Ahhh... no therin lies the real problem. A call to arms of the polititions to protect us from the corporations. This is wrong for two reasons:
The polititions are beholden to the corporations after large amounts of funding and "lobbying" by the industry associations.
You should be protesting with your freakin' wallet and not relying on your congress-critter to "protect you. You have a choice as to whether you "grow a set" or not.
Since they are probably lifting OS code, whay not just start an OSS project on sourceforge that does the same thing and publicize it? You know, "This software package does everything that "Zentu" can, at no cost!. Threats of lawsuits don't matter to these guys, but like any parasite if you cut off its life-blood it dies.
Just take any open source code they use and combine it, while respecting the licenses, and release it for free.
The only reason the "MS Word" is even remotely accessible is that MS has worked extensivly with AT vendors. Rather than subscribe to an Accessible-by-design philosophy, they chose to create scripts or hacks to work with the most popular AT software. JAWS would not work with many MS products without their collabotation with Freedom Scientific.
Moving to a format which separates presentation from content is the best thing that could happen for PWDs.
You're right. Who would want to work on the "less glamorous" aspects of FOSS applications like Portability, Usability, Efficiency, Maintainability, Reliability, Functionality. You know, those ISO 9126 software quality characteristics?
Man, do I hate that phrase. I've had bad experiences with it since Office 97 came out and was such a bloated POS that produced files that crashed Office 95 so bad that the organization just buckled and "upgraded". Why? Certainly not because it was vital to upgrade. It was just to move to the "de facto standard".
I see you got modded as "Flamebait". I think that is unfair. I would have modded you as "Uninformed". Why? It seems like you expect everything to react like "Windows" and give you everything you don't know you need. Requiring some knowledge of an OS is totally unique in the computer world. Appliance computing is "not there yet". By this, I mean that a computer is not a toaster. You should have some knowledge of what an OS actually does, regardless of the "flavour". Windows, Unix, Linux and even the precious Mac, require some level of competency to be fully taken advantage of.
If your OS is not as easy to use as your toaster, I hope you are not in a position I would rely on for service.
They already do have "features" specific to their format.
Read "Microsoft's Approach to Disclosures of XML File Formats for Word 2003 and Excel 2003" available here (pdf warning) or you can view the Google "CCIA-XML" html version.
No need to jump across the puddle. Just cruise on up to Montreal, QC Canada. I've driven across the country and hit most of the major cities. Most cities take some getting used to, but Montreal is just nuts!
What right do they have to try to enforce international treaties when they arbitrarily dismiss international rulings against them. Who the hell would trust a "trading partner" like the good ol' US of A??!!
Slashdot Mirror
A call to arms of the polititions to protect us from the corporations.
This is wrong for two reasons:
Since they are probably lifting OS code, whay not just start an OSS project on sourceforge that does the same thing and publicize it?
You know, "This software package does everything that "Zentu" can, at no cost!.
Threats of lawsuits don't matter to these guys, but like any parasite if you cut off its life-blood it dies.
Just take any open source code they use and combine it, while respecting the licenses, and release it for free.
The only reason the "MS Word" is even remotely accessible is that MS has worked extensivly with AT vendors.
Rather than subscribe to an Accessible-by-design philosophy, they chose to create scripts or hacks to work with the most popular AT software.
JAWS would not work with many MS products without their collabotation with Freedom Scientific.
Moving to a format which separates presentation from content is the best thing that could happen for PWDs.
Will slashdot ever drag itself into the year 2005 and provide the ability to edit posts?
I hope not. Then responsibility for what you say is lost.
Given the "duck" reference and it being Hallowene and all, what do we do with witches? Burn Them!
Tinfoil wrapped a little to tight there?
You're right.
Who would want to work on the "less glamorous" aspects of FOSS applications like Portability, Usability, Efficiency, Maintainability, Reliability, Functionality.
You know, those ISO 9126 software quality characteristics?
Picture a couple thousand years from now.
Scientists discover millions of small pockets of hydrocarbons. All packaged in tiny containers at a consistant depth of @6 feet below surface level.
The current fears of energy shortages will be scoffed at the same way we view the Salem Witch Hunts.
BTW, we have plenty of dead dinosaus available now.
Trouble is, they don't know they're dead.
We call them "politicians".
Latest implementation of RFC 1149 ?
Or, should that be, "Aviation Carriers"?
'...a de facto standard..."
Man, do I hate that phrase.
I've had bad experiences with it since Office 97 came out and was such a bloated POS that produced files that crashed Office 95 so bad that the organization just buckled and "upgraded".
Why? Certainly not because it was vital to upgrade. It was just to move to the "de facto standard".
I think MA is on the right track.
"IBM DeveloperWorks articles requiring registration"
Huh?
The article was not a reg req offering.
Whatever you're smokin', pass it 'round.
Whew, I thought I was going to need another roll of tinfoil.
I see you got modded as "Flamebait".
I think that is unfair. I would have modded you as "Uninformed".
Why?
It seems like you expect everything to react like "Windows" and give you everything you don't know you need.
Requiring some knowledge of an OS is totally unique in the computer world.
Appliance computing is "not there yet". By this, I mean that a computer is not a toaster. You should have some knowledge of what an OS actually does, regardless of the "flavour".
Windows, Unix, Linux and even the precious Mac, require some level of competency to be fully taken advantage of.
If your OS is not as easy to use as your toaster, I hope you are not in a position I would rely on for service.
I have heard it catagorized as "a competition to see who can provide the worst service, to the most people, fastest".
I think it was on DSLReports, but I'm too lazy after work to look it up.
You're right. They probably could. They were told how during the MA discussions. See: Microsoft: We were railroaded in Massachusetts on ODF
However, they probably won't, see previous post.
The OpenDocument format is based on OpenOffice's XML format.
No need to "Print to..."
They already do have "features" specific to their format.
Read "Microsoft's Approach to Disclosures of XML File Formats for Word 2003 and Excel 2003" available here (pdf warning) or you can view the Google "CCIA-XML" html version.
Bugger.
And I just got my VCR to stop flashing "12:00".
A little duct tape over the LED worked fine.
No need to jump across the puddle. Just cruise on up to Montreal, QC Canada.
I've driven across the country and hit most of the major cities. Most cities take some getting used to, but Montreal is just nuts!
I would think they are a self-replicating, virul, life-form. All they seem to need is a suitable host.
If you were a distro, wouldn't your U.N. be "photon-linux-317"?
'Missed opportunity?'
Missed opportunity? How"
To make money?
Yep. They missed the boat on that one.
Too bad that wasn't their onjective.
What right do they have to try to enforce international treaties when they arbitrarily dismiss international rulings against them.
Who the hell would trust a "trading partner" like the good ol' US of A??!!
A simple phrase comes to mind.
It goes like this: "The thin edge of the wedge"
The real matter of the fact is that trust in U.S. "initiatives" is next to non-existent.
My wife and I would love to tour America
Trouble is, it's full of Americans.
We have no problem with the individuals, they're great.
It's just that, as a society, their politics really suck.
WTO ruling against them over a trade dispute and ignoring that ruling is just one example.