As you know, iWork for the Mac doesn't save in OpenDocument format and the
.pages format is pretty much unreadable by anyone that doesn't have the
software. If you happen to come across this format, you may get lucky if you
open up the file as a .zip file and can extract a PDF preview. Of course that
is a PDF and not like an actual editable document.
I was reading about iCloud the other day and how Apple's new cloud service
will NOT support the importing or exporting of the OpenDocument format like
the desktop software. Of course Microsoft Office and their proprietary
formats are supported, but this really does irk me. Apple is currently the
hottest tech company with iPhones and iPads selling REALLY well and people
will stay within their walled garden. There are currently more Android phones
than iPhones, but the iPad pretty much has a monopoly on tablets.
Google Docs does save in OpenDocument (even if its spotty) but there is real
cause for concern with iCloud. The average consumer that owns an Apple
product tends to use their services and with us entering a "post pc" era,
Apple will keep users off of open formats and tied to theirs.
Don't get me wrong... Microsoft 2007/2010 formats are not completely open,
but at least they are more open than the older binary .doc formats and they
are still XML documents in a .zip file like with OpenDocument. I really don't
know what the hell a .pages file is supposed to be.
Should we be scared of Apple being a much bigger influence on proprietary
software and document formats than Microsoft was in the past? If so, what
will happen when OpenDocument is pushed into obscurity in favor of .pages?
- [Trisquel-users] Apple has really irked me with iCloud a... tegskywalker
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