After three years of development, OpenOffice version 3.0 has been released and is set to challenge Microsoft Office.OpenOffice 3.0 suite includes several applications like a word processor (Writer), spreadsheet (Calc), presentation package (Impress), drawing (Draw), and database tools (Base). Multiple users can now view and edit the same document under OpenOffice version 3.0. The new version supports OpenDocument Format (ODF) 1.2 file format and Office 2007 OOXML which means it can read Microsoft Office 2007 or 2008 .docx, .xlsx, .pptx or other new file formats.

OpenOffice is a FREE software and you can download a copy for Windows, Mac OS X, and other operating systems and languages.

Popularity: 3% [?]

As part of Mozilla’s ongoing stability and security update process, Firefox 3.0.3  for Windows, Mac, and Linux has been released. This version repairs a problem experienced by some users with the Password Manager feature in Firefox 3.0.2

What’s new in Firefox 3.0.3:

• Fixed the problem on saved passwords’ retrieval and saving new passwords.
• Fixed several security issues.
• Fixed several stability issues.
• Fixed the hang and crash problems when using screen readers.
• Fixed Mac-specific issues.

Download Firefox 3.0.3

Popularity: 2% [?]

GNOME, a popular Linux Desktop Environment has gotten a new version. After 6 months of hard work, GNOME developers announced the availability of GNOME version 2.24. The new version of GNOME desktop brings a lot of new features, new language translations and updated documentation.

Below are some major features included in GNOME 2.24:

• Empathy Instant Messenger – a Pidgin-like IM client based on the Telepathy communications framework.
• Ekiga 3.0 – GNOME’s improved SIP audio/video conferencing client, it has a new interface, supports PBX line monitoring, H.264/H.263+/MPEG-4/Theora video codecs and accelerated video.
• Track Your Time Better – a new Panel applet that will show you the tasks that you have been working on and how much time you’ve spent on them. These tasks can also be organized in groups (by type of activity, client’s name, etc).
• Improved File Management – the Nautilus, GNOME’s file manager brings tabbed navigation and compact list view.
• Smarter Deskbar – includes a few interesting additions, such as Google Search (and code search), a calculator, and Yahoo! and Wikipedia suggestions.
• New Screen Resolution Controls – GNOME 2.24 introduces X.Org’s XRandR 1.2 specification, allowing users to set up monitors in many configurations.
• Extra Pretty – good looks has been a priority for GNOME 2.24, which includes new and improved artwork and themes. Also, a very nice desktop background selection has been provided for a better and more eye-pleasing experience.
• New Sound Theme Support – Gnome sound themes are now being handled by libcanberra,  allowing you to watch a fullscreen movie while leaving the sound notifications on.
• Better Digital TV – Totem includes support for remote text subtitling and high-resolution YouTube videos.

Click here to read the complete release notes.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Apple has released Mac OS X version 10.5.5 which is recommended to be installed right away. The 10.5.5 version includes improvements on stability, security and compatibility and is recommended for Leopard versions 10.5, 10.5.1, 10.5.2, 10.5.3 and 10.5.4.

Below are some update information included in Mac OS X version 10.5.5:

General

• Includes recent Apple security updates.
• Addresses stability issues with video playback, processor core idling, and remote disc sharing for MacBook Air.
• Addresses an issue in which some Macs could unexpectedly power on at the same time each day.
• Resolves a stability issue in TextEdit that could be found when accessing the color palette.
• Improves Spotlight indexing performance.
• Fixes an issue in which contacts might not sync properly with PalmOS-based devices.
• Improves iPhone sync reliability with iCal and Address Book.
• Includes improvements to Active Directory (see this article for more information).
• Improves Speech Dictionary.
• Fixes Kerberos authentication issues for Mac OS X 10.5 clients that connect to certain Samba servers, such as Mac OS X Server version 10.4.
• Includes extensive graphics enhancements.

Address Book

• Addresses stability issues that may occur when creating a Smart Group.
• Resolves a printing issue with address cards containing information that spans more than one page.

Disk Utility and Directory Utility

• Improves reliability when rebuilding a software mirror RAID volume in Disk Utility.
• Improves reliability of server status displayed in Directory Utility.

iCal

• Updates iCal to more accurately handle repeating events.
• Improves performance when choosing meeting attendees.
• Resolves an issue in which the “Refresh All” option may be dimmed (”grayed out”) in the contextual menu for certain calendars.
• Fixes issues with read-only calendars.
• Addresses an issue that prevents an invitee from moving an event to a different calendar.
• Resolves an issue with syncing published calendars.

Mail

• Addresses performance issues related to displaying IMAP messages.
• Resolves an issue with SMTP settings for AIM, Compuserve, Hanmail, Yahoo!, and Time Warner Road Runner email accounts.
• Addresses stability issues that may occur when dragging a file to the Mail icon in the Dock.
• Addresses an issue with the “Organized by Thread” view in which the date does not appear when the thread is collapsed.
• Resolves an issue in which RSS feeds could temporarily disappear from the sidebar.
• Improves Mail robustness when sending messages.
• Improves reliability when saving drafts that have attachments.

MobileMe

• Improves overall sync reliability.
• Improves Back to My Mac reliability.
• Time Machine
• Improves Time Machine reliability with Time Capsule.
• Addresses performance issues that may affect initial and in-progress backups.
• Fixes an issue in which an incorrect alert message could appear stating that a backup volume does not have enough free space.
• Time Machine can now back up iPhone backups that are on your Mac, as well as other items in (~/Library/Application Support).

Popularity: 2% [?]

Mozilla is demonstrating  a new project called “Snowl”, a browser add-on for Firefox which allows you to access all your messages within your browser. The Internet is all about communication, like email, instant messaging, forums, social networks, RSS feeds, and news discussion just to name a few. Let’s face it, it’s hard to organize these services, that’s why Mozilla aims to “help you follow and participate in online discussions” using Snowl.

Snowl is still in the early stages and it currently supports Atom, RSS feeds and Twitter only. However, I think we can expect SMS, email, Gtalk and IM support in the near future.

You can download Snowl and test it, but be warned, the current version is “primitive and buggy” as it is currently in the pre-alpha stage.

Popularity: 1% [?]

3CX, the company who developed the innovative and award-winning 3CX Phone System for Windows has developed a completely free SIP softphone called 3CX VOIP Phone.  The softphone allows users to use their computers as a telephone to make and receive VoIP calls via SIP-based VoIP providers.

I tried installing and configuring the software and it took me less than five minutes to make my first VoIP call using my computer.

Below are the features of 3CX VoIP Phone:

• Support for different SIP profiles
• Shows personal CDR (call detail recording) or call history
• Message Waiting Indication (MWI)
• Supports G.711 (A-Law and u-Law), GSM, iLBC and Speex codecs
• STUN support for NAT/firewall traversal
• Installation provided as MSI for easy deployment

Download the 3CX VOIP Phone here.

Popularity: 1% [?]