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Microsoft Pretends to Become Open with Interoperability |
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 While waiting for the conference call to begin we were delayed for at least 15 min due to what was brushed over as technical difficulties. Somehow, I found that amusing; it conjured up images of Steve Ballmer sitting at his desk with the blue screen of death. We were welcomed to the call, and Steve Ballmer expressed how pleased he was that so many people were interested in what they had to say.
Basically from what I understand, they are releasing some 30,000 pages of detailed documentation that supports Windows and Microsoft Office, which was only previously available to after paying some really expensive exclusive license. They are doing this so that external developers would be more inclined to develop Microsoft products, and Ballmer said that developers could make plugins for Office for different file formats with this information.
Microsoft states they will try to work more closely with Open Source developers; he specifically mentioned Novell and Linspire. He went on to state that they want these developers to have direct access to Microsoft information so that development can be encouraged. It was also stated that the Secret Developers License will now be made available directly on the Microsoft site.
I found this really nice also – they promised not to sue Open Source developers for using any of this information, and that it is truly open and free for anyone to interpret and use. Wow! Don't do us any favors now Mr Frosty!
Again I see this as Microsoft bowing to the Open Source superpowers in an attempt to get other people to do the work for them. I think it's low, and I think it's dirty that they would assume we would pick up their slack. What is your opinion on this?Only registered users can write comments.
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