This week’s open source buzz was around the next release of Microsoft Office, which provides support for the Open Document Format (ODF), along with Open XML and editing capabilities for PDFs. The announcement is a big win for open document standards and shows the influence open source has established in the software industry. Read more on this story and other open source highlights from the week:
- Adrian Bridgwater blogged on ComputerWeekly about the TWiST Rally Righter, an open source car by Local Motors: “Open Source Desert Racing Cars in Arizona.”
- On ZDNet, Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols reported on the new Microsoft Office supporting Open XML and ODF in the article, “Office to Finally Fully Support ODF, Open XML, and PDF Formats.”
- Glyn Moody asked, “Can Open Source Be Democratic?” on The H.
- On opensource.com, Jen Wike posted an interview with GovLoop’s Community Manager: “Community Spotlight: Andrew Krzmarzick, Enabling Open Source and Empowering Citizens in Government.”
- “Open Source Is Becoming a Military Necessity,” was published on The Street by Dana Blankenhorn, on how the NSA is proving open source and security actually mix well.
Are you excited to hear Beck’s next album? Well, it turns out you won’t be able to hear it unless you play it yourself! The Register has reported that Beck is issuing an open source challenge to his fans by releasing his next album as only sheet music, allowing others to record and upload their own interpretations of his latest work – or as Andrew Orlowski put it, “Here’s the source code, make the record.”
