Release: OpenOffice.org 2.0

OpenOffice.org 2.0 is the productivity suite that individuals, governments, and corporations around the world have been expecting for the last two years. Easy to use and fluidly interoperable with every major office suite, OpenOffice.org 2.0 realises the potential of open source.

With new features, advanced XML capabilities and native support for the OASIS Standard OpenDocument format, OpenOffice.org 2.0 gives users around the globe the tools to be engaged and productive members of their society.

Download it now. If it is not ready today in your language, it will be shortly. OpenOffice.org 2.0 is yours.

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Release: Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Today, Microsoft released a Rollup 2 update for Media Center. The update is registered under KB900325 and is available on MSDN in several languages already. I guess the update will be published on Microsoft’s public website soon.

Some improvements are:

• Native digital cable and card support
• DRM Content protection
• Improved burning with digital-rights management, network, HDTV, and
• DVD-RAM
• Platform security
• Additional languages and locations
• Premium TV
• Xbox 360 Media Extender support
• Remote rendering of the UI with Xbox 360
• Run 3rd Party apps out of the MCE process
• WinCE Media Extender integration
• “Bobsledâ€? feature integration with other company’s devices
• “Away Modeâ€?

The update automatically creates a system restore point and takes about 10 minutes. Just wait, reboot, and enjoy the new features.

When size does not matter

Release: Ubuntu 5.10

The Ubuntu team is proud to announce Ubuntu 5.10. This is the official Ubuntu 5.10 release, and includes installation CDs, live CDs, and combination DVDs for three architectures.

Ubuntu is a Linux distribution for your desktop or server, with a fast and easy install, regular releases, a tight selection of excellent packages installed by default, every other package you can imagine available from the network, a commitment to security updates for 18 months after each release and professional technical support from many companies around the world.

Major new features in Ubuntu 5.10:

• Thin Client Integration: Ubuntu is the first distribution in the world to include deeply-integrated thin client technology. This allows you to deploy Ubuntu in large scale networked environments or, for example, in classrooms, with a lightweight Ubuntu image booting over the network. All Ubuntu management tools work for the thin client image as well as for the server.
• OEM Installer Support This release of Ubuntu has special support for OEM hardware vendors. Ubuntu can be pre-installed and tested without configuring end user information. The user will be asked to complete that configuration (name, timezone and password) upon first startup.
• Launchpad Integration Launchpad.net is the new infrastructure that Ubuntu and its derivatives use for translation, bug tracking, sharing code patches, fixes and technical support. Users of Ubuntu 5.10 can make technical support requests for any package in Ubuntu, and can help to translate their software, directly from the built-in Help menu in every desktop application.

Read more at the source.

Software Virtualization Solutions by Altiris

Today, Altiris announced their solution on application virtualization. Software Virtualization Solution might be a huge competitor to Softricity.

Altiris Software Virtualization Solution is a revolutionary approach to software management. By placing applications and data into managed units called Virtual Software Packages, Software Virtualization Solution allows you to instantly activate, deactivate or reset applications and to completely avoid conflicts between applications, without altering the base Windows installation.

Software Virtualization Solution ensures applications use correct files and registry settings, without modifying the OS and without interfering with other applications. The solution allows you to host multiple versions of an application on the same system without conflicts between older and newer files. And you can easily activate or deactiviate your applications based on need by sending a single command to the client systems. Benefits include:

Eliminate application conflicts

Instantly repair damaged applications

Significantly reduce testing time for application rollouts

On-demand application provisioning

The solution will be available Q4 2005. The sales information sounds very nice, but the actual product still has to prove itself.

Download the datasheet here.