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Simon Phipps's personal commentary

NeoOffice/J gets Clipboard Support

Patrick Luby let me know that he's released v0.8 of NeoOffice/J, the Java-front-ended version of OpenOffice.org for Mac OS X. And that he's added Clipboard support! WoooHoo! Way to go Patrick! It's getting sooo close.

[Also posted to java.net]

posted at 7:05 PM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Java Desktop, Looking Glass webcast

I hear from my friend Neal that the webcast next Tuesday showing Java Desktop System should be good. Apparently Jonathan Schwartz and Peder Ulander will be showing several demos of JDS in action and also demoing the Looking Glass 3D desktop prototype (which Hideya continues to enhance - he's added a panning virtual desktop now as well and is exploring using the reverse of windows to display dialogs). There's also a Q&A panel live - hope there will be some tough questions for them, I know they are on-the-hook to answer everything that gets asked ;-) I also notice that everyone who (virtually) shows up gets a JDS eval and a copy of StarOffice 7. Amazing how functional these 'virtual seminars' are getting.

[Also posted to java.net]

posted at 2:58 AM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

Fast Track to Delay

Flying today from Heathrow (one of my least favourite airports, but we'll save that for another day), I thought I'd use the leisure of a delay to rant a little, live from the gate area.

Having upgraded to business class today on my flight with American Airlines, I had the luxury of using the 'premium check-in' area and whisking past the crowds. I was able to avoid the monster queue at security becuase I was also able to use the 'fast track' security line. I was able to rest in the Flagship Lounge and wait for the flight to be announced. And then...

And then there's the line at the gate. It's there every time, and the photo is not an exaggeration. I fly this route regularly and every time there is a huge, egalitarian, all-inclusive line to enter the gate lounge. Today's line was actually a little longer and of course there's always a reason (a friendly staff member told me today for example that the line was because we are all being taken to the gate by bus), but I have finally wised up to the fact that, whatever the reason, there is always a huge line to go through the gate lounge - "for your security" I am usually told.

I realise there are systemic problems (inbound passengers mix with outbound passengers requiring an extra security check, for example) but surely this isn't rocket science? Surely there is a way to check everyone on to the flight without getting all 250 people in all travel classes to stand in single file at the gate? What are American Airlines thinking? Who would want to travel this way, even at awful Heathrow?

posted at 11:51 AM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

"Child's Play" banned but adult excess is OK

Seems that the great ad selected by the MoveOn.Org "Bush in 30 Seconds" competition is being barred by CBS from transmission during the US sports event 'Super Bowl' because it's "too controversial". I wonder if anyone at CBS even watched it? Personally I think it's stylish, restrained and effective - see for yourself to decide - and I wonder whether it's more the political slant of CBS than the nature of the ad that's making them reject it. After all, the rest of the ads scheduled (including one by the White House) are all funded by people who want to see another republican regime controling America. Sounds like the victory of political control over free speech to me.

posted at 4:05 PM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |

PRI on Linux

I know one person at least is looking for my appearance on NPR today, so to confirm, I was part of Clark Boyd's 'The World' item on Linux broadcast on PRI today - we did a (much, much longer!) interview at LinuxWorld last week in New York. Ironically the sound clips themselves are in Windows Media format (every $ going to a corporation instead of a local artisan...)

posted at 1:39 AM (UK) | Comment? (0 so far) | links to this post | |