Open Source

As expected, the executive board of INCITS, the group representing U.S. interests in ISO, voted in favor of Microsoft Corp.'s Office Open XML specification.

The news from Eastern Europe yesterday was that the Cold War is heating up again – the Cold War between IBM and Microsoft. Big Blue is working with system-integrator partners to supply a "Microsoft-free" desktop PC to large customers like Aeroflot, the Russian state airline.

I've put the latest betas of Firefox 3 and IE8 to the test, and the results are clear: Firefox 3 is the superior browser. Its new features make browsing the Web easier, faster, safer, and easier to customize --- and the memory leak problem seems to have been fixed. IE8, on the other hand, offers some flashy new tools, but for everyday browsing, Firefox remains superior. I've got details and screenshots.

Microsoft's price cuts on Windows Vista last Thursday seem to be designed to make the most difference where it's the least important – to give the software giant bragging rights down the road without hurting – or improving – its bottom line.

{here}'s IT Blogwatch: in which Microsoft launches the new versions of Windows Server, SQL Server, and Visual Studio. Not to mention the pop culture translator...

Chris Kanaracus reports:

Besides launching a set of updated products on Wednesday, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer lauded the company's IT user base, calling users the "heart and soul" of the industry. The glowing rhetoric fit the theme of Microsoft's launch event, dubbed Heroes Happen {here} in homage to IT workers everywhere. But Ballmer quickly segued into a pitch for the new software, which includes Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 ...

There are two ways to look at Microsoft's interoperability pledge-- as an olive branch held out to the Open Source community, or as one more empty promise to ward off tenacious European Union antitrust officials. Which is it? The decision process of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) on OOXML may tell the tale.

Those looking for an ulterior motive in Microsoft's big Open Source push should look no further than its Yahoo takeover bid --- some believe that may be the real reason for the company seeing the light.

It's IT Blogwatch: in which Microsoft pledges openness, love, and harmony. Not to mention pranking Bob Dylan...

Gregg Keizer reports:

Microsoft Corp. today made public more than 30,000 pages of documentation for Windows protocols and APIs ... one of several changes in how it deals with open-source developers and software rivals. Calling the four steps "interoperability principles," Microsoft promised to make it easier and cheaper for developers to create software that works smoothly with its highest-profile and most-current products ...

Microsoft held out the peace pipe to the Open Source community today when the company announced that is offering free access to its most important APIs and formerly proprietary protocols, and will offer more support for open standards. Why has Microsoft seen the light? I have a one-word answer: Google.

MAIL FROM IT Blogwatch: in which The Mozilla Foundation spins off Mozilla Messaging, to rejuvenate the Thunderbird email client. Not to mention when GPS vehicle navigation turns bad...

Dan Nystedt reports:

The Mozilla Foundation Tuesday opened Mozilla Messaging, a new subsidiary focused on developing its free, open-source Thunderbird e-mail software. Mozilla Messaging will initially focus on developing Thunderbird 3, which aims at improving several aspects of the software ...

As it promised, Everex's $399 mini-laptop is slowly trickling down to e-commerce stores, with Linux-focused ZaReason claiming to be first with the CloudBook. But the first Web reviews by Laptop magazine indicate that the would-be competitor to the Asus eee may have been pushed out too fast.

It's IT Blogwatch: in which the near-dead SCO celebrates a lifesaving offer of $100 million. Not to mention mainstream virtualization...

Todd R. Weiss reports:

Five months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a reorganization effort last September, The SCO Group Inc. today unveiled a potential $100 million cash infusion ... from Stephen Norris & Co. Capital Partners L.P. (SNCP) and partners in the Middle East ...

When Apple chose the KHTML engine for its Safari Browser in in 2003 over the more popular Gecko engine that powers Firefox, a lot of people were surprised. Firefox was way more popular than the Konquerer browser and had a lot more open source developers on line. Well now that decision is starting to pay some dividends - in amazing speed.

After last year's Mac hack (actually a Quicktime hack) at CanSecWest 2007, the organizers of CanSecWest 2008 are going to pit Leopard against Linux against Vista this year. LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!

Linux creator Linus Torvalds is no fan of either Windows or Mac OS X, but in a recent interview, he slammed Mac OS X, calling its file system "utter crap," and said that Windows is a better operating system to program for.