20090623 OpenOfficeorg Shows Redesign Process Provides Arabic Support
From s5h.net
Design Proposal Collection, Lessons Learned
So what can be concluded now that the Design Proposal Collection is over? After looking at the individual feedback we got during the proposal collection and thereafter, it seems to have worked well. The weakest points seem to be the schedule and some parts of the documentation.
http://uxopenofficeorg.blogspot.com/2009/06/design-proposal-collection-lessons.html Sun launches StarOffice 9 in Arabic
Sun Microsystems has once again reinforced its commitment to the region with the introduction of its Arabic version of StarOffice 9.
http://www.ameinfo.com/201451.html
Recent
OpenOffice gets anti-aliasing, better commenting
The biggest change is that graphics viewed in OpenOffice are now anti-aliased, meaning graphics will appear smoother, especially when you place one shape over another. It's kind of surprising that OpenOffice hasn't supported this until now. File-locking has been improved, so if you're using the suite for cross-platform document sharing you should notice fewer glitches.
http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-10240419-12.html
OpenOffice.org wiki overwhelmed in UI search
Yesterday Project Renaissance, OpenOffice.org's search for a new UI direction, opened for comments on the fifteen proposals currently submitted. Unfortunately, a posting on Slashdot meant that over 40,000 accesses happened in a short time, taking down the wiki.
http://www.h-online.com/open/OpenOffice-org-wiki-overwhelmed-in-UI-search--/news/113282
Open Source Alternatives to Popular Software
One of the first things you are probably wondering about is the open source alternative to Microsoft Office. No worry needed here—OpenOffice.org (OOo) has been around for many years as a feasible substitution for just about any operating system. It includes Writer for word processing, Calc for spreadsheets, Impress for presentations, Draw for illustrating, and Base for databases.
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1339472
OpenOffice.org 3.1: The next generation
The latest version of the open-source office suite OpenOffice.org 3.1 has just arrived, and it's a good one. While some of the improvements are visible to the naked eye, I found that the most important changes were hidden under the hood. What is it? OpenOffice.org 3.1 is a set of office productivity applications: Writer (word processor), Calc (spreadsheet), Impress (presentation manager) and Base (database manager). It's missing an Outlook substitute, but otherwise it's a complete replacement for Microsoft Office. The suite is available as a free download for Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris, and Windows; there are versions for most major languages. [...] Final verdict: I've been using OpenOffice.org for years now. With these performance and appearance improvements, I can see more users moving to this free office suite. In particular, I think anyone who does spreadsheets every day owes it to themselves to compare Calc and Excel. You'll be impressed.
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9132829
OpenOffice package for public administration published in EU open source portal
The OpenOffice open source package for central and local government agencies published last year by the Ministry of Finance and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities has released a new software version. The software package is distributed in a new way too. It can be downloaded in the EU open source portal at Osor.eu.
http://www.pressi.com/pressrelease/detail.do?pressId=24570&type=thisweek&searchKey=2578e7e9-3e06-11de-8728-5f8188d48a4a&languageId=all&pageIndex=1 http://tinyurl.com/rate6a
OpenOffice 3.1 ready to lick Microsoft's suite?
The answer for many is OpenOffice.org, which has - after several push-backs - just released version 3.1. And the good news is that OpenOffice 3.1 meets the most important criterion of any software upgrade: It's considerably snappier than its predecessor.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/11/openoffice_3_dot_1_review/
Fresh Wind at Work: OpenOffice 3.1
Cute but astute: the new minor version of OpenOffice can do more than ever, such as cast shadows, position chart axes and provide structured conversations through comments.
http://www.linuxpromagazine.com/online/news/fresh_wind_at_work_openoffice_3_1
Why Do I Use OpenOffice?
In addition, using OpenDocument Format as the default file format helps future-proof my documents. After the current producers of “office software” all move on to something else, will you have the right to create a program to read and manipulate your data in the formats it was saved in? Will you be forced to buy a license from someone? Or perhaps be required to use a particular operating system?
http://lnxwalt.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/why-do-i-use-openoffice/
OpenOffice.org 3.1 arrives, improves user interface
The first major release of the 3.0 series of open source office suite OpenOffice.org, version 3.1, is now available with big improvements in usability and the user interface.
OpenOffice.org 3.1: Looking Sharp
The updated free office software suite includes more than 20 major changes to its five core applications. Perhaps the most striking new feature, however, is its use of anti-aliasing to render sharper charts, line art, and other graphical elements.
http://www.bmighty.com/blog/main/archives/2009/05/openofficeorg_3_2.html
OpenOffice 3.1 Gets a Makeover
With 60 million downloads of its last version, open source office software aims to look better.
http://www.internetnews.com/software/article.php/3819351
OpenOffice 3.1: The new features
Compared to its predecessors, OpenOffice 3.1 offers a whole range of new features. Instant eye catchers are the improved anti-aliasing for graphics, better chart functionality, and the new text highlighting in Writer. However, inconspicuous new features like custom document property fields and the OpenOffice User Feedback Program are just as interesting.
http://www.h-online.com/open/OpenOffice-3-1-The-new-features--/features/113234
OpenOffice 3.1 officially arrives
After making its appearance on various mirrors, OpenOffice 3.1 has now officially been released.
http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/137470
Change Impress to improve all of OOo
If a proposed new concept works for Impress (that means that it stands up to the tests and usability evaluations in the prototyping phase of Project Renaissance) then that concept will be adopted for ALL of the office suite!
http://blogs.sun.com/GullFOSS/entry/change_impress_to_improve_all
New Chart features in OpenOffice.org 3.1
Interested in the new Chart features that will be available in OOo 3.1? Have a look...
http://blogs.sun.com/GullFOSS/entry/new_chart_features_in_openoffice1
Making menus a little nicer
So now that code freeze for 3.1 is almost upon us, work for 3.2 begins. As a first little step I looked through some old issues and noticed Issues 42227 and 48965 which I must admit went a little under in the load of my intray. The problem described in there is basically an aesthetic one: currently menus reserve two "columns" for checkmarks and item images, because menu items can be checked as well as have an image and both should be reflected of course in the display. But this creates a large area where most of the time nothing appears on the left of the menu, making the menu look clunkier than necessary.
http://blogs.sun.com/GullFOSS/entry/making_menus_a_little_nicer
New Features in OpenOffice.org 3.1, an Early Look
OpenOffice.org 3.1 is 65 days away, and developers are finishing up more than 1000 issues targeted for this Microsoft-Office-killer packing an army of new features, enhancements, and bug fixes.
http://www.oooninja.com/2009/01/openofficeorg-31-new-features.html
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