Barney's Blog

Blog archive

Now Open Source Is the Proprietary One?

Microsoft could have used OpenDoc, the file format for OpenOffice and other apps, as the file format for Office 2007, but that just wouldn't be right. Microsoft wants it own file formats for market control, and so that the file formats can handle anything Microsoft apps need them to.

And so it is that we have OpenOffice XML, a Microsoft format that others can use, along with an open source translator that can convert Microsoft files into OpenDoc.

I guess that makes Microsoft open -- open enough to criticize OpenDoc backer IBM for being closed!

In an open letter, Redmond accuses Armonk of trying to hold back Open XML in favor of OpenDoc. Can't all monopolies just get along?

Posted by Doug Barney on February 20, 2007


Featured

  • Microsoft Appoints Althoff as New CEO for Commercial Business

    Microsoft CEO and chairman Satya Nadella on Wednesday announced the promotion of Judson Althoff to CEO of the company's commercial business, presenting the move as a response to the dramatic industrywide shifts caused by AI.

  • Broadcom Revamps VMware Partner Program Again

    Broadcom recently announced a significant update regarding its VMware Cloud Service Provider (VCSP) program, coinciding with the release of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0, a key component in Broadcom’s private cloud strategy.

  • Closeup of the new Copilot keyboard key

    Microsoft Updates Copilot To Add Context-Sensitive Agents to Teams, SharePoint

    Microsoft has rolled out a new public preview for collaborative "always on" agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot, bringing enhanced, context-aware tools into Teams channels, meetings, SharePoint sites, Planner workstreams and Viva Engage communities.

  • Windows 365 Cloud Apps Now Available for Public Preview

    Microsoft announced this week that Windows 365 Cloud Apps are now available for public preview. This aims to allow IT administrators to stream individual Windows applications from the cloud, removing the need to assign Cloud PCs to every user.

Most   Popular