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Although OpenOffice.org Writer offers many tools that allow you to create sophisticated layouts, you might want to use a dedicated desktop publishing application to lay out a brochure or a book. The latest version of the open source DTP application Scribus, 1.3.2, can import Writer's .odt documents, which makes Writer and Scribus a perfect combo for DTP work. Here's a brief overview of Scribus' essential tools and features from Writer users' point of view.

If you're a Mac OS X user who needs to move files securely between home, work, and Web hosts, try Fugu, an open source, graphical front end for SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), Secure Copy (SCP), and Secure Shell (SSH). Fugu uses these three protocols to conduct secure transfers and other communication between computers.

Lenovo South Africa launched its products officially on Friday, with desktops and laptops that look distinctly non-IBM. The new company is hoping to capture a slice of the lucrative home user and SME markets with its 3000 series, while the Think brand continues to play in the corporate arena.

IBM has opened a new front in the Desktop Wars with its coming release of Lotus Notes for Linux and Apple Mac OS X. The mature collaboration software instantly adds gravitas and business-user appeal to both operating systems, while providing IBM with the ability to offer a complete environment without a stitch of Microsoft. Assuming the IBM effort succeeds, Email Battles wonders how long it take for Redmond to follow.

Although New Zealand organisations have been late adopters of the technology, local end-users and tech companies accept that open source is here to stay.

Mimos Bhd is organising the 7th ASia Open Source Software (OSS) symposium to strengthen international collaboration in establishing an Asian Open Source Ecosystem.

In a statement on Feb 27, Mimos said the Asian Open Source Ecosystem would enable governments, communities and industries across Asia to continuously interact and collaborate in open source implementation.

Last Thursday, when I wrote about Dell's new Linux desktop, was one of the most frustrating days of my professional life. My eWEEK colleague John Spooner and I tried our best to get Dell to confess that they really had released an honest-to-God Linux desktop.

But Dell simply wouldn't do it.

More than 3,000 FOSS enthusiasts gave up their weekend and traveled from all over the world to attend the sixth annual Free and Open Source Software Developers' European Meeting (FOSDEM) in Brussels last weekend.

Open-source VoIP developer, SIPphone, has announced its acquisition of $6 million in venture capital funding, which will help it extend its Session-Initiated Protocol (SIP)-based network. The peer-to-peer network will soon be available over non-PC devices, including adapters, routers, Wi-Fi phones, and dual mode cell phones.

US Robotics (USR) publishes source code for a variety of network devices based on Linux, including wireless access points, combo router/NAS servers, and DSL broadband routers. Downloads for its USR5461 wireless access point suggest the device runs Linux 2.4.20, and fits a uClibc-based filesystem within 2MB.

People reject Linux desktops for illogical reasons, says IT consultant and developer Jono Bacon. For example, they fault Linux OpenOffice desktops for not having all the features in Microsoft Windows Office, even though few actually use all of the Microsoft stuff. So, in essence, they're saying they want desktops cluttered with unnecessary features.

Bacon discusses the impact of such irrational views regarding Linux desktop adoption in this interview. He also opines on what developers should be doing to reverse-engineer people's fuzzy thinking and make it easier to adopt Linux and open source. Bacon co-authored Linux Desktop Hacks (O'Reilly Media) and is an applications development specialist at OpenAdvantage, an open source software consulting organization that provides free services in the West Midlands region of the U.K.

AJAX Toolkit Framework is a J2EE based technology that assists in constructing Eclipse framework support for AJAX toolkits on Linux and provides enhanced DHTML/Javascript IDE features for AJAX developers.

A trip to Nairobi, cocktails with Microsoft, and a conference room full of African free software advocates. Alastair Otter checks in with the growing African free and open source movement to see how things are going.

Opinion: Perhaps because its partner Microsoft doesn't want it (or any other major PC vendor) to. (DesktopLinux)

Screenshots are available of Mandriva's One 2006.0 Beta, following today's release announcement.

"This live CD is a complete Mandriva Linux system, which you can use directly from the CD or install on your hard drive. It includes OpenOffice.org, KDE, Firefox, GIMP, Amarok..."

3D graphics on X - XGL vs AIGLX. This article delves into the inner workings of XGL and AIGLX. It shows that there are many similarities between these two competing/co-operating "rivals" and plenty of room for growth.

Hot on the heels of Gentoo's announcement of their 2006.0 release, OSDir has published a Gentoo 2006.0 Screenshot Tour which give us a walk-through of installing Gentoo with the first ever Gentoo Linux LiveCD.

Over one billion records. That's the amount of personal data Scott Levine was judged guilty for stealing from Acxiom, a company that keeps a file on almost everybody. Just before Levine made his withdrawals from Acxiom's databank, Daniel Baas bagged his limit. Both went to jail. But what about the self-appointed stewards of your personal information? Don't you deserve better?

The complete 2005 archive of Linux Format magazine interviews are now available on their site. They include face-to-face discussions with notable personalities in the Linux scene including Michael Robertson, Alan Cox and Mark Shuttleworth. Topics include the GPL v3, running as root in Linspire, the Ubuntu vs Debian debate and much more.

IBM, Novell and Parity Communications today announced that they are contributing code to an open source initiative -- code-named "Project Higgins" -- that will spawn a new generation of security software, giving people more control over their personal online identity information. Project Higgins builds upon a concept developed by Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet and Society.