Posts tagged as:

open source

Microsoft bowing to the inevitable, will offer ODF support with Office SP2

April 15, 2009

There are currently two international open document formats: Microsoft’s OOXML, and the truly open Open Document Format (ODF).
Microsoft bought and paid for its ISO certification last year. (OOXML is not open; Microsoft merely promises not to sue anyone for using its format.) As an extra layer of protection, perhaps, Microsoft’s published OOXML specification is a [...]

Read the full article →

WordPress overhauls its user interface

October 31, 2008

Think open source is unsophisticated? Think again. Take a look at the lengths the WordPress team went to in order to redesign the user interface.
To make sure users get a better interface, WordPress engaged the Ball State University’s Center for Media Design, Insight and Research (CMD, blessedly, for short).
CMD conducted eye-tracking studies, usability surveys, and [...]

Read the full article →

Will T-Mobile release the first Android phone on October 1?

July 10, 2008

The rumor mill thinks so. I am getting ready to throw over my Blackberry Pearl when the new handsets show up. Screw the iPhone, I’m going to go make sure my tent is patched up for camping in front of the T-Mobile kiosk at the mall.
(Disclaimer: I am probably not going to camp out for [...]

Read the full article →

Why you should try free software

June 6, 2008

“Free” has two meanings: (1) gratis, and (2) libertas. When I say free software, I mean libertas, although much free software is gratis, as well.
Choice
There are two parts to choice: (1) different software that does the same thing, and (2) the ability to modify software to do what you want.
Don’t like the way Word handles [...]

Read the full article →

One year with Linux in a Windows world

June 4, 2008

Mike Kavis switched to Linux to prove that people can be productive at work without using Microsoft products. One year later, he has proved the point.
I have been Microsoft free* for a couple of months now, as well, using Ubuntu GNU/Linux as my primary operating system, with OpenOffice.org as my office suite. I have not [...]

Read the full article →

Android is looking good

May 29, 2008

Linux is pretty.

Read the full article →

Minnesota study supports open document formats

May 29, 2008

New York and Minnesota just completed studies into the merits of using open formats.
In the Minnesota report, the Office of Enterprise Technology came out in favor of open document formats, but stated that the marketplace is in flux, and it may be too early to recommend one format over another. (In related news, Microsoft just [...]

Read the full article →

Brits shying away from Microsoft Office

May 14, 2008

According to InformationWeek, the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency is advocating for removing Microsoft Office from the classroom in favor of open-standards compliant office suites like OpenOffice.org.
It is good to see this kind of pressure on Microsoft. If they would either open up their OOXML standard or else support the Open Document Format like [...]

Read the full article →

Ubuntu 8.04 “Hardy Heron” now available!

April 24, 2008

Version 8.04 of my favorite Linux operating system, Ubuntu, is a big deal. It is a collection of small changes that add up to a big improvement. It is also a long-term service edition, meaning Canonical will support version 8.04 for twice as long as its regular releases.
7.10 was a big leap. 8.04 is a [...]

Read the full article →

Linux-only experiment, day 2

March 8, 2008

AMD/ATI just released an updated driver, v8.3. And they put out a Linux version, which enabled me (finally!) to use my dual-monitor setup in Ubuntu Linux. And so, today I began an experiment in seeing how long I can go without booting into Windows.

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries