OpenOffice 3 Has PDF Import, Native Aqua UI

  Submitted by irbis Office 13 Comments
"There's been quite a bit of buzz recently after it was announced that OpenOffice 3 was due in September. It seems, however, most people still aren't aware of what's in store. The Openpoffice.org website is a rather scary place. We managed to find this conference presentation lurking in the shadows before running away in fear of mid 90’s web design. Here's the best bits."
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vLite Strips Features From Vista

Windows 14 Comments
"Windows Vista from Microsoft takes a lot of resources, we all know that. vLite provides you with an easy removal of the unwanted components in order to make Vista run faster and to your liking. This tool doesn't use any kind of hacking, all files and registry entries are protected as they would be if you install the unedited version only with the changes you select. It configures the installation directly before the installation, meaning you'll have to remake the ISO and reinstall it. This method is much cleaner, not to mention easier and more logical than doing it after installation on every reinstall."
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Eight Interesting Improvements in GNOME 2.22

  Submitted by Michael Larabel Gnome 22 Comments
"Back in November we started sharing some of the exciting features planned for the GNOME 2.22 and 2.24 releases, and now that the first GNOME 2.22.0 Beta release is planned for later this week, we have taken another look at the packages set for inclusion and the changes that have actually been made. While nothing groundbreaking will be introduced in GNOME 2.22, this desktop environment does have some moderate changes worth noting. In this article are eight interesting packages that either have noticeable changes since GNOME 2.20 or are new to GNOME. This list isn't all-inclusive or ordered in any particular fashion, but just eight changes that had caught our attention."
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Review: Timevault

  Submitted by Nemilar Linux 18 Comments
A review of the new TimeVault program, a backup utility for Linux similar to Apple's Time Machine. Covers installation, configuration, usage, and discuses some of the advantages and limitations of its backup abilities. "TimeVault finally offers a complete, easy-to-use, intuitive backup system for Linux. While advanced and experienced users have been able to schedule backups using rsync, cron, and other tools, new users will find Timevault a comfort; knowing that their files can be easily and safely backed up, and reverted to an older state if necessary. The interface is relatively intuitive, and although the configuration could be a bit simpler, beginners should have no problem setting up TimeVault to keep their files safe."
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HP Develops Tools to Track Down OSS

Open Source 31 Comments
Large companies typically don't have any idea how much Open Source software they have running on their various systems. This can pose a management and legal problem, so HP has developed software, called FOSSology and FOSSBazaar to help track down errant OSS installs. A Techtarget article notes, "HP gave an example of a recent customer that had three times as many FOSS licenses as originally estimated -- 75 licenses rather than 25. This left customers with a choice: implement governance policies to allow the safe use of FOSS, or replace the software at an estimated cost of $80 million."
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Nokia To Acquire Trolltech?

  Submitted by anonymous Qt 82 Comments
Trolltech, the originator of Qt, which forms the basis of the Linux KDE desktop environment, is being acquired by Nokia, the world's number-one mobile phone vendor. Nokia expects its acquisition of Trolltech to accelerate its cross-platform software strategy for mobile devices and desktop applications, and to enhance its Internet services business. The original press release is also available. Update: "We will continue to actively develop Qt and Qtopia. We also want to underline that we will continue to support the open source community by continuing to release these technologies under the GPL."
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QEmu Ported to Syllable Desktop

  Submitted by Kaj de Vos Syllable, AtheOS No Comments
QEmu has been eluding its port to Syllable Desktop, but the Syllable team has gotten this emulator to work now. The port is based on earlier work on QEmu itself and on a number of improvements that are being made to Syllable Desktop. The coming Syllable development builds will have improved support for POSIX threads, timers and async I/O. The newest QEmu version 0.9.1 runs now, although there is still a problem with SDL that prevents the keyboard from working. There is already a binary package of QEmu 0.9.1 for Syllable Server in the downloads section. Other recent ports to Syllable Desktop include LibPurple and Finch, the text mode client of Pidgin (the former GAIM instant messaging application) and the latest version of SaMBa, 3.0.28.
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‘Leopard Server: the People’s Unix’

macOS 47 Comments
"Apple has brought its unique brand of richness and simplicity to servers. OS X Leopard Server is the fifth generation of the software half of Apple's server platform. This time around, Apple took what is a unique and bold approach for a Unix server. Leopard Server continues the OS X Server tradition of delivering platform-independent file/print, e-mail, Web, and network edge services (such as stateful firewall, VPN, proxy, virus, and spam filtering). But it is as easy to set up and run as a desktop. Truly; the typical Mac user could get a Leopard Server going, because the default administrative interface is a match for a Mac's System Preferences."
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Mandriva Linux 2008 Spring Beta 1 Released

  Submitted by AdamW Mandriva, Mandrake, Lycoris 2 Comments
The third pre-release of Mandriva Linux 2008 Spring has been released. This pre-release brings available KDE 4.0.0 final (in the repositories, not on the discs), a new XML-based package metainformation system, out-of-the-box support for multimedia keys on many common keyboards, new NVIDIA and ATI drivers, kernel 2.6.24 RC8 (with ALSA 1.0.16 RC1), and more. See here for download information. There are screenshots too.
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Sources: Vista SP1 Due Out in Next Few Weeks

Windows 16 Comments
"The wait is nearly over for the first service pack for Windows Vista, according to sources close to Microsoft. Microsoft has said the highly anticipated service pack would be out in the first quarter of this year, but some say it could be available in the next few weeks, more than a month before the quarter ends on March 31." That's what PCWorld says anyway, BetaNews thinks it will arrive in March. A new build has been released, in any case.
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Microsoft: We’re Open (Source) for Business

  Submitted by WillM Microsoft 49 Comments
"For years, the poster child of the anti-open source movement was Microsoft, with its proprietary software model. In recent years, however, the company has changed its views, starting an open source software lab to work on interoperability issues. It's even become a purveyor of its own open source-approved licenses. What do these efforts mean? For Sam Ramji, Microsoft's director of open source technology strategy, they indicate the company is 'open' for business."
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Linux 2.6.24 Released

  Submitted by RJop Linux 21 Comments
Linus Torvalds has released Linux 2.6.24. "The release is out there (both git trees and as tarballs/patches), and for the next week many kernel developers will be at (or flying into/out of) LCA in Melbourne, so let's hope it's a good one. Nothing earth-shattering happened since -rc8, although the new set of ACPI blacklist entries and some network driver updates makes the diffstat show that there was more than the random sprinkling of one-liners all over the tree. But most of it really is one-liners, and mostly not very exciting ones at that."
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Development of 10.5.2 Winding Down?

  Submitted by orlando james macOS 6 Comments
The frequency at which Apple is seeding new pre-release builds of its second update to the Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system is increasing rapidly, suggesting an official release may be imminent. Fresh on the heels of build 9C20, which was released as a private distribution earlier this week, the Cupertino-based Mac maker on Thursday issued its latest revision of the software update labeled Mac OS X 10.5.2 build 9C23.
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