Comment Re:lolwut (Score 1) 275
Because they are friends of Microsoft and that makes them look like good lap dogs?
Submission + - 24-Sept is World Day against Software Patents (stopsoftwarepatents.org)
zoobab writes: "Veteran European anti-software patent campaigners have launched the World Day against Software Patents, writing: "The issue of software patents is a global one, and several governments and patent offices around the world continue to grant software & business method patents on a daily basis; they are pushing for legal codification of the practice, such as currently in New Zealand and India. We declare the 24 September as the World Day Against Software Patents, in commemoration of the European Parliament First Reading in 2003 with amendments stopping the harmful patenting of software, guaranteeing that software programmers and businesses can safely benefit from the fruits of their work under copyright law.""
Apple Bans iPhone App For Competing With Mail.app 464
recoiledsnake writes "Another submission has been rejected from the iPhone App Store, this time for 'duplicating the functionality of the iPhone Mail application.' The author claims that his application allows the user to log into their multiple web email accounts and that Apple seems to be confusing Gmail and Mail.app. This comes on the heels of Apple rejecting an application for competing with iTunes and rejecting other silly but harmless apps as being of 'limited utility.'"
ComputerWorld has an update to the rejected Podcaster app mentioned above. It seems the developer has used Apple's "Ad Hoc" service to begin distributing the software despite the fact that they blocked it from the App Store.
Fast-Booting Text-Editor Operating System? 660
cgenman writes "What is the fastest booting operating system out there that is still sufficient for editing text? Quite frequently, I'll need to boot my laptop and edit a few lines of text, or jot down an idea or two. XP loads in roughly 4 minutes to usable, and Ubuntu loads in about 60 seconds. Both feel like an eternity if there isn't a pen and paper around. What is the best operating system that people have found which would load to useable in under 20 seconds, can edit text files in something a little more friendly than VI or EMACS, yet can still access fat32 formatted USB drives? GUIs aren't required, but commands which require arcane foreknowledge or a cheat sheet are out."
Submission + - .pt national procurement exclusively benefits MS
Cyclops writes: "ANCP is a portuguese national agency for public administration purchases. They are now running a public procurement for all desktops, laptops and servers in public administration which explicitly forces the purchase of licenses for Windows Vista Business (check on "Artigo 4" how Microsoft tries to fabricate an increase of Windows Vista sales through "apparent demand") for desktops and laptops. Consider that in Portugal, the Public Administration is the biggest employer in the whole country. This would seem to be a clear violation of competition rules, and all for the benefit of a company which has been several times sentenced for abuse of monopoly power. Yes, Microsoft, who'd guess..."
ISO Calls For OOXML Ceasefire 312
In response to the continued attacks on Microsoft's OOXML standard, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has called for a ceasefire. "Last week the ISO committee in charge of document standards, SC 34, met in Oslo to discuss the way forward for OOXML and ODF. The plenary session was marked by protests outside, largely carried out by delegates from a nearby open-source conference. The protesters were calling for OOXML to be withdrawn from ISO standardization -- something that could theoretically happen if a national standards body were to protest against its own vote within the next month or two."
Counter-Claims On Flaws In OOXML Meeting 96
ericatcw writes "Critics have charged that last week's ISO Ballot Resolution Meeting (BRM) to decide the fate of changes to Office Open XML standards proposal was too perfunctory and deviated from accepted ISO practices, possibly in an attempt to smooth the passage of the Microsoft format. This week, the ISO 'convener' of the BRM disputed those charges, saying that voting to dispose of 900 changes to the spec at once and allowing 'O' Observer countries to vote were the correct moves. ISO released a statement backing him up. Also, Patrick Durusau, editor of the competing OpenDocument Format specification and a late convert to OOXML's passage, also said that claims the process was flawed were overstated."
Submission + - UK National Archive to be preserved in Open XML (nationalarchives.gov.uk)
genjix writes: "The National Archives of the UK are publishing their documents in Microsoft's OpenXML- a format that Microsoft tried to fast track through standardisation as the chair of the ISO committee and failed. It seems questionable that a format that is only supported by Microsoft's own products and requires purchase of them is preferable over ODF, an ISO standard (unlike OpenXML). ODF is supported on most platforms and has all the necessary features- otherwise it would not be the ISO standard. ODF is also free. The publicly viewable document requires a purchase of Word (£80) and Windows (£200) for accessing national files. There should not be a £280 charge to use Microsoft for accessing the National Archives electronically especially in light of the company's ongoing litigation with the EU regarding its anti-competitive actions.
A petition has been started on the UK national petition site- once a large number of signings are cast, they usually get an official response from government. It's 13th on "Information and communication", but still has some way to go.
The National Archives and Microsoft join forces to preserve the UKs digital heritage"
A petition has been started on the UK national petition site- once a large number of signings are cast, they usually get an official response from government. It's 13th on "Information and communication", but still has some way to go.
The National Archives and Microsoft join forces to preserve the UKs digital heritage"
Submission + - De Icaza regrets Novell/Microsoft pact (thestandard.com)
Ian Lamont writes: "Novell Vice President and GNOME architect Miguel de Icaza sounded off at a MIX 08 panel on a number of topics. First, he claimed that he was 'not happy' with Novell's cross-patent licensing agreement with Microsoft, saying that if he had his way, the company would have stayed with the open-source community. He also said that neither Windows nor Linux are relevant in the long term, thanks to Web 2.0 business models:
He also tangled with Mike Schroepfer, a Mozilla engineering executive, about extending patent protection for Moonlight to third parties. However, de Icaza did say that Novell has done the best it could to balance open-source interests with patent indemnification."'They might be fantastic products... but Google has shown itself to be a cash cow. There is a feature beyond selling corporate [software] and patents ... it's going to be owning end users."
Feed Engadget: Negroponte looking for CEO to replace him at OLPC (engadget.com)
Filed under: Laptops
After a stay that's been anything but uneventful, OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte has announced that he'll be stepping down as CEO of the organization, and that he's now searching for a successor, although he'll be staying on as Chairman. That word comes from an interview Negroponte gave to BusinessWeek, where he admitted that "management, administration, and details are my weaknesses," and even went so far as to say that the organization needs to be managed "more like Microsoft." He also revealed that the search for a new CEO had actually begun last year, but had ratcheted up in recent weeks, during which time the organization was also reorganized into four operating units, including technology, deployment, market development and fund-raising, and administration. No word on any contenders for the top spot just yet, but Nick Neg described the ideal candidate as someone with a "leadership profile similar to that of Kofi Annan," adding that he hopes to have the search concluded by April or May.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Submission + - Hole in Windows XP Pro (tmpco.com)
Timothy Thomas Payne - of Seattle, WA USA writes: "The guy that has been harassing me for more than 2 weeks has pointed out a big hole in XP. I called Microsoft 3 times and told them the problem : case # 1060485863 they blew me off. Now they have called me 3 times asking to help me, I blew them off. I thought the Seattle times would be happy to have the story. The guy that covers Microsoft suggested that I post it on their blog, I offered a hard drive, dirty but working XP box, CD of log files. Too much work to look at it. I called Google, just a few miles away in Kirkland, the snotty little girl thought I was a loon. Refused to even look at anything. No one cares about the millions of users that don't know."
Feed New York Times: DealBook: Pondering Microsoft’s Options (nytimes.com)
Does Microsoft wait until the nominations deadline to start a proxy fight for Yahoo or does it attempt to start nudging Yahoo by nominating directors beforehand (i.e., now)?
Feed New York Times: DealBook: Pondering Microsoft’s Options (nytimes.com)
Does Microsoft wait until the nominations deadline to start a proxy fight for Yahoo or does it attempt to start nudging Yahoo by nominating directors beforehand (i.e., now)?
Feed New York Times: Yahoo Seeks Way to Block Microsoft (nytimes.com)
In a move that could delay a proxy contest, Yahoo said it was extending the deadline for nominating directors to its board.
Submission + - Microsoft Entices New Users With Cash
Alpha232 writes: Microsoft Entices New Users With Cash
Now wouldn't it be fitting if the "Winner" of the $100,000 was using OpenOffice to create their documents.
Microsoft Corp. raked in tens of billions of dollars selling software last year.
Now, it's giving away a sliver of that — $100,000, plus prizes — to entice people to try a new, free program.
Office Live Workspace, a Web hub for document sharing, was first announced as a limited test late last year. Starting this week, anyone can sign up to store word processing documents, spreadsheets and other files in a Live Workspace of his or her own. Users can share access to the files with friends, who can use a Web browser to read them and make comments.
...
Microsoft is betting computer users are so attached to the sophisticated features in Office that they'll continue to shell out for desktop software rather than defect to a free alternative.
Now, it's giving away a sliver of that — $100,000, plus prizes — to entice people to try a new, free program.
Office Live Workspace, a Web hub for document sharing, was first announced as a limited test late last year. Starting this week, anyone can sign up to store word processing documents, spreadsheets and other files in a Live Workspace of his or her own. Users can share access to the files with friends, who can use a Web browser to read them and make comments.
Microsoft is betting computer users are so attached to the sophisticated features in Office that they'll continue to shell out for desktop software rather than defect to a free alternative.
Now wouldn't it be fitting if the "Winner" of the $100,000 was using OpenOffice to create their documents.
