Codeweavers have released version 3.1 of their CrossOver Office application – and this new version features support of Apple’s iTunes jukebox.
Codeweavers CEO Jeremy White said in a statement: “iTunes has been our number-one most requested application. We remain confident that by the end of 2005, the majority of Windows applications will be supported by CrossOver Office. Until then, we’re pleased to be bringing the appeal of iTunes to Linux users through the development of Version 3.1.” Indeed, Codeweavers intend to have 95% of Windows applications running by the end of next year.
CrossOver Office relies on Wine to make Windows programs work under Linux. Wine is an open source re-implementation of the Windows API, and does not use Microsoft code. It’s not an emulator either – think of it as a wrapper that allows Windows programs to run under Linux.
Unlike RealNetworks’ Harmony product, released last week, CrossOver office makes no changes to iPod and does not reverse-engineer any code. Apple has yet to make a comment, but it is unlikely that they will be as vehemently opposed to CrossOver Office as they were to Harmony.
Codeweavers
Wine Is Not an Emulator
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Fraser Lovatt
Fraser Lovatt has spent the last fifteen years working in publishing, TV and the Internet in various capacities, and believes that they will be seperate platforms for at least a while yet. His main interests at the moment are exploring where Linux is taking home entertainment and how technology is conferring technical skills on more and more people.Fraser Lovatt was born in the same year that 2001: A Space Odyssey was delighting and confusing people in the cinemas, and developed a lifelong love of technology as soon as he realised that things could be taken apart, sometimes put back together again, but mostly left in bits or made into something the original designer hadn't quite planned upon.At school he was definitely in the ZX Spectrum/Magpie/BMX camp, rather than the BBC Micro/Blue Peter/well-behaved group. This is all deeply ironic as he later went on to spend nine years working at the BBC.After a few years of working as a bookseller in Scotland, ("Back when it was actually a skilled profession" he'll tell anyone still listening), he moved to England for reasons he can't quite explain adequately to himself. After a couple of publishing jobs punctuated by sporadic bursts of travelling and photography came the aforementioned nine years at the BBC where he specialised in internet technologies and video.These days his primary interests are Java, Linux, videogames and pies - and if they're not candidates for convergence, then what is?
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