Analysis of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2012 — Centre for Internet and Society
This is not an insignificant milestone.
2012-05-22
No, Google's Chrome isn't the world's leading browser - yet: see our map | Technology | guardian.co.uk
No, Google's Chrome isn't the world's leading browser - yet: see our map | Technology | guardian.co.uk
worth considering: Chrome works quite well with Google Docs, which optionally saves to "OpenOffice" format, aka a version of ODF. It's also easy to write extensions for Chrome. Apache OpenOffice? the lesson is that newer users and markets do *not* axiomatically opt for IE/Win. It's an open market.
worth considering: Chrome works quite well with Google Docs, which optionally saves to "OpenOffice" format, aka a version of ODF. It's also easy to write extensions for Chrome. Apache OpenOffice? the lesson is that newer users and markets do *not* axiomatically opt for IE/Win. It's an open market.
2012-05-21
Flame retardants: The role of Big Tobacco - chicagotribune.com
Flame retardants: The role of Big Tobacco - chicagotribune.com
A superb article. I'm working now on an essay examining consumer trust of household commodities supposedly safe *because* they can be bought at a regular market and opposing it to instances where the commodity or thing in question has *not* undergone that sort of vetting (real or imagined). My guess is that most people are really not cynical (enough) and assume that their government is committed to making their lives safer. I'd further guess that in those instances, contexts, situations, where one must trust the evidence given by peers, there will be interesting behaviour effects.
This issue of trust in the presumed goodness of government authority (however that is read, but "state authority" is probably more accurate), has analogues in those services that bear some similarity to government works, in that they exist pretty much as if they always had existed, the way that roads, traffic lights, and so on exist for so many who are not intimately involved in government doings. The trust may not be by any means misplaced. But as there is very little in the political world, which is to say, the world, that is not actually disinterested, questioning the accuracy of one's trust simply seems a good practice.
A superb article. I'm working now on an essay examining consumer trust of household commodities supposedly safe *because* they can be bought at a regular market and opposing it to instances where the commodity or thing in question has *not* undergone that sort of vetting (real or imagined). My guess is that most people are really not cynical (enough) and assume that their government is committed to making their lives safer. I'd further guess that in those instances, contexts, situations, where one must trust the evidence given by peers, there will be interesting behaviour effects.
This issue of trust in the presumed goodness of government authority (however that is read, but "state authority" is probably more accurate), has analogues in those services that bear some similarity to government works, in that they exist pretty much as if they always had existed, the way that roads, traffic lights, and so on exist for so many who are not intimately involved in government doings. The trust may not be by any means misplaced. But as there is very little in the political world, which is to say, the world, that is not actually disinterested, questioning the accuracy of one's trust simply seems a good practice.
2012-05-18
IBM contributes Symphony to Apache OpenOffice - The H Open Source: News and Features
IBM contributes Symphony to Apache OpenOffice - The H Open Source: News and Features
I was first shown the work that IBM could do with OOo back in 2004 or so, at the Almaden Center near San Jose, CA. It was impressive. But so was the center! But about the divergence: I, along with so many others in the Apache OO podling are delighted that this narrative has come to a happy conclusion that is also, and far more interestingly, a very strong beginning. As I wrote on the list, Thanks. More words would only dilute the sentiment and diminish the actuality of what is being done now by a rapidly growing and active global community.
(Once again, I feel well, invigorated by the enthusiasm of new members and old hands--those I've known for more than a decade. it's terrific. And it makes me want to learn, again, so much more, and so many more languages and of the people speaking them.)
I was first shown the work that IBM could do with OOo back in 2004 or so, at the Almaden Center near San Jose, CA. It was impressive. But so was the center! But about the divergence: I, along with so many others in the Apache OO podling are delighted that this narrative has come to a happy conclusion that is also, and far more interestingly, a very strong beginning. As I wrote on the list, Thanks. More words would only dilute the sentiment and diminish the actuality of what is being done now by a rapidly growing and active global community.
(Once again, I feel well, invigorated by the enthusiasm of new members and old hands--those I've known for more than a decade. it's terrific. And it makes me want to learn, again, so much more, and so many more languages and of the people speaking them.)
Apache OpenOffice - Windows Users Dominate Downloads - InternetNews.
Apache OpenOffice - Windows Users Dominate Downloads - InternetNews.
Kerner is seemingly outraged (or its milder form) that the vast majority of AOO downloads are Windows. He ought not to be. During the heyday of OOo (say, 2010), more than 95 percent of downloads from the website were Windows users. It makes sense, as most computers bought in stores do not come packed with OOo. (Most is not all, of course.) That said, there are Linux downloads, and I'd expect these to increase, as more public sector departments heave that sigh of relief that OOo is back, its better, and they can get it now, in Linux, Windows, Mac OS X and other forms. We broke 1M the first week or so, and I will go out on a very stout limb and predict that we'll be seeing even more spectacular numbers. (Especially if Facebook decides to promote us, as a free software option.... after all, it would surely help their business model in getting into enterprises and schools in a way that goes beyond the banal and dull plopping of ads in otherwise publicly personal spaces.)
Kerner is seemingly outraged (or its milder form) that the vast majority of AOO downloads are Windows. He ought not to be. During the heyday of OOo (say, 2010), more than 95 percent of downloads from the website were Windows users. It makes sense, as most computers bought in stores do not come packed with OOo. (Most is not all, of course.) That said, there are Linux downloads, and I'd expect these to increase, as more public sector departments heave that sigh of relief that OOo is back, its better, and they can get it now, in Linux, Windows, Mac OS X and other forms. We broke 1M the first week or so, and I will go out on a very stout limb and predict that we'll be seeing even more spectacular numbers. (Especially if Facebook decides to promote us, as a free software option.... after all, it would surely help their business model in getting into enterprises and schools in a way that goes beyond the banal and dull plopping of ads in otherwise publicly personal spaces.)
2012-05-17
Apache OpenOffice™ 3.4 Blows Past 1M Downloads
Apache OpenOffice™ 3.4 Blows Past 1M Downloads
Okay, I'm impressed. Clearly, there is a hunger for OpenOffice, and that is not too surprising, given just how many millions had downloaded pre-Apache OpenOffice. Apache OpenOffice is, in many ways, improved.
But now we have to re-establish the ecosystems* that had begun to form. I'd be interested to start by leaning the scope and location of OpenOffice (old) and Apache OpenOffice (new) use. We can start with the old account: Major OpenOffice.org Deployments - Apache OpenOffice.org Wiki .
* Ecosystem here means not just those companies selling support and services related to OO but also a lot of other business that derives in whole or in part from the use and production of the application and its extensions. Consider: Nearly every public sector adopter of OpenOffice is legally required to buy support and offer training; they also often want services (migration, ad hoc work) and certification. And as OO is available in many immensely popular languages, the possibilities of making money in this ecosystem is not insignificant.
Okay, I'm impressed. Clearly, there is a hunger for OpenOffice, and that is not too surprising, given just how many millions had downloaded pre-Apache OpenOffice. Apache OpenOffice is, in many ways, improved.
But now we have to re-establish the ecosystems* that had begun to form. I'd be interested to start by leaning the scope and location of OpenOffice (old) and Apache OpenOffice (new) use. We can start with the old account: Major OpenOffice.org Deployments - Apache OpenOffice.org Wiki .
* Ecosystem here means not just those companies selling support and services related to OO but also a lot of other business that derives in whole or in part from the use and production of the application and its extensions. Consider: Nearly every public sector adopter of OpenOffice is legally required to buy support and offer training; they also often want services (migration, ad hoc work) and certification. And as OO is available in many immensely popular languages, the possibilities of making money in this ecosystem is not insignificant.
2012-05-12
AOO 3.4.0 Release Notes
AOO 3.4.0 Release Notes
These notes are really well done. I think a good release note ought to describe not only what is new and how it affects what is old, but also give a sense of the narrative underlying the changes made, including, when feasible, identifying the actors who did the work. (Usually, that is done by citing the relevant issue.) With the release of AOO 3.4, thoughts slide to future milestone releases....
These notes are really well done. I think a good release note ought to describe not only what is new and how it affects what is old, but also give a sense of the narrative underlying the changes made, including, when feasible, identifying the actors who did the work. (Usually, that is done by citing the relevant issue.) With the release of AOO 3.4, thoughts slide to future milestone releases....
2012-05-11
South Korea Still Paying The Price For Embracing Internet Explorer A Decade Ago | Techdirt
South Korea Still Paying The Price For Embracing Internet Explorer A Decade Ago | Techdirt
Moody's article is excellent. It accurately describes the terrible situation South Korea finds itself in: Locked in to an antiquated technology and unable to take advantage of modern software. This is the fate that choosing proprietary standards leads to: costly, very costly, isolation.
Moody's article is excellent. It accurately describes the terrible situation South Korea finds itself in: Locked in to an antiquated technology and unable to take advantage of modern software. This is the fate that choosing proprietary standards leads to: costly, very costly, isolation.
2012-05-08
Apache OpenOffice Downloads
Apache OpenOffice Downloads
Try it. I've been using early versions for some time now and have yet to experience a crash--more than I can say about many other applications. But to me, the most important part is it's use of ODF 1.2 and what that means for interoperability among so-called office applications--and then some.
Here the issue. What makes a document? The physical form? The logical frame? Sheer convention? So, too, the "office" document. A generation has come to expect of a suite those things that are found in the prevailing application. But that assemblage is, however useful, nevertheless rather arbitrary. It was also spawned by the desires of white-collar workers in large corporations, not by the needs and desires of those outside of the corporate walls. Times have changed. Today, and even more so, tomorrow, virtually all people will have access to some form of a computer, and they will be wanting to create, edit, distribute their works. The number of those coming to this 21st century table is not small, it's in the billions.
The ODF can accommodate them, as can open source implementations of the format. I'd imagine that people will be using tablets and other thin devices to access Web services (aka "the cloud"), so it's probable that the implementation we will see on these devices may differ from what we see on the desktop. But the implementations will still offer all users the productivity tools they need and want for their creations, be they text or graphic or musical or voice or some wonderful combination.
Finally: Open source is a community effort. It works best when the community of users substantially overlaps the community making it. In its best form, open source products defy the static and disposable quality of the shrinkwrapped commodity. Open source products are dynamic, they are not limited to a specific slice of time and place, and the old commodity is. The future of an open source product is endless, that of the closed commodity landfill or its electronic equivalent.
Try it. I've been using early versions for some time now and have yet to experience a crash--more than I can say about many other applications. But to me, the most important part is it's use of ODF 1.2 and what that means for interoperability among so-called office applications--and then some.
Here the issue. What makes a document? The physical form? The logical frame? Sheer convention? So, too, the "office" document. A generation has come to expect of a suite those things that are found in the prevailing application. But that assemblage is, however useful, nevertheless rather arbitrary. It was also spawned by the desires of white-collar workers in large corporations, not by the needs and desires of those outside of the corporate walls. Times have changed. Today, and even more so, tomorrow, virtually all people will have access to some form of a computer, and they will be wanting to create, edit, distribute their works. The number of those coming to this 21st century table is not small, it's in the billions.
The ODF can accommodate them, as can open source implementations of the format. I'd imagine that people will be using tablets and other thin devices to access Web services (aka "the cloud"), so it's probable that the implementation we will see on these devices may differ from what we see on the desktop. But the implementations will still offer all users the productivity tools they need and want for their creations, be they text or graphic or musical or voice or some wonderful combination.
Finally: Open source is a community effort. It works best when the community of users substantially overlaps the community making it. In its best form, open source products defy the static and disposable quality of the shrinkwrapped commodity. Open source products are dynamic, they are not limited to a specific slice of time and place, and the old commodity is. The future of an open source product is endless, that of the closed commodity landfill or its electronic equivalent.
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