LibreOffice, OpenOffice and Oracle

Once upon a time OpenOffice, or Ooo (OpenOffice.Org) as it became known was the leader in open source office productivity software.  I loved it.  It was loved. Then one day a cunning suitor, Oracle, offered to give gold to the very attractive, but not rich, Ooo.  Ooo agreed to become part of Oracle.  But Oracle …
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Facebook has joined Microsoft and Google: ogres of the internet

A couple of months ago the Austrian law student Max Schrems asked Facebook to send him all their data stored about him. All Europeans have a right to do this because Facebook is based in the EU in Dublin, Ireland. It took a while and then Facebook sent Max a CD with 1222 PDF files. What …
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Synthetic life – It’s just about money.

It would be comforting to believe that the production of synthetic bacteria in the laboratory is going to accelerate cures for disease, replacement body parts and sympathetic engagement with nature.  But that is not happening.  The positive hopes are the marketing headline. The reality, proven by the track record of Venter and his hairy faced …
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Radical opening up of the auto industry

From The Ecologist: The open-source hydrogen car set to change the industry by Alex McDonald Cars are evil, right? But what if they ran on hydrogen, did 300 miles per gallon, were leased rather than owned, and were produced under an open source business model… We have often been introduced to the car of tomorrow, …
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Google has acquired Gizmo5

Gizmo5 is another (a better?) VOIP, like Skype.  The official announcement is here. It’s probably a good thing for Michael Robertson, the entrepreneur who started Gizmo5 and Lindows/Linspire.  Hopefully it will take some of the pressure off him. A shame it had to be the big one. Apart from the issues raised by google-watch, it …
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Zero Growth: The Future of Business – Ethical Corp/Jonathan Porritt

The big interview: Jonathan Porritt – When real progress means standing still Business must see that zero growth is the future for developed economies, according to Jonathan Porritt Interview by Eric Marx As he prepared to step down in July as chief environmental adviser to the UK prime minister, Jonathan Porritt headed out for one …
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A story about changing course: Trading derivatives for dogs.

Here’s a short story about a former financial trader who now sells frankfurters in Frankfurt’s business district. A new and interesting job, hard work, fulfilling.  “If you’re not happy with your job, it’s bad for you.” BBC: German fat cat turns to hot dogs

Doing Business 2010

If you are considering international expansion, or relocation this report might help you understand the playing field. The ranking offers a quick reference point and the report outlines the areas of business regulation in most countries. It is often beneficial to have a local partner when entering a new market and may facilitate the regulatory …
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