OpenOffice.org 3 is here!

OpenOffice.org, the open source productivity suite that keeps many of us from having to shell out so much dough for Microsoft Office (or have to run it under WINE) released version 3 of their software on Monday. I would have blogged it sooner (before Wednesday) but I had been having some issues with the spreadsheet component in the beta versions, but once I got the final version everything works like a champ.

The changes are obvious even from the moment the splash screen pops up, and there are also a new start screen, new icons, and a boatload of improvements. Among them are

• A new slider tool for zooming in the Writer word processor. Writer also has multi-page display when editing, better multilingual support, improved notes and can even handle editing wiki documents for the Wide Wide World of Web.
• The Calc spreadsheet can now handle up to 1024 columns per sheet, and it also has a new equation solver and new collaboration tools.
• Draw accepts poster-size graphics up to 3 square meters.
• The Impress presentation editor finally supports multiple monitors, making it an even better replacement for PowerPoint.
• Chart has cleaner looking graphics by default, and the requests from power users have been granted with some of their most demanded features being included.
• The built-in PDF exporter now supports PDF/A and has even more user-selectable options.

I’ve been using Writer to work on some software documentation and it’s even easier to use than the previous version, and while I hadn’t been able to work on a spreadsheet while beta testing OOo3 I can now say that it was definitely worth waiting for, not just in the better graphics but also in just plain being easier to use.

OSX users can rejoice in finally having OpenOffice.org as a native program, without having to run it in a compatibility mode. With Microsoft admitting that MS Office/Mac isn’t nearly as nice as it is for Windows users they may find they’re losing even more market share to the FOSS upstarts.

There are even more extensions available than version 2 had and I’m looking forward to taking some time to see what new and improved goodies are available.

You can read the official release announcement, release notes and a guide to all the new features, and you can download the latest version for yourself.

Tombuntu has info on how to install it in Ubuntu Hardy and Intrepid, but it won’t be available by default in Ubuntu Intrepid. Granted, if you follow Tom’s innstructions you’ll still have to create launchers for OOo 3, but if you uninstall the older version of OpenOffice.org (Tom shows you how) you can install the Desktop Integraton package included in the installer and it will create menu items for you.

Peng’s links for Friday, 17 October

TGIF! Thank God It’s Fried-day, “Fried” as in this penguinista is TOAST!* You’d think now that the Dodgers have been eliminated from the World Series my schedule would gain many, many hours to get everything done and I’d actually have more spare time. You’d think so, but you’d be wrong. I still need to finish some documentation (that was kind of due two weeks ago), plus I want to start giving Ubuntu Intrepid a test drive but I can’t do that until the docs are finished. Plus RL is still throwing more crap onto my todo list.

But enough of me, I have some links I want to make sure y’all are aware of.

• Adobe Flash 10 is out! Naturally the news is everywhere, so I have a few links you may find helpful
  • DesktopLinux.com: Linux an equal Flash player. With Adobe’s release of Flash 10 they’ve finally stopped treating Linux users as second (or third) class citizens.
  • LinuxDevices.com: Adobe reiterates OPS commitment. Adobe is working with the Open Screen Project, and is good news for anyone hoping to use a Linux device such as a netbook or Linux-based smartphone.
  • Tom Dryer: Install Flash Player 10 in Ubuntu 8.04 and 8.10. Now that Flash 10 has been promoted from beta to release status it’s time for more people to get the upgrade. Of course it’s Tombuntu to the rescue.
  • Steven Rose: Flash Player 10 Under Ubuntu 8.10 — Far easier than has been documented! Tombuntu’s instructions can be over some users’ heads so Stevey makes it nice and easy for us, especially if they’re running Ubuntu Intrepid. Thanks, Stevey!
• Jono Bacon: Frets On Fire Transcribers Wanted! Frets On Fire (FOF) is a great open source clone of the hit Guitar Player game that allows users to add new songs to the list of available tunes. The open source metal band Severed Fifth is looking for volunteers to transcribe their latest album, Denied By Reign, so it can be used in FOF. Any takers?
• Jordi Hernàndez: New Preview Progress. Wednesday I posted a link to Jordi’s new Preview application to bring the popular Quickview app to Linux desktops, and Jordi’s been busy making Preview even better.
• Launchpad News: Launchpad 2.1.10 – faster branch uploads. Yes, there’s yet another upgrade for the Launchpad site, but among the new goodies and bug fixes in this latest update is great news for people who use it to host Bazaar branches.

I know I promised you another post on Wednesday but there simply weren’t enough hours in my day. I’ll write it next before I have to run out to see my physical torturer.

—
*-thanks to Annalisa, a former morning drive dj at WZLX who came up with the Fried-day line, although she said “this chick is TOAST”. Unfortunately when ‘ZLX got sold several years ago the new owners pink slipped her when they decided to ditch anything that could be fun, like her show and the Dr. Demento Show. If someone knows where she’s working now please post it in the comments. I miss listening to  her shows.

Test drive Firefox 3 RC1, and Flash 10

Mozilla has released Firefox 3 Release Candidate 1, and it’s almost ready to be released. But now they’d like more of you to check it out and see if you find any bugs that absolutely, positively have to be fixed before Firefox 3 gets its official release.

Can we get an assist pls?

Alberto Milone, the developer of the Envy line of programs foe automating the installation of Nvidia and ATI graphics drivers, is working on the next upgrade for EnvyNG and would like some help from testers.

A big thanks to Ubuntu contributors

As Ralph Janke points out on Planet Ubuntu, Thomas David had created an awesome thank you to everyone who contributed to Ubuntu Hardy. Awesome job, Thomas!

Now Appearing on a Desktop Near You!

Jabziz created a great movie-type poster promoting Ubuntu Hardy.

I want one!

I want one of these limited edition Hardy Heron tees! I don’t even care that they don’t have it in a girlie tee. Although now that I mention it why don’t they?

/me pouts, but still makes a note to order one as soon as possible. If not sooner.

Ubuntu Hardy is almost here! Are you ready for it?

[Updated to correct the version of Firefox included in Hardy. My bad. - Peng]

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS “Hardy Heron” will be released tomorrow, and there are a lot of reasons to rejoice (DesktopLinux.com has a nice article on the new release). But before you accept that distribution upgrade there are some things you need to do.

Boston prepares to celebrate a very hardy release

The Massachusetts Ubuntu Local Community (LoCo) Team is getting ready to mark the release of Ubuntu 8.04 “Hardy Heron.”

Ubuntu fixes the Hardy NumLock bug

Many of us who have been testing Ubuntu Hardy have found there’s a bug that leaves the NumLock setting off as it boots up, despite our having it turned on in our BIOS. I’m glad to be able to report that the fix for the bug has been released and we no longer need to use workarounds.