NEW beta version of OpenOffice 3.0 available for download. The organization recommends that beta users not to use the software for production, you can download it for test and report the bugs!

The immediately visible change to OpenOffice.org 3.0 is the new ‘Start Centre’, new fresh-looking icons, and a new zoom control in the status bar,” according to OpenOffice.org. A closer look shows that 3.0 has a plenty of new features. Notable Calc improvements include a new solver component; support for spreadsheet collaboration through workbook sharing; and an increase to 1024 columns per sheet. Writer has an improved notes feature and displays of multiple pages while editing. There are numerous Chart enhancements, and an improved crop feature in Draw and Impress.

OpenOffice.org 3.0 will support the upcoming OpenDocument Format (ODF) 1.2 standard, and is capable of opening files created with MS-Office 2007 or MS-Office 2008 for Mac OS X (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx, etc.),” the group added. “This is in addition to read and write support for the MS-Office binary file formats (.doc, .xls, .ppt, etc.). “

The new release will run on Mac OS X without X11, with the look and feel of any other Aqua application, so when the final release is out MS Office will get a serious impact from an open source an free and easy to use OpenOffice.org 3.0.

OpenOffice.org is running natively on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS!

For more information what’s new in 3.0 click here! Official web site for OpenOffice: http://www.openoffice.org/

Tags | Linux, Mac OS, Software, Technology News, Windows