Microsoft Office is coming to Linux in 2014

The Linux focused site Phoronix is reporting that Microsoft is looking at developing Office for Linux in 2014. This is based on a conversation the writer had at the Free Open Source European Meeting in Brussels, where he was told, 'Microsoft is having a "meaningful look" at a full Linux port of Office thanks to Linux showing signs of commercial viability.' - Larabel

Larabel is often right about things like this. But regardless of whether Office for Linux comes to fruition, the idea of Microsoft even thinking about it and potentially giving such a windows rivalry app free of charge may come as a surprise. When someone asked Twitter, Larabel replied that he wouldn't be surprised if there are "many doubters" but challenged them to "wait and see." He points out that Microsoft has offered "unlikely sponsorship" to Linux projects in the past, albeit on a relatively small scale, and that the rumored Office for Android may also function as a stepping stone. Still, there'll need to be a few more meetings in underground parking lots before we're totally convinced.

Linux has certainly been getting more serious support recently, with the game platform Steam now available on the Ubuntu distribution of the open source operating system. Linux is also increasing in popularity among government organizations, attracted by its cost cutting possibilities.

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Windows Software to run on Android soon

Phoronix reports that an Android version of the open-source Wine software – which is used to run Windows-based apps on Linux, Mac OSX and BSD – is currently in development. The Android version was briefly demonstrated by Wine's original developer Alexandre Julliard after the FOSDEM 2013 talk in Brussels on Monday.

While Wine is coming to ARM and there's quite a lot of interest there, CodeWeavers is quite interested and hopeful for the success of Intel x86 Atom CPUs for tablets," Phoronix said. "If Android gains traction on x86-based tablets and other mobile devices, CodeWeavers has a lot of commercial opportunities for pushing the running of Windows software on Android.


According to the Wine website, the software doesn't simulate internal Windows logic like a virtual machine or emulator. Instead, Wine translates Windows API calls into POSIX calls on-the-fly. This supposedly eliminates the performance and memory penalties associated with VMs and emulators, allowing the user to "cleanly" integrate Windows applications into a non-Windows desktop.

Wine originally began in 1993 as a way to run Windows 3.1 programs on Linux. It took 15 years before Wine finally reached v1.0, the first stable release, in 2008.

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Ubuntu Mobile OS Announced

Ubuntu's developer Canonical has announced their entry into the smartphone business with first public glimpses and features of upcoming Ubuntu for Phones. The Linux-based operating system will offer users an seamless experience on Desktop, PC and Mobile with some exciting features and an "android compatible kernel" so existing Google Android users can simply install and use Ubuntu on their phones. While Ubuntu for Phones will be available in 2013 for users to install on existing hardware, handsets powered by the OS will hit shelves in 2014.

Canonical released an extensive video preview and this looks really promising.

Take a look below;

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Run Firefox OS on your Windows, Mac or Linux PC

Earlier this month, Mozilla announced that its mobile operating system, officially named Firefox OS, would be put into some low end smartphones starting in early 2013 in Brazil. The OS is based on HTML5, the same language used to make websites and other applications.

Now Mozilla is allowing anyone with a Windows, Linux or Mac PC to check out and even test early builds of Firefox OS. It will support everything you would expect from a smartphone, (friend dialing, spouse messaging, internet browsing, web gaming, photo taking, video watching, and music bumping!)

This download is not for the casual PC user but if you want to get an early glimpse into what Mozilla is doing to compete with iOS, Android, Windows Phone or Blackberry you can download the Firefox OS daily desktop builds right now. After that is accomplished, you will have to head over to the Gaia Hacking Wiki page for instructions on how to set up your PC to install the Firefox OS build.

Disclaimer: This OS was released for developers and still under development crashes may occur, make sure you have a Mozilla account to report bugs and errors for the better development for this OS on the desktop and various mobile platforms.

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