March 2014 Summaries

This tutorial is about building a wireless lock system that can be controlled remotely using SMS messages. The system uses an Arduino Uno, a servo motor, and Node.js to communicate with the Twilio API. The user will need to install the necessary software and hardware components, including the Arduino IDE, Node.js, and a serial port connection. The system will allow users to lock and unlock their deadbolt door via SMS messages, using a unique verification code. The tutorial also covers setting up a publicly accessible web URL for Twilio to POST incoming text messages, using ngrok.

The key takeaways from TechCityInsider's podcast on growing startups globally are that relationships with local companies and culture should be prioritized over scalable practices initially, and it's essential to develop a deep understanding of the specific needs of your customers in each locale. To succeed, you must adapt to local expectations, stay connected with your customers' preferences for products and messaging, and leverage the tight-knit tech community in London to build connections and opportunities. The challenges of expanding globally include finding the right talent and building brand awareness in a new market, but successful companies like Flood Hack demonstrate the power of community-driven initiatives and collaboration.

Danielle Leong, a front-end web developer at Twilio, created a life-saving voice reminder system for her 92-year-old grandmother using the Twilio platform. The system calls her grandmother's phone every day at 10am with an mp3 recording of Danielle's voice reminding her to take her medication. On Sundays, it plays a different message. The system has been running successfully for nearly two years and has become a highlight of her grandmother's mornings. The code is based on the Twilio Call Request demo and uses a PHP app hosted on Heroku with a job scheduler to run daily. Danielle's grandmother is grateful for the reminders, which have helped her stay on track with her medication schedule.

Eric Blue, an independent software developer, created a home automation system using Belkin WeMo switches, Twilio SMS service, and Siri voice control. He reverse engineered the Belkin Wemo API to create a Perl-based interface for controlling the devices remotely. The system allows users to turn lights on and off by sending text messages or using voice commands with Siri. Blue's hack uses a simple SMS server and a Perl API that can be easily customized to suit individual needs.

The road coders survival kit is a collection of products that help developers stay productive while traveling. Power Up includes essential items such as phone chargers, battery packs like the Mophie Powerstation, and power cord solutions like the PowerCurl to keep devices charged in crowded airports. Packing Light involves choosing the right bags and accessories like travel-sized power strips, backpacks with laptop sleeves, and compression cubes for efficient packing. Staying Comfortable includes noise-cancelling headphones, comfortable clothing, and personal items that help minimize distractions during flights. Preparing For The Worst requires robust handling of unexpected situations by carrying essentials like smart socks, gaming controllers, and presentation tools.

Writing unit tests for Twilio apps using Python's Flask and Nose can help reduce frustration and ensure that your app works as expected. The author shares their experience with writing unit tests for a simple Twilio Conference endpoint, including creating a generic test case that can be reused for all Twilio apps built on Flask. By using this approach, developers can quickly write and run tests, reducing the need to manually test each app with a phone and minimizing the occurrence of "Application Error" responses.

Washio is a laundry delivery service that uses ninjas to deliver washed and folded clothes, with a focus on communication through SMS notifications powered by Twilio. The company, founded in 2013, has expanded to new cities and gained financial support from celebrities and VCs, and now offers promo codes for Twilio blog readers, including $10 off the first order. To use Washio's service, customers schedule a pickup, receive an SMS text with an hour's notice of their ninja's arrival, and receive another text when the delivery is ready to be picked up, all within a 24-hour turnaround.

This post demonstrates how to design an intelligent mobile app distribution experience using ASP.NET and Twilio, allowing users to download a mobile app directly from a website by sending an SMS with a link to the app's download page. The application uses user agent parsing to determine the device type and redirects the user to the correct app store. A separate view is used for mobile devices, optimizing the experience for iOS and Android users.

Today, Twilio released its Global Low Latency (GLL) architecture to its WebRTC capabilities for Twilio Client, significantly reducing audio latency during voice calls. The GLL architecture intelligently routes calls to the nearest Twilio datacenter, minimizing hops and optimizing call routing. Additionally, Twilio introduced new recording capabilities for enterprise-level conferencing, allowing customers to easily implement recording, trim silence, and store recordings in the cloud or on-premises. These features aim to enhance the caller's experience and provide a powerful tool for monitoring calls, quality control, and staff training.

ngrok is a powerful tool that allows developers to expose their local web servers to the public internet for testing and debugging purposes. Using ngrok with Windows can be straightforward, but certain configurations require additional steps, such as adding the `-host-header` parameter when using IIS or IIS Express, and configuring server bindings in the applicationhost.config file. Additionally, accessing control lists may need to be modified to allow incoming requests from external sources. Despite these extra steps, ngrok provides a convenient way for developers to test their applications in real-time, making it an essential tool in any developer's toolkit.

The Twilio.org initiative aims to support nonprofits through open source tools and communications technologies, providing simple and easy-to-use apps that can be deployed quickly in disaster recovery situations or community organization. The Twilio.org Open Source Rapid Response Kit contains a series of basic communication apps, including Auto-Respond, Broadcast, Conference Line, Forwarder, Ringdown, Simple Help Line, Survey, and Town Hall, which can be forked and deployed on the spot. These tools are designed to help developers and organizations focus on making an impact rather than spending time coding, and are built with love by Twilio engineer Matt Nowack. The initiative also highlights powerful open source projects from partners who have changed the world with their communications solutions, such as the Polaris Project and Code for America, and invites the community to contribute to this effort, whether through building new tools or helping make existing ones better.

Wedgies has launched a Tumblr integration that allows users to embed polls and surveys on any post published daily on the platform, expanding its SMS polling capabilities. This move enables audiences to engage with content in real-time, building an experience rather than just consuming it. With this integration, Wedgies aims to empower readers to be both consumers and creators, making it easier for companies like USA Today, The Weather Channel, and The Next Web to gather feedback from their readers.

Twilio released their annual SXSW conference, #TwilioSxSw, which took place in Austin, Texas, featuring a mix of old friends, new faces, and a stellar community from the tech industry. The event included parties, panels, talks, and social gatherings such as a "Get_down" party hosted by Twilio and Box at Javelina Bar. The conference showcased various aspects of the tech community, including Startup Bus riders' experiences and competitive games like bean bag toss. The event was documented through video highlights, photos, and a Storify recap on Twilio's blog and social media channels.

As a developer evangelist, Paul Hallett has a passion for sharing his knowledge and experience with others, particularly in the area of computer science and programming. He has a fascination with how things work and has been learning by himself since he was young. With a background in computing and programming, Paul is now part of the Twilio team, where he aims to inspire and empower developers, especially the next generation of DOers. Through his role, he hopes to make a difference in education and encourage talented young minds to pursue careers in technology.

Jeff Lawson, the CEO of Twilio, built a full-fledged app using Twilio's services and IBM's Cloud Platform, Codename: Bluemix, in just under 5 minutes at IBM's Pulse Conference. This demonstration showcased the power of the new platform, which allows developers to build and deploy communications applications quickly and easily. The partnership between Twilio and IBM enables developers to tap into a range of cloud-based services, including messaging, voice, and video capabilities. By leveraging this partnership, developers can create innovative applications that integrate with various communication channels, such as social media, SMS, and more.

Twilio-Powered Community Experts Offer Help Live On AirPair` AirPair has launched a new program connecting developers with expert Twilio developers on-demand. The Trusted Partner Community Expert program connects users virtually to experienced developers who can provide feedback and expertise on various programming languages and technologies, including Twilio. Two notable experts, Roger Stringer and Jeff Linwood, are part of the community and offer their services via video chat, reviewing code and answering questions. This new initiative is supported by several prominent companies, including Twilio, Keen IO, and Stripe, among others.