Open Source Action (and more)

2011-02-07

European Parliament starts free software user group —

This item is quite interesting. I would surely like to see the focus be as much on open standards as on free/open source software.

2011-01-04

Cuba sets to migrate to free, open-source software

This is quite cool... But it's regrettable it's taken so long. Two years ago, in Malága, I spoke with a representative from Cuba about migrating to OOo and ODF, and learned that the rhetoric then was not commensurate with the reality, in part simply b/c there seemed to be less reliance on computer technology. But Cuba suffers from the same complex problem nearly every country is now experiencing: accelerating urbanisation (in no small part because of the continuing demolition of economically valuable environments), the unprecedented rise in children needing teaching (but lacking teachers, books, classrooms, etc.), and the devastating lack of jobs for those newly urbanised adults and growing children.

Only ICT can begin to satisfy this complex of needs, through distance learning, through open source, through the establishment of new commons and new ecosystems that will not only communicate knowledge and information but also set the scene for the establishment of markets providing for jobs, careers, taxes. And not just social and real death.

2010-12-13

Quebec's public sector eyes free software

"Quebec's public sector will favour free computer software, like the Linux operating system and the OpenOffice suite of applications, over commercial software, like Microsoft Corp.'s Windows and Office applications."

One would hope--if not actually expect--that the relevant ministers would contact us at OpenOffice.org... or that when I was in Montreal recently, they'd made an effort to reach out. Certainly, I tried reaching out to them.

And I still do. So, if there are public sector representatives reading this (if anyone reads this), let's work together on migrating Québec to OpenOffice.org!

FileApp Pro for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store

The app comes in both free and paid versions, the latter supposedly worth the 4.99 USD. It reads "OpenOffice" documents, which is to say, some OpenDocument Format (ODF) documents.....

I have not checked it out much but would be interested to learn more.

OpenOffice Document Reader free download for Android

This is quite cool.

Haven't tried it but would be interested in learning of others' experience with it.