Gravity Computing Limited offer specialised consulting and development within OpenOffice.org Calc and Microsoft Excel. An overwhelming number of companies rely on these spreadsheeting programs to assist them with day-to-day functions; however as business grows, the original solution is usually not the best. Gravity Computing works with these documents, and can build in task automation, data visualisation, dashboards, consistency & accuracy checks, and even provide training.

Albany Senior High School has implemented Open Source from the ground up, running on Linux and using Open Source applications to support their mission to equip the next generation for a technological world. This story in CIO Magazine covers how Albany High School implemented open source in their school. The Blog of the Deputy Principle can be found here.

Today is the start of linux.conf.au in Wellington. Computerworld is covering the conference here.

NZOSS members attending the LCA2010 event are invited to attend a 'BoF' (Birds of a Feather) currently scheduled for Thursday afternoon, 4.45pm until 5.30pm.

The venue will be 'Civic Suite 3' and those interested should keep an eye on the official LCA2010 BoF's register for details.

See you then!

TechnologyWise is an IT service provider and support company specialising in the business and education markets.

Our team is committed to building IT systems for the future of your business. We have a strong focus on open source software, which enables us to provide cost-effective business solutions.

Based in Tauranga, TechnologyWise supports networks, servers and PCs for all systems and platforms, ncluding Linux, Mac & Windows. We also install and support web-based applications such as CRM systems, content management systems and wikis.

3months is an agile, open source development company specialising in quick to market, bespoke web development using Ruby on Rails. We work with our clients in an environment of trust and transparency where risks are shared, progress is constantly visible and change is embraced. Over the last 10 years our dedicated and personable team have built some of the most exciting and innovative sites in New Zealand.

The release of a cabinet paper today by Minister of Justice Simon Power was a relief to the Creative Freedom Foundation which had been opposing Internet disconnection on accusation. Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Director of the Creative Freedom Foundation was relieved on reading the details of the Cabinet paper, saying ”this new proposal steers well clear of that [disconnection] approach, respecting due process and the principle of being innocent until proven guilty by experts.”

The Ministry of Economic Development have continued to refuse opening of the text of the ACTA agreement currently under negotiation. In a meeting with the Ministry today Don Christie, President of the NZOSS, asked if the Ministry could publish a section of the text. After leaks of the text earlier in the year there is concern that the agreement will force legislative changes that were strongly opposed by a large portion of the New Zealand IT industry, including the NZOSS and InternetNZ.

Don Christie is more than the President of the NZOSS. He has been operating his Wellington based IT company, Catalyst IT for 12 years. In this NZ Herald article he describes the principles he founded his business on, and how the relationship between the open source community and commercial organisations such as his work. Catalyst are involved heavily with the public sector, but are also addressing the needs of educational institutions.

The New Zealand Open Source Society and Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Information Management today launched an IT vendor capability survey, as part of the Public Sector Remix project.

The Remix project involves a number of central, regional and local government agencies working together to trial free software for common desktop tasks such as document management, mail, calendar and browser-based information services.