“Apple Computer confirmed on Tuesday that it has scooped up SchemaSoft, a small Canadian company that helps software makers translate rival file formats,” Ina Fried reports for CNET News. “‘Apple has acquired assets from SchemaSoft, a developer of software components for facilitating digital information workflow,’ the Cupertino, Calif.-based company said in a statement to CNET News.com. The Mac maker added that it plans to use SchemaSoft’s technology in future products, but did not offer specific details.”
“SchemaSoft’s tools can extract data found in a variety of formats including those used by Microsoft Office documents, along with Quark and Adobe Systems’ Portable Document Format, the software maker states on its Web site. The tools can also output into those formats as well as into HTML and XML,” Fried reports. “Apple is already a customer of SchemaSoft, according to the Canadian company’s Web site. Other well-known customers include Microsoft, Adobe and Corel.”
Full article here.
Power move by Apple to ensure that as they evolve Pages, Keynote, etc., that the programs will be able to translate Office documents into Apple’s format and vice-versa (among other things).
Forget just adding it to Pages, build it directly into the operating system. When you get that ‘what application do you want to open the document with’ it will provide a smooth transaction no matter what you choose, including Pages of course.
And this ladies, is how apple begins their “innovation” process.
Don’t give me that, Kernel. There’s a big difference between buying a company and simply ripping off one’s ideas/technology. There’s no shame in acquiring a company that’s got a good product.
Yikes, Kernel– has anyone ever asserted that being an innovative company means innovating EVERYTHING?
Me doth think thy panties are in a bunch!
The innovation will come when Apple demonstrates how they’re going to use the pre-existing technology to further enhance our spoiled, Maccentric lifestyles.
The key to innovation is not in INVENTING everything, but in applying technology to a variety of useful applications. The move is brilliant and the end result will be something that changes the way we go about our business.
The true definition of Innovation is CHANGE. Check out the synonyms and you can easily understand the bigger picture:
Synonyms:
addition, alteration, contraption, cutting edge, departure, deviation, in thing, introduction, last word, latest thing, latest wrinkle, leading edge, modernism, modernization, modification, mutation, new wrinkle, newfangled idea, newness, notion, novelty, permutation, shift, variation, vicissitude, what’s happening, wrinkle
I don’t see the word INVENTION or INVENT as a synonym for innovation!
re iMac G5, I agree. And I also own an iMac G5, so congrats.
G%Mac: “The true definition of Innovation is CHANGE.”
I am going to go innovate my underwear.
Then I will innovate the channel on the TV.
Don’t mind me. I just like the attention I get by flaming people here.
It’s much easier to do than getting a real life girl to talk to me.
Your pal,
KernalPanic
people, people, people…
don’t feed the trolls. if you ignore them, they go away…
I see the windblowzzz troll kernelpanic is on the boards again.
what a tosser!
Don’t bother replying to his crapola version on MS coolade
Innovation is about looking at things in a different way and coming up with a solution that no one has thought about before or even realised could be possible.
Even taking existing componants and putting them together in a new way is defined as innovation.
“Even taking existing componants and putting them together in a new way is defined as innovation.”
And what is Mac OS X?
Lots of components put together in a unique and creative way which makes one pleased and satisfied, yet productive. What did Steve say, making software which “surprises and delights”??
And now we know how Apple intends to get data into Spotlight.
Mr “DePlume” called this one right as well. BTW- The company’s web site is gone as of this writing.
Why liscence a technology when you can just own it. Then if MS wants to use it (as they were marked as a customer) they have to liscence it from Apple. LOL
And this ladies, is how apple begins their “innovation” process.
Kernel Panic,
For being a Microsoft fanboy, you sure don’t pay much attention to your own evil empire (Redmond). That’s all Microsoft does; by either the triple ‘E’ method (embrace, extend and exterminate) or the triple ‘A’ method (acknowledge, acquire and annihilate). Microsoft’s innovation is either acquired or stolen.
Just like Robert X Cringely said in his book “Accidental Empires”…
Microsoft is not an innovative company, but just a maintenance company of already existing technologies!