Sun due to launch Star Office 8 today

Sun Microsystems is set to launch a new version of its Star Office productivity suite today. Based around the Open Office project the new version is claiming better compatibility with Microsoft Office documents and macros, XML Forms support and various wizards to aid efficiency. As with Microsoft Office, Star Office offers a word processor, spreadsheet, spreadsheet, drawing application, presentation development program, and a database front end. ...more

Comment: Beware of the blog

An uncontrollable force is taking over cyberspace. It's leading to the downfall of major media figures, potentially libelling respected companies, and providing a bit of a free-for-all for anyone with a grudge to bear. But it also adds valuable checks and balances to the world's media, brings new ways for IT companies to measure interest in their products before release and, at times, provides Net surfers with access to news that wouldn't otherwise be available. ...more

Yahoo! buys BT's music service

Yahoo! has acquired BT Openworld's dotmusic and Games Domain services for its UK and Ireland sites. Financial information about the deal has not been disclosed, but the companies are already arm in arm, transforming BT Openworld's Internet service into BT Yahoo! Broadband in September, with a narrowband version expected before the end of the year. The deal over dotmusic and Games Domain will mean they remain available to the BT Yahoo! customers but will also be available to users of Yahoo!'s UK and Ireland websites. ...more

Linux creator derides SCO letter

Linux creator Linus Torvalds has responded to SCO's open letter, asking CEO Darl McBride to 'please grow up'. Torvalds thanks McBride for his letter. 'We are happy that you agree that customers need to know that Open Source is legal and stable, and we heartily agree with that sentence of your letter,' he writes, and continues: 'The others don't seem to make as much sense. ...more

PalmOne cuts Zire and Tungsten prices

Hard on the heels of PalmOne's launch of the Tungsten T5, the company is hoping to induce a sales spurt for its business-oriented Tungsten T3. Zire 72 price cut too PalmOne is cutting UK prices for some of its PDAs. Hard on the heels of PalmOne's launch of the Tungsten T5, the company is hoping to induce a sales spurt for its business-oriented Tungsten T3 with a drop in price from ?289 to ?249 at retail, a decrease of around 14 per cent. ...more