New and Noteworthy: Apple backs Microsoft in Office format standard; Intel Starts an 'Apple Group'; more

Apple backs Microsoft in Office format standard Microsoft has submitted the Office Open XML document format to the Ecma international standards body, garnering the support of Apple, among others, in its effort. CRN reports "Apple made a strong endorsement of the Microsoft submission, too. 'Apple and Microsoft will continue to work closely together to deliver great products to Mac users and application developers for many years to come'" said Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, Philip Schiller, in a statement. Massachusetts officials maintain that a move to the OpenDocument format would open up office productivity software to more competition." More.

Intel Starts an 'Apple Group' ExtremeTech reports that industry analysts and others have confirmed that Intel Corp. has formed an internal "Apple group." "This group, formed in the wake of Apple Computer Inc.'s decision to base its next generation of Macintosh computers on Intel processors, is comprised of engineers and sales staff. [...] Intel has similar groups for other large clients such as Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard. Specifics on the Apple group are sparse, however. Details are considered confidential internal information, said Intel representative Tom Beerman." More.

Microsoft Disavows Internet Explorer Wired News reports that Microsoft's MSN site suggests websurfers using Microsoft's Internet Explorer for the Mac switch to another browser. "Fire up that dusty old copy of Explorer and -- if you haven't changed the default homepage -- you'll be greeted by a message at MSN that says: 'If you are using Internet Explorer for Mac, we recommend that you use another browser to have an optimal experience of MSN.'" More.

Previously on MacFixIt

• Fifth-generation iPod (with video) [#8]: More on cell phone interference
• iTunes 6.0.1 (#8): Podcast downloads stopping before they are finished
• iPhoto 5.0.x: Stalls when loading photo libraries
• Microsoft Office 2004 11.2.1 (#7): More on "Network or file permission error" -- potential fixes
• Entourage sporadically switching keyboard layouts

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