emails are always a potential security issue because they can contain hidden code for viruses, trojans, and other nasties. My personal policy is to delete any emails from unknown sources. However, if you want to safely examine an HTML email, PocketKnife Peek will give you a preview in plain text.
RealAccount allows you to designate a default email account and signature for any Outlook Folder. Yet another free utility that provides functionality that should have been included in the original product.
Lookout is a great utility for those of you who have amassed lots of pst files with hundreds or thousands of archived emails. It can index and search all pst files at once as opposed to the standard Outlook 2000 search, which can only do one pst file at a time. Microsoft has purchased the developer of Lookout and no longer supports this utility since it has been superseded by Microsoft Windows Search.
Xobni (Inbox spelled backward) seems to have attracted a sizable crowd of enthusiastic users. Xobni's Outlook add-in saves you time finding email, conversations, contact info & attachments. I recommend a visit to their website, http://www.xobni.com, where current issues are discussed.
Product Details
PocketKnife Peek is a COM add-in that works with Outlook 2000 or later. It is compatible with any version of Windows capable of running the corresponding version of Outlook.
Website: http://www.xintercept.com/pkpeek.htm
Download link: http://www.xintercept.com/peekdownload.htm
Author: XIntercept
Version: 1.3.0004
Date: 08/03/2009
License: Free for personal use
Operating systems supported: COM add-in compatible with any version of Windows capable of running the corresponding version of Outlook
64 Bit version available: No
Portable version available: Unknown
Other languages supported: No
Additional software required: Outlook 2000 or later
RealAccount
Website: http://www.matro.it/site/show/english/realaccount.aspx
Download link: http://www.download.com/RealAccount/3000-2368_4-10319971.html?part=dl-Re...
Author: matro
Version: 1.2
Date: Unknown
Download file size: 338 KB
License: Freeware
Operating systems supported: Windows
64 Bit version available: No
Portable version available: No
Other languages supported: Italian
Additional software required: Outlook XP or 2003, plus the CDO library (Outlook optional component in Office setup tool). CDO is not included in a standard Outlook installation, so you may have to manually install it. If you encounter an OCX registering error, you may need to re-install Outlook, or the VB6 runtimes.
Lookout
Download link: http://www.majorgeeks.com/Lookout_d4808.html
Author: Lookout
Version: 1.3.0
Date: 10/22/2005
Download file size: 961 KB
License: Freeware
Operating Systems supported: Windows 2000, XP
64 Bit version available: No
Other languages supported: No
Additional software required: Outlook 2000, XP, 2003 and Microsoft .NET
Download link: http://www.xobni.com/download
Author: Xobni
Version: 1.8 b7917
Date: August 2009
Download file size: 4.78 MB
License: basic version is Freeware
Operating Systems supported: XP, Vista
64 Bit version available: Vista
Other languages supported: No
Additional software required: Outlook 2003 or 2007 and Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0
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Anyone know whether there's an add-in that alerts you when you have more than two or three email addresses in your To or cc box - I'm sure this would be useful to stop me sending all my contacts emnail addresses to everyone else!!
Thanks you
xobni is MALWARE (adware)
I cannot trust a company that endorses adware
I used Lookout, but this doesn´t work with outlook 07...Now I search for a similar tool, doesn´t have to be freeware... has anybody a good advice?
I already tried xobni, but wasn´t satisfied with it, because it is more a gadget than a reliable search tool...
Thanks for help!
http://www.belshe.com/2007/12/06/how-to-install-lookout-on-outlook-2007/
I've tried it and it works flawlessly.
With Outlook 2007, Microsoft's own Windows Search should adequately do the job.
Hey
I was very annoyed that lookout doesn't work with outlook 2007. But I think I found the "big brother" of lookout. A search tool, which searches your emails (and of course your PST-Files) very fast. I use it since 2 months and I still really like it. It is called lookeen check out the website: www.lookeen.net.
Thanks...I tried it and its great, even if its not free, but for fast and reliable tool like that I have no problems to pay something, by the way it is really not expensive for what lookeen can do!!
Thanks again!
Here is the 2nd FREE Outlook Powertoy that we've created.
Ghost Meeting:
This PowerToy is designed for busy people who need to track multiple meetings in their Microsoft® Outlook® Calendar but can’t promise to attend them all. The Ghost Meeting PowerToy allows you to quickly copy meeting details into a private appointment when declining a meeting request, thereby creating a “ghost” that you can keep on your own calendar for your own use. Great for keeping track of juniors’ meetings or keeping time blocked out just in case! Works only with Microsoft Office Outlook 2007. (English-only.)
http://www.fortissoftware.com/Services/prd_PT_GhostMeeting.htm
I downloaded this tool,and it's great! What I really like is that I can keep meetings on my calendar, even though I've declined, so I can keep track of what the other people in my group are doing. It's been a huge time saver.
-- Judy Schaffer
My company has created two new Outlook Add On's which are 100% Free.
Missing Attachment PowerToy:
Have you ever forgotten to include an attachment to an important email? This free PowerToy for Microsoft® Outlook® is designed to help you avoid that exact scenario, helping you save time and avoid needless embarrassment: When the Missing Attachment PowerToy detects an outbound e-mail message containing words which you typically use when including attachments, it will offer you an opportunity to revise the e-mail before Outlook sends it on its way! Works only with Microsoft Office Outlook 2007. (English-only.)
Link to Download: http://www.fortissoftware.com/Services/prd_PT_MissingAttachment.htm
I also recommend NEO (http://www.emailorganizer.com/products/download.php) which have a free (striped down but unlimited in time) version. It is very useful to manage your inbox and contacts.
There's also a freebie made by goggle labs that allows you to sync Outlook with Google Calendar.
Google Calendar Sync
http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=89955
IMHO gCal is better than Outlook Web Access. Unfortunately neither will sync OL categories, which I make extensive use of.
Folks who are interested in this should also check out http://www.syncmycal.com/ which has freeware and shareware options.
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steve
I use Google Calendar Sync to keep both our home Outlook calendars synchronized as well as being able to view our calendar on the web. It works well for me.
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