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What Is The Difference Between Open Source And Closed Source

September 4th, 2010 oxy6en
Open source Software
by pt

What Is The Difference Between Open Source And Closed Source

With all the buzz over open source software these days, many companies try to hop on the open source wagon to promote their products. Some of it is of course deserved, some of it is delusive. As a result, many users are now confused about where the line gets drawn between gobbledygook and the real thing.

What is the difference between open source and freeware?

Open source is when the user has access to the source code of the software. With relevant knowledge of programming languages, an user is free to tinker with the software, and make it suitable for its needs. Most of us don’t possess this much knowledge, but many who do, share their modifications also on open source community sites as add-ons or fixes. That’s how open source technologies evolve over time.
Freeware is also free to use as a program, but it is mostly closed source. Again, closed source is when the source code is not available to the public. The company who produces the software makes sure that it works and takes care of updating its functionality (instead of a myriad of enthusiasts like is the case with open source).

You should note that a lot of open source programs are also offered on a commercial basis by the company who initiated the development process. Those price-tagged commercial releases are usually a more advanced version of the open source version. The differentiation between the free or commercial product lies there. In other cases, you might find companies that host open source software and/or provide service around it (think of customized installations and helplines).

Is Office123 open or closed source?

Both.

I am going to introduce a new term here, and that is Open Core. Over 90% of the software we use in the package is open source. The only thing that is not public is what we call “the integration layer”. You could say that the separate tools inside Office123 are all also available as open source, and the whole product we provide, is merely free. But the benefit of open source is there. To put it in the words of Andrew Lampitt, one of the coiners of the term open core licensing, you no longer have, as in Microsoft’s case, an omnipotent power holding your future ransom over its API’s and source code.

We believe in open source.

The open source community gives us access to thousands of bright minds and supplies us with updates and add-ons for our product. We realize that the open source community is so much more bigger than we could ever be. As a result, Office123 is very much open source. We use open source products, but we also commit back to the community the changes we have made that we think might be useful. That is how the open source software works. Thanks to people who believe in it, it evolves constantly. That is also how we can keep up our free model, and still provide excellent products (We keep Office123 fully functional and free for small companies, but charge for hosting and maintenance from a certain usage level onwards).

Feel free to try out our product here to see how the combination of open and closed source works for you.

Siim Esko is part of the Office123 team, which packs a mean suite of business applications. He writes on the company blog about open source and things that interest him. Since he is an entrepreneur himself, those things relate mostly to startups.

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Handbags for Stylish Women Plus Sizes

September 4th, 2010 oxy6en

Handbags for Stylish Women Plus Sizes

For some, handbags are mere handbags. Its main purpose is to contain items that need to be carried somewhere. Whether women bring along make-up kits or pocket books, any handbags can be brought along. Anyway, it’s the practicality that counts. But for stylish women plus sizes, handbags are considered accessories. In which case, there are particular handbags that match plus sizes wardrobes. 

There are two things that stylish women plus sizes needs to consider when buying handbags: sizes and color. Of course, the price may be in consideration all the time but beyond price it’s the style that matters. When wearing loose wardrobes such as tunics, it is best to carry small to medium size handbag. Carrying an oversized handbag makes the woman look all-big: loose clothes, big bags and full-figure body. Likewise, it would be complimentary if the woman carries large bags in well-fitted tops and jeans or trouser. 

With regards to color, black and brown are the most versatile handbags. In fact, this is the most sought-after colors for most women buying handbags. However, plus sizes women need not worry to try other colors that make them look trendy and fashionable. Burgundy, pink, green or yellow are some of the cute colors in handbags. Owning and using them makes the woman appear bright instead of dull. However, proper matching with the wardrobe should be considered. A red medium sized bag may not match with a beige ruffled tops and black trousers. Everything in women plus sizes should be complimentary to the wardrobe and full-figures so that they would be the perfect icon for plus sizes stylish women. 

 

Cherry Bonachita offers plus size apparel through Cruz Plus Sizes. Please view plus sizes for the apparels and learn how to order.

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Web Graphics: are They Necessary?

September 4th, 2010 oxy6en
Web Typography
by elv

Web Graphics: are They Necessary?

Websites began to use the GIF format to display small graphics, such as banners, advertisements and navigation buttons, on web pages. There is no limit in the Web specifications to the graphical formats that can be used on the Web. There are many resources, demos and tutorials on the basics of graphics design and construction, including integrating images into your webpage”s that you will find on the web. Numerous websites have been created to host communities for web graphics artists.

Modern web browsers can now display JPEG, PNG and increasingly, SVG images in addition to GIFs on web pages. Web Images Can Be Used To Add Realism To Edited Photos. Computer graphics researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed systems for editing or altering photographs using segments of the millions of images available on the. JPEG images have generated tremendous interest among photographers, artists, graphic designers, medical imaging specialists, art historians, and other groups for whom image quality is paramount and where color fidelity cannot be compromised by dithering a graphic to 8-bit color. Apart from that, resolution problems are in the image file itself, and must be corrected there: use or create a higher-resolution image file.

3D computer graphics are works of graphic art that were created with the aid of digital computers and specialized 3D software. In recent times, digital photography has opened the way to an infinite number of fast, but strong, manipulations. Whether you”d like to browse your image collection and view pictures, convert between formats, print your graphics as hard copy, acquire images from a digital camera, maintain a sophisticated keyword database, decode pictures from the Internet, process and fine-tune your photographs. As part of an industry that is at the forefront of information technology, Graphics must be a leader with respect to the converging technologies in multimedia, computer-assisted design, reprographics and digital printing, network information services and network-based processing, electronic imaging, custom publishing, and electronic information access.

Computer graphics are often used in the majority of new feature films, especially those with a large budget. Since then, computer graphics have become more accurate and detailed, due to more advanced computers and better 3D modeling software applications, such as Cinema 4D. Most modern web graphics are made with Adobe Photoshop, the GIMP, or Corel Paint Shop Pro. Yet most page design elements, diagrams, typography within images, and many illustrations are composed of hard-edged graphics and bright color boundaries that are seldom encountered in photographs.

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