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New branch for OOo 3.3: OOO330

2010-07-05T15:22:27Z

With entering the timeline for the new feature release OOo 3.3, a new master workspace (MWS) was created: OOO330. In HG (Mercurial) the OOO330 branch can be found here: hg.services.openoffice.org/hg/OOO330. It was branched off from DEV300 m84 and will help to stabilize the new milestones towards 3.3. The first milestone is scheduled soon.

The combined Feature and UI freeze on June 24th means that now only selected fixes will go into OOO330. This will be done on the releases@ooo mailing list or in the Release Status Meeting.

DEV300 can now be used for developing new things that could be seen in future versions.

Read more about details in the mailing list.

Explained in a picture:

Better multimedia support for OpenOffice.org on Unix systems

2010-07-01T14:53:15Z

Playing back audio and video content on Unix system was and is still a matter of choices.

On the one hand, this is a good thing for the user. It offers a wide range of frameworks that best suit his/her needs. But on the other hand, this also brings a developer of a multi platform, general purpose Office productivity suite like OpenOffice.org (OOo) into the situation to make a choice. The choice needs to be made just to ensure that we don't have to provide a different backend for all multimedia frameworks that already exist. This just doesn't work for resource reasons. So, a framework needs to be chosen that meets the needs of a group of users as large as possible.

A few years ago, we created a flexible multimedia solution for OOo that offers the chance to extend the set of supported external frameworks in an easy way and with only little development effort.

Our first choice for a backend was the support for Sun's 'Java Media Framework' (JMF) at that time. A framework that is platform independent in general and that offers a good performance. Especially when using the - then platform dependent - performance extension, performance is on par with other frameworks.

Time has shown that JMF seems to be a bit outdated today and that support for appropriate decoders is still not as good as expected. Enabling the support for JMF within OOo was also a not so easy task for the user, since the appropriate jmf.jar archive had to be added by hand by the user to the OOo classpath.

So, we took a closer look at other frameworks and decided to create a completely new backend from scratch. This backend is based on the popular GStreamer framework. This is supported out of the box by many current Unix distributions, giving Ubuntu Linux and its derivatives as one of the most successful examples among available distributions.

With the release 0.10 of GStreamer, this framework reached a very mature state and offers a great and 'complete' set of supported codecs. If ⁞already installed on the system, no more user interaction is needed within OOo to enable the new OOo GStreamer backend. It should just work, supporting all GStreamer decoders that have been installed on the system!

From a technical point of view, the new GStreamer backend will be enabled by default on Unix systems, but can be disabled via configure with the --disable-gstreamer switch. In this case or in cases where no appropriate library can be found during runtime, a fallback to the old JMF implementation will happen.

In order to build the GStreamer backend with the default configure values, care needs to be taken to adjust the build baseline to at least gstreamer-0.10.17 or newer (tested, previous micro releases < 0.10.17 may also work), pkg-config requires the following build dependencies to gstreamer-0.10 and gstreamer-interfaces-0.10 resolved:

pkg-config --cflags --libs gstreamer-0.10 gstreamer-interfaces-0.10

-pthread -I/usr/include/gstreamer-0.10 -I/usr/include/glib-2.0
-I/usr/lib/glib-2.0/include -I/usr/include/libxml2 -pthread
-lgstinterfaces-0.10 -lgstreamer-0.10 -lgobject-2.0 -lgmodule-2.0 -lxml2
-lgthread-2.0 -lrt -lglib-2.0

If you are the maintainer of an OOo Tinderbox, please take care to update your Unix build machine to the new baseline.

By choosing GStreamer as our favorite framework for an up to date multimedia backend, we hope to serve as much Linux and Solaris OpenOffice.org customers as best as possible. Creating this backend is also our answer to a lot of feedback we received from SOHO as well as enterprise customers in the past. Please have fun using this new multimedia solution and don't hesitate to give us feedback.

New: OOo-DEV 3.x Developer Snapshot (build DEV300m84) available

2010-07-01T07:53:02Z

Developer Snapshot OOo-Dev DEV300m84 is available for download.

DEV300 is the development codeline for upcoming OOo 3.x releases.

If you find issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker.

Download:
http://download.openoffice.org/next

Release Notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/DEV300m84_snapshot.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/DEV300m84_md5sums.txt

New: OOo-DEV 3.x Developer Snapshot (build DEV300m83) available

2010-06-18T08:54:02Z

Developer Snapshot OOo-Dev DEV300m83 is available for download.

DEV300 is the development codeline for upcoming OOo 3.x releases.

If you find issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker.

Download:
http://download.openoffice.org/next

Release Notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/DEV300m83_snapshot.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/DEV300m83_md5sums.txt

New: OOo-DEV 3.x Developer Snapshot (build DEV300m81) is available

2010-06-09T09:20:45Z

Developer Snapshot OOo-Dev DEV300m81 is available for download.

DEV300 is the development codeline for upcoming OOo 3.x releases.

If you find issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker.

Download:
http://download.openoffice.org/next

Release Notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/DEV300m81_snapshot.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/DEV300m81_md5sums.txt

OpenOffice.org 3.2.1 was released today

2010-06-04T10:46:12Z

OpenOffice.org 3.2.1 (build OOO320m18) was released today.

This is a bugfix release, so no new features implemented and the Feature Documentation from 3.2.0 is still valid. As this is the first release from OpenOffice.org's new sponsor Oracle, we have included a refreshed brand as it was necessary due to the acquisition of Sun Microsystems by Oracle in Januar 2010. Among this there are a few other things implemented. Read all about this on Brand Refresh.

Much more details about this version can be found in the technical Release Notes. Of course there is also an Announcement.

Get it now from the download website.

154 million and counting...

2010-06-04T14:30:43Z

When looking at today's download statistic I counted 154,582,489 downloads since version 3.0 (29,283,218 since version 3.2.0) based on data provided by the load balancer MirrorBrain which is used on OpenOffice.org's download page. This is a huge number but this number doesn't count all distribution specific variants. The number could even be higher when taking the download numbers from other build providers into account. Is there anyone who'd like to provide additional numbers ?

btw. OpenOffice.org 3.2.1 has been released today

New: OOo-DEV 3.x Developer Snapshot (build DEV300m80) available

2010-06-01T08:59:50Z

Developer Snapshot OOo-Dev DEV300m80 is available for download.

DEV300 is the development codeline for upcoming OOo 3.x releases.

If you find issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker.

Download:
http://download.openoffice.org/next

Release Notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/DEV300m80_snapshot.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/DEV300m80_md5sums.txt

New: OOo-DEV 3.x Developer Snapshot (build DEV300m79) available

2010-05-31T11:22:30Z

Developer Snapshot OOo-Dev DEV300m79 is available for download.

DEV300 is the development codeline for upcoming OOo 3.x releases.

If you find issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker.

Download:
http://download.openoffice.org/next

Release Notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/DEV300m79_snapshot.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/DEV300m79_md5sums.txt

New: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1 Release Candidate 2 (build OOO320m18) available

2010-05-28T13:05:29Z

OpenOffice.org 3.2.1 Release Candidate 2 is now available on the download website. Please note that currently a few Windows builds are not yet ready, these files need a bit more time to be available.

If you find severe issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker:

Download website:
http://download.openoffice.org/all_rc.html

Release notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/3.2.1rc2.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/3.2.1rc2_md5sums.txt

EDIT:
The usual website for downloading RCs is now available. Therefore I've updated this post with the link.

Renaissance Video on YouTube

2010-05-25T18:45:54Z

For those of you who haven't seen it yet, the most recent status presentation is online here.

The very brief slide show includes a link to the really juicy stuff: The latest Renaissance Impress video on YouTube. In the video, you will get a sneak-peek of the improved slide handling and slide layouts as well as how quickly you can now insert tables, charts, images, and video.

If you want to skip the presentation and just go to the video, then feel free to do so. Either way, comments and feedback are welcome.

The next Renaissance status update will be out by mid-June, so even if the weather doesn't get much better, you still have something to look forward to!

:-)

Best regards,

Liz

New: OOo-DEV 3.x Developer Snapshot (build DEV300m78) available

2010-05-21T08:07:19Z

Developer Snapshot OOo-Dev DEV300m78 is available for download.

DEV300 is the development codeline for upcoming OOo 3.x releases.

If you find issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker.

Download:
http://download.openoffice.org/next

Release Notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/DEV300m78_snapshot.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/DEV300m78_md5sums.txt

New: OpenOffice.org 3.2.1 Release Candidate 1 (build OOO320m17) available

2010-05-10T10:54:48Z

OpenOffice.org 3.2.1 Release Candidate 1 is now available on the download website.

If you find severe issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker:

Download website:
http://download.openoffice.org/all_rc.html

Release notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/3.2.1rc1.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/3.2.1rc1_md5sums.txt

New: OOo-DEV 3.2.1 Developer Snapshot (build OOO320m16) available

2010-04-27T07:56:11Z

Developer Snapshot OOo-Dev OOO320m16 is available for download.

OOO320 is the development codeline for upcoming OOo 3.2.x releases.

If you find issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker.

Download:
http://download.openoffice.org/next

Release Notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/OOO320m16_snapshot.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/OOO320m16_md5sums.txt

New: OOo-DEV 3.x Developer Snapshot (build DEV300m77) available

2010-04-26T08:22:05Z

Developer Snapshot OOo-Dev DEV300m77 is available for download.

DEV300 is the development codeline for upcoming OOo 3.x releases.

If you find issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker.

Download:
http://download.openoffice.org/next

Release Notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/DEV300_m77_snapshot.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/DEV300m77_md5sums.txt

Just 10 More Days

2010-04-20T20:41:06Z

There are just ten more days till the end of April, so you know what that means...it is almost May.

:-)

No, seriously, you have ten more days to make suggestions to improve default settings in Impress as part of the Renaissance subproject "Better Defaults".

The wiki page has been visited 1414 times as of this moment, so if you haven't seen the growing list there yet, get a move on and possibly even add your own favorite default setting improvement.

If, however, default settings are not on your personal list of "oh yeah, gotta change that!" stuff, but you still want to help, then here is the opportunity you've been waiting for: A nice little list (OK...not really, but the huge one I had before this worked like a stun-gun so this is like a squirt gun) of Issues that might fit the criteria for better defaults. When you find one that you think sounds good, add that issue (especially the number) to the wiki page.

Thank you everybody who has already "been there and done that".

Liz

What's the Status of Project Renaissance?

2010-04-19T08:35:16Z

Doing laps in the pool and jogging through the park have done wonders for thinning out the presentation application. Is it getting more sexy as a result? We think so. ;-) Have a look at the most recent monthly status update presentation to see for yourself how Impress is shaping up.

Discussion is taking place on the ux-discuss mailing list, so if you are curious or have some points to add, head on over there and jump right in.

:-) Liz

New: OOo-DEV 3.2.1 Developer Snapshot (build OOO320m15) available

2010-04-16T08:58:23Z

Developer Snapshot OOo-Dev OOO320m15 is available for download.

OOO320 is the development codeline for upcoming OOo 3.2.x releases.

If you find issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker.

Download:
http://download.openoffice.org/next

Release Notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/OOO320m15_snapshot.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/OOO320m15_md5sums.txt

New: OOo-DEV 3.2.1 Developer Snapshot (build OOO320_m14) available

2010-03-29T08:10:23Z

Developer Snapshot OOo-Dev OOO320_m14 is available for download.

OOO320 is the development codeline for upcoming OOo 3.2.x releases.

Since a few weeks the OpenOffice.org project has finally got a new home with Oracle. Therefore we have adjusted re-branding / acquisition related parts. For this also bitmaps in the Aboutbox and Start Center were exchanged.

Furthermore we would like to introduce a complete new icon set to bring the Open Document Format (ODF) story to a new level. E.g., the Start Center shows the new document icons. The toolbar icons were not changed.

If you find issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker.

Download:
http://download.openoffice.org/next

Release Notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/OOO320_m14_snapshot.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/OOO320_m14_md5sums.txt

New: OOo-DEV 3.x Developer Snapshot (build DEV300_m75) available

2010-03-15T08:39:44Z

Developer Snapshot OOo-Dev DEV300_m75 is available for download.

DEV300 is the development codeline for upcoming OOo 3.x releases.

If you find issues within this build please file them to OpenOffice.org's bug tracking system IssueTracker.

Download:
http://download.openoffice.org/next

Release Notes:
http://development.openoffice.org/releases/DEV300_m75_snapshot.html

MD5 checksums:
http://download.openoffice.org/next/md5sums/DEV300_m75_md5sums.txt