IBM To Release Lotus Symphony For Mac, Notes iPhone Compatibility
The Associated Press reports that IBM will be releasing a version of its free Lotus Symphony office suite that is compatible with Macs next week, along with a version of Lotus Notes for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Lotus Symphony is a free productivity suite consisting of a word processor, spreadsheet application, and presentation application, currently in beta for Windows and Linux. It is based on the Open Document Format (ODF) standard which has been rising in popularity recently.
Meanwhile, iPhone/iPod Touch version of Lotus Notes promises to increase the devices' appeal to the corporate market, which has already reportedly seen some success in the corporate realm despite RIM's continued dominance. While details of how Notes will be implemented on the iPhone were not detailed, the article does state that Apple and IBM have been working together despite the release of an SDK. Note, there have been indications that some may have had early access to the iPhone's forthcoming SDK.
The releases are reportedly part of a new partnership between Apple and IBM. Apple once used IBM's PowerPC processors, however software collaboration breaks relatively new ground for the two companies. IBM says that IBM's search for Microsoft alternatives has brought them together.
Lotus Symphony is a free productivity suite consisting of a word processor, spreadsheet application, and presentation application, currently in beta for Windows and Linux. It is based on the Open Document Format (ODF) standard which has been rising in popularity recently.
Meanwhile, iPhone/iPod Touch version of Lotus Notes promises to increase the devices' appeal to the corporate market, which has already reportedly seen some success in the corporate realm despite RIM's continued dominance. While details of how Notes will be implemented on the iPhone were not detailed, the article does state that Apple and IBM have been working together despite the release of an SDK. Note, there have been indications that some may have had early access to the iPhone's forthcoming SDK.
The releases are reportedly part of a new partnership between Apple and IBM. Apple once used IBM's PowerPC processors, however software collaboration breaks relatively new ground for the two companies. IBM says that IBM's search for Microsoft alternatives has brought them together.
"We have a lot in common," IBM spokesman Mike Azzi said. "We're going to cross-pollinate."
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53 months ago
Three Words:
COPY AND PASTE
W/o this, what is the point for the iPhone app?
Also, it sounds like Apple is trying to cover its ass if/when Microsoft pulls the plug on it Office suite. If the next version of Windows is delayed, e.g. Vista, and OS X is still gaining market share, then I'd bet they do the nuclear option and pull the MacOffice plug.
COPY AND PASTE
W/o this, what is the point for the iPhone app?
Also, it sounds like Apple is trying to cover its ass if/when Microsoft pulls the plug on it Office suite. If the next version of Windows is delayed, e.g. Vista, and OS X is still gaining market share, then I'd bet they do the nuclear option and pull the MacOffice plug.
53 months ago
if true, this is a big step for apple. IBM still plays a large role in the corporate world and they still make very compelling products. I can't respect what they have done for the industry enough and if they are working with apple on this, it will push the iPhone into the hands of users that want it, but have a stubborn IT department.
53 months ago
There is a lot they could do with Apple if they were so inclined. They were also suggesting that R8 for OSX was going to be released during MacWorld, weren't they? Would be nice to be on par with the other platforms again.
And if they were to collaborate a bit further, I'm sure I'm not the only person out there that would be interested in DB2 on OSX as well, long rumored but never really materialized...
There are probably dozens of other products as well if they were to want to help Apple get a leg up in the corporate world. And why wouldn't they?
And if they were to collaborate a bit further, I'm sure I'm not the only person out there that would be interested in DB2 on OSX as well, long rumored but never really materialized...
There are probably dozens of other products as well if they were to want to help Apple get a leg up in the corporate world. And why wouldn't they?
53 months ago
This is really, really cool. Does anyone here use it though? How does it compare to other word processors?
53 months ago
Three Words:
COPY AND PASTE
W/o this, what is the point for the iPhone app?
Um, the iPhone-app in question is basically a groupware-solution. Since we are already using email on the iPhone, why couldn't we use Notes-email as well?
Lotus Symphony is a whole different ball of wax.
53 months ago
There are probably dozens of other products as well if they were to want to help Apple get a leg up in the corporate world. And why wouldn't they?
If IBM decided to support Macs/OSX for corporate accounts worldwide, that would be a huge, huge thing.
All the rest is good too of course (software etc).
53 months ago
This is really, really cool. Does anyone here use it though? How does it compare to other word processors?
Lotus Symphony is IBM's version of OpenOffice.
ie: it doesn't just use the OpenOffice format... it IS open office, cleaned up by IBM.
(whatever happened to WordPro, Lotus 123, etc?)
53 months ago
I tried Lotus Symphony on Ubuntu. Clunky, slow, buggy as hell. Did not uninstall properly and left its hideous icons all over the shop.
If IBM really makes an effort at cleaning up the underlying code, then it may be a contender in the future, but not right now. Not installing this one.
If IBM really makes an effort at cleaning up the underlying code, then it may be a contender in the future, but not right now. Not installing this one.
53 months ago
Heh, interesting eh? IBM clearly sees profit in being on Mac OS X.
By the way, Microsoft makes way too much money off of Office for Mac for them to cancel for a petty reason like that and I'm getting sick of seeing crap like this turn up in forum after forum, you do realize that before there was even a "partnership" between Apple and Microsoft in '97, Microsoft had just formed the MacBU?
The reason for that was probably so that the main Office team could focus on delivering Windows updates faster, but the reason for not canceling was because Microsoft was making too much money off of it (even though the Mac version at the time was outdated).
Given the performance of Microsoft's consumer electronics "attempts" some shareholders would clearly be pissed if Microsoft cut off not only a profitable product, but a profitable product on a GROWING platform so please, PLEASE, cut the crap about Microsoft canceling Office for Mac as a "last resort" to kill off growth for the Mac.
Sebastian
Three Words:
COPY AND PASTE
W/o this, what is the point for the iPhone app?
Also, it sounds like Apple is trying to cover its ass if/when Microsoft pulls the plug on it Office suite. If the next version of Windows is delayed, e.g. Vista, and OS X is still gaining market share, then I'd bet they do the nuclear option and pull the MacOffice plug.
By the way, Microsoft makes way too much money off of Office for Mac for them to cancel for a petty reason like that and I'm getting sick of seeing crap like this turn up in forum after forum, you do realize that before there was even a "partnership" between Apple and Microsoft in '97, Microsoft had just formed the MacBU?
The reason for that was probably so that the main Office team could focus on delivering Windows updates faster, but the reason for not canceling was because Microsoft was making too much money off of it (even though the Mac version at the time was outdated).
Given the performance of Microsoft's consumer electronics "attempts" some shareholders would clearly be pissed if Microsoft cut off not only a profitable product, but a profitable product on a GROWING platform so please, PLEASE, cut the crap about Microsoft canceling Office for Mac as a "last resort" to kill off growth for the Mac.
Sebastian
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