OpenOffice 3, released in 2008, reached a new milestone this week with the release of the 3.3 beta build. This new compilation does not offer much new functionalities, but does include several fixes.
We’ve also announced in November of 2009, that OpenOffice 3 reached 1 million downloads, making it the most popular OpenOffice suite so far. The 3.3 build just added a few more small features:
- Improvements in the dictionary and translations.
- Possibility to add different colors in sheets.
- Stability improvements and several bugs fixed.
This build is available to download for Windows, Mac, Solaris and Linux (of course); in Linux versions we can use the 32bit and 64bits. All builds available here.
The open source community maintains a simple way to do things, never stop collaborating. Even though the work it is not always great, they keep offering possibilities; which in this world is a vital thing to have.
I know, the situation is not that common in our daily tasks; but I’m quite sure you’ll be able to find a situation in your life where you need to corrupt your own document file. And if that time comes, Document Corrupter is the web application for you.
This web app is quite simple to use:
- Access the web site Document Corrupter.
- Click on “Browse” and select the document you like to shred. Supports Word 2007/2010.
- [Optional] Select “Shuffle the pieces” if you want this document even harder to recover.
- Click on “Submit”.
- Takes just a few seconds (depending on the file size) and you will be able to download the corrupted file.
The result? Ouch!
I don’t know if you already think about it, but if you are running out of time to complete a school report; this could sound like the perfect excuse to buy some more time (you didn’t hear it from me).
For many writers, the main problem when using a computer is the endless amounts of distractions that come along with them. At least I know it was for me. Even if I was just using Word I’d find myself focusing more on formatting, fonts and colours rather than actually getting the word out. However, since I started using Q10 my productivity has almost doubled.
Q10 is a basic word processor that looks like it’s from the early 80s. Just a black screen with basic text when you type. You can also have the noise of a typewriter as you type which I find gets the momentum going.
You can change the colour setting for the text.
There are other benefits to using this program a well. Firstly, it’s better for your eyes as there is less light to process and the text is easier to read. Also, if you’re using a laptop, because much of your screen is black you batter is spared enormously. How much power do you waste while using a word processor to light up 95% of your screen white?
You can get Q10 here.
Sending a whopping file of 1.5Gb can be annoying. Firstly you have the constraints likely imposed by your e-mail provider which disallows such large e-mails meaning you’ll have to break it up or compress it. Then of course you have the time it can take for said e-mail to be sent and may God help you if you’re sending it to multiple recipients.
We Transfer is an a great start-up service which allows you to easily send large files of up to 2Gb to anyone without using traditional e-mail. It’s really easy to use and quicker than most services for two reasons.
Firstly, you don’t have to register with the service. Secondly, you only have to fill out one quick form which you can see a sample of above. It takes less than a minute. Once you click transfer, that’s it. Your file is uploaded to their servers and can be downloaded within the following two weeks by the recipient who’ll get an e-mail notifying them of the pending file. Quick, easy and efficient.
Ever find yourself in a situation where you need to send a document for a client or employer to sign? I have. But doing so is hard. Not everyone (myself included) has faxing facilities or are willing to pay the fees for using online faxing services.
Creating contracts only takes a few minutes after signing up (which in itself takes “ten seconds”, just as the banner promises). Basically, you first create a contact then create a template for your document using the rich text editor that’s built into the service. Then you create your document like in the screenshot below.
Before you send your document you have the final chance to customize it as you can see in the screen below. You can add in extra terms and monetary amounts. You can also decide if the document should have an expiration date. The feature I like the most was that you can choose several ways for the recipient to authenticate the document such as via Twitter or OpenID.
When you’re done, click ‘send and save’. Then, on the final page, customize the e-mail the person will receive and then send the document along with the documents URL (this is included as standard). This is an quick and easy way to process documents and contracts online.
Check it out at www.docshaker.com
Google Wave has taken the online Google community by storm. For many months there was teasing from Google on the development of a collaboration tool that would tie into all of their existing Google Apps, and revolutionize how we communicate with our colleagues, community, and groups. The release of Google Wave was nothing less but…interesting.
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So, as for most of Windows 7 unofficial builds, the Office 2010 Technical Preview has leaked through the web and hit several BitTorrent sites; available for the first time in x86 and x64 platforms.
This brand new suite will be available in 2010 and not before, so don’t get all that excited on having a final version hitting the market at Christmas, like Windows 7 will. But those two boys will have, indeed, a lot in common considering the images that leaked from the web. Let’s take a quick look.
Installation process: nothing new, the same procedure. Side note: Total space required for a default installation 1.8GB.
Word 2010 starting up. Hmmm… not sure about those colors being the right choice.
Word 2010. Yep, the same thing as Office 2007 at first glance.
That’s new. A left pane as a quick access for common places.
All products have the same usability, the same ribbons used in Office 2007 (including Outlook, that now does include the same ribbon) and with the left quick access new.
But, here’s an important thing that I’ve found. Outlook 2007 has a glitch when you are using it with Windows 7 taskbar, they are not fully compatible. Also, if you have any add-on for Outlook 2007 like Xobni (or even Microsoft’s Outlook Connector), and if you minimize the Window, you’ll see that the add-on feature from the bar disappears. With this version, you’ll have a nice Taskbar integration.
Seems that’s new Office will also bring the Web version of this suite. Microsoft is planning to ship “Office Web” at the same time, that will include Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote “in the clouds”.
So, you were expecting big changes in this version? Not me. The transition that some users made (and some of them are still struggling) from Office 2003 to Office 2007 was huge, there is no need to add more complexity when you also want to settle a fresh new operating system in the same year.
Do you remember the code name for Office 2007? Office 12. And this one is called Office 14. So, where’s the Office 13?… the number says it all.
