Aug 15
Google has officially begun distributing office suite and Microsoft Office competitor Sun StarOffice as part of the Google Pack.
The proprietary office suite is based on the same code base as Open Office and was previously offered for $70.
The move was first revealed August 11 but was officially announced August 15.
Don Dodge, Director of Business Development for Microsoft’s Emerging Business Team not surprisingly went negative on the move, writing “What has changed? Star Office has been around for 8 years and has gained no traction.”
To answer Don’s question: credibility.
Google offering StarOffice is a massive credibility boost for the package. The benefits of desktop Microsoft Office alternatives have been promoted for years and although among niche communities they might have found some market share, nothing so far has come close to gaining traction against Microsoft.
General consumers have long since accepted packaged downloads from Google and for good reason; packages such as Picasa and Google Earth are quality offerings that have gained wide acceptance. StarOffice will now benefit from not only becoming a standard download as part of the Google Pack, but also due to the positive consumer sentiment given to most (if not all) downloadable products from Google. Expect StarOffice to have a bigger user base than OpenOffice within 12 months, and at least a measurable marketshare in a similar time frame. It probably wont be double figures, but it will make an impact.
There was no word from Google whether future editions of StarOffice would sync with Google Docs and Spreadsheets.
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Source: Duncan Riley
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Aug 15
Filed under: Peripherals
Sure, we’ve seen our fair share of rugged input peripherals, but iKey’s FT-86-911-TP hits a niche that isn’t often covered. This ruggedized mobile unit is resistant to spills and sealed to IP55 specifications, and the universal mounting holes make it ideal for placement in “police, emergency, transport, service, and marine vehicles.” Notably, this here device also boasts a built-in trackpad, a one-touch emergency key, and LED-backlit keys in case you’re left typing after hours. No word yet on pricing nor availability, but considering just how expensive one of its rebadged siblings is, don’t count on it coming cheap.
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