"Open Source"-ization

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[url=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080111-uk-education-agency-says-no-to-vista-office-2007.html]UK education agency says no to Vista, Office 2007

The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) has published its final report (PDF) on Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007. The agency is largely sticking with its interim recommendations that schools steer clear of Vista in existing deployments and Office 2007 altogether. [/url]

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[url=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080114-analyst-group-slams-odf-downplays-microsoft-iso-abuses.html]Analyst group slams ODF, downplays Microsoft ISO abuses

A new report published by the Burton Group about XML-based office document formats touts Microsoft's Office Open XML (OOXML) format and questions the relevance of ODF, asserting that the ISO-standardized document format used in office suites from Sun, IBM, and other vendors will be relegated to "a relatively minor role" as OOXML gains traction.[/url]

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[url=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080224-odf-backer-urges-cooperation-to-fix-ooxmls-deficiencies.html]ODF backer urges cooperation to fix OOXML's deficiencies

The debate over document standards has become increasingly combative and controversial as a result of Microsoft's efforts to attain the blessing of ISO for its Office Open XML (OOXML) format. Microsoft's XML-based document standard has been widely criticized by supporters of the competing OpenDocument format (ODF), which has already received ISO approval. ODF coeditor Patrick Durusau has stepped into the ring in an effort to defuse the contentious quarrel. Durusau has called for those participating in the standards process to "foster coevolution" between the two formats.[/url]

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[url=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080226-google-to-iso-say-no-to-ooxml.html]Google to ISO: Say no to OOXML

Google has called for ISO member bodies to reject Microsoft's Office Open XML document format during the current voting period, which ends March 30. In an entry at the company's official blog, Google's open-source programs manager says that Microsoft's document format is redundant and has technical flaws. Google has backed the competing OpenDocument Format (ODF), which has already received ISO approval.[/url]

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[URL=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080307-microsofts-odf-add-in-for-office-still-not-good-enough.html]Ars tests Microsoft's ODF add-in for Office

Microsoft kicked off its new interoperability initiative today with an event at its labs in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company demonstrated its OOXML to ODF conversion add-in for Microsoft Office and described plans for interoperability. [/URL]

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[url=http://www.betanews.com/article/OOXML_passes_just_barely_with_75_approval/1207064735]ISO certifies MS Office Open XML, just barely, with 75% approval

No, it's not an April Fool: Despite controversy over whether certain countries' voting members truly represented the wishes of their respective standards delegations, it would appear ODF now has company in the world's library of standards.
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Another was Norway, whose own mirror technical committee, Groklaw learned yesterday, filed a formal protest with the ISO asking that its country's vote be annulled. It's calling for an investigation into whether the voting representative was acting in the interests of his committee.[/url]

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[url=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080414-office-open-xml-out-of-microsofts-handsofficially.html]Office Open XML out of Microsoft's hands—officially

A couple of weeks ago, ISO members voted to make Microsoft's Office Open XML format an official standard. The vote was not without its share of controversy, but it's a done deal and now the world will get to see how Microsoft handles having the file format for its flagship office suite no longer under its exclusive command. ISO has now taken official control of the format and has put it under the aegis of the same Joint Technical Committee responsible for the OpenDocument Format. [/url]

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[url=http://www.betanews.com/article/Now_a_British_educational_agency_raises_alarms_on_OXML/1210804393]Now a British educational agency raises alarms on OXML

A British watchdog agency has filed a complaint with the European Commission charging that Open XML -- on its way to standardization -- fails to do its stated job of supporting interoperability with software from other developers.[/url]

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[URL=http://www.betanews.com/article/Next_Office_2007_service_pack_will_include_ODF_PDF_support_options/1211343807]Next Office 2007 service pack will include ODF, PDF support options

In a breakthrough development, Microsoft has announced its future editions of Microsoft Office, beginning with Service Pack 2 for Office 2007, will enable users to choose OpenDocument support as an alternate default option.[/URL]

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[url=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080522-microsoft-odf-support-pledge-met-with-optimism-skepticism.html]Microsoft ODF support pledge met with optimism, skepticism

Microsoft's announcement yesterday that it would incorporate native support for the Open Document Format (ODF) into Office 2007 next year has sparked a wave of reaction. The European Commission said that it would begin investigating whether Microsoft's ODF support led to better interoperability, but appeared optimistic about the company's apparent willingness to take steps in the right direction. Others, however, were not quite so optimistic.
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As to be expected, others are taking a "we'll believe it when we see it" stance in response to Microsoft's promises. "The proof will be whether and when Microsoft's promised support for ODF is on par with its support for its own format. Governments will be looking for actual results, not promises in press releases," ODF Alliance managing director Marino Marcich said in a statement. "Because Microsoft has a history of broken promises, no one should celebrate this news until we see what is actually done and how quickly it is put in place."[/url]