OpenDocument took another step away from obscurity Tuesday, as Apple confirmed that Mac OS X version 10.5 -- known as "Leopard" -- will natively support ODF files, alongside Microsoft's Word 2007 formats. Apple had previously added support for the format in its Pages word processing application.

Leopard users will be able to view ODF and Word 2007 documents without an external program; they will open directly in the operating system's TextEdit application. While TextEdit provides only very basic editing capabilities, it will suffice for viewing of most documents. Microsoft supports ODF in Office 2003 and 2007, but only when an external plug-in is installed.

Continue reading →

A bill intended to grant journalists the right to protect the identity of their sources when questioned in court passed the US House of Representatives yesterday, by a vote of 398 to 21. The version as passed contained much clarified language, closing a legal loophole that might have enabled courts to compel journalists to divulge their sources anyway.

But another late addition to the House version of the Free Flow of Information Act altered the extent of its coverage to professional journalists only - specifically, those who make money. Specifically, it narrowed the scope of protection to "a person who, for financial gain or livelihood, is engaged in journalism and includes a supervisor, employer, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of such covered person."

Continue reading →

Although the TiVo Series3 has been out for more than a year, its external storage expansion port has remained inoperable - until now. With software update 9.2, TiVo customers can boost the amount of programming they can store by simply plugging in a verified Serial ATA hard drive.

The feature is also compatible with the new TiVo HD. The company has not yet said what will be considered a "verified" drive, or whether it will sell its own branded hard drives. The 9.2 update also brings an important feature for Amazon Unbox customers: progressive downloads. Users can begin watching the movie the moment it downloads, rather than waiting for it to complete.

Continue reading →

Microsoft has launched what developers are calling version 2.0 of Windows Live Maps, which has been completely revamped inside and out. A number of new features have also been added, including "Party Maps," which enables users to send invitations to 50 people with a simple link to directions.

Like Google Maps, Windows Live Maps now displays traffic data and can route around congestion, although you can't change your route by simply dragging it on the map. 3D birds-eye views are also now integrated in maps, although with adding 3D models of buildings onto maps that are stored in Collections. More information the new features can be found on the Virtual Earth blog.

Continue reading →

While some iPhone users in the United States are busy playing a cat-and-mouse game with Apple in order to unlock the device, mobile operator Orange will begin selling an unlocked iPhone in France next month. This is due to a French law that prohibits exclusively bundling a handset with a wireless carrier.

Apple confirmed months of speculation Tuesday, announcing that Orange will be its exclusive partner in France. The deal was delayed, however, due to discussions about a revenue sharing agreement. Like in other European countries, the locked iPhone will cost 399 euros. The unlocked iPhone will cost more, Orange said, but will not specify how much until November.

Continue reading →

In a move which officially inaugurates Microsoft as a member of the open source community, the Open Source Initiative - designated the official caretaker of the concept of open source - late last week officially approved the language of two licenses submitted by Microsoft for inclusion with its open source software. However, Microsoft admitted today, the OSI did have a hand in changing their names.

Now officially part of the open source library of licenses is the Microsoft Public License which grants the licensee the right to use copyrighted and patented material expressed in the software royalty-free; and the Microsoft Reciprocal License, which extends the public license by stipulating that licensees who distribute any derivative of the program must also distribute its source code. The news that Microsoft had submitted these licenses for OSI approval came in late July.

Continue reading →

At the Symbian Smartphone Show in London this morning, Nokia showed a video depicting a model with a screen larger than the one on its current N95, and without its pivoting thumb controls. This model was running applications on the Symbian S60 platform using a new touch-screen interface that was similar to Apple's iPhone in one respect, and dissimilar to it in another: It provides tactile feedback.

Nokia confirmed the development in a press release issued later in the day. "S60 touch user interface comes with support for tactile feedback," the company stated, "which means that there is a physical pulse and feedback when the user taps on the screen. This provides better awareness of the device's response improving the user experience."

Continue reading →

Jammie Thomas, the woman recently found guilty of piracy, and her attorneys filed a motion yesterday for a retrial on the grounds that the $222,000 total penalty issued to her is so excessive that it is unconstitutional.

The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution prohibits courts from imposing excessive fines.

Continue reading →

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a four-year extension to a ban on net access taxes, however Republicans complained that Democrats blocked attempts to make it permanent.

Democratic leaders in the House used a procedural tool that prevented amendments to a bill continuing the ban. Supporters of a permanent ban had hoped to add an amendment that would have settled the argument once and for all.

Continue reading →

"The milestone that we're at," announced Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates at his company's campus this morning, "is that we're finally bringing to this idea of trying to get in contact with somebody, knowing what number to call, knowing how to connect many people together, knowing when they're available...the magic of software." With those words, Gates officially launched his company's Unified Communications platform, which will include a new class of telecommunications server product whose objective is to replace the office PBX.

"In fact, this is a complete transformation of the business of the traditional PBX," Gates continued. "The PBX in some ways is almost like the mainframe was many years ago, where all of the functionality was there in that one piece. And the way that you add flexibility, add value, to customize, to bring in third parties, to do new things, it just isn't there in that structure. So by moving phone calls onto the Internet using the powerful industry standard servers, we've got a very different way of being able to do things. And that can lead not only to lower costs, but far more effectiveness in how your employees work within your company, or with customers and partners outside your company."

Continue reading →

Broadcasters are preparing a $700 million ad blitz to raise awareness of the switch from analog to digital television amid criticisms that too little of the public is aware of the change.

Some members of Congress claim that the government and broadcasters have done little to warn people of the switch that occurs on February 17, 2009. In what could be seen as a preemptive strike prior to hearings on the subject, the broadcast industry has announced an expansive ad campaign to promote the switch.

Continue reading →

American airline US Airways said Tuesday that it will begin to accept PayPal as a form of payment when purchasing tickets through its Web site.

The company said that the the ability to purchase airfare using the online payment service was a popular request among its customers. In addition, the company will also promote PayPal through the "travel tools" section of its Web site.

Continue reading →

While the fourth "Die Hard" DVD may seem like an unlikely place to set a historical milestone in the movie industry, Yippee Kay-yay. 20th Century Fox said Tuesday that a special edition version of "Live Free or Die Hard" will include a Windows Media Video file that can be copied to a PC or portable video player.

The WMV file reportedly has no DRM, however the user will be required to input a 16-digit code before the DVD software will unlock and copy it. Called "Digital Copy," the feature will be available on future Fox DVDs, although no specific titles were announced. Warner Home Video plans a similar capability for "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," which goes on sale in December.

Continue reading →

MySpace today announced a new licensing agreement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment that shares revenues gained from sponsorship and advertising, and lets the site post video and audio content from the label's artists.

Sony BMG, one of the big five record labels, encompasses a tremendous amount of music, with over 60 labels under its banner including such groups as RCA, Arista, Columbia, Epic, Jive, and Rough Trade.

Continue reading →

Google is making efforts to allay criticism over its YouTube video site by implementing new video identification that would help to find copyrighted content.

As in the past, the Mountain View, Calif. search company is framing its fight against copyrighted work on its site as going "above and beyond our legal responsibilities." Google itself will not use the application to identify videos: rather, the content owners need to use it themselves.

Continue reading →