This week’s episode of ZA Tech Show features special guest and billionaire spaceman Mark Shuttleworth, on the line from London. We discuss:

• The international appeal to reverse ISO’s decision on OOXML.
• Open standards.
• The rise and future of Ubuntu and Linux.
• Linux’ desktop readiness.
• Firefox 3 nearing final release date.
• The future of open source and its impact on platforms outside of just software.
• Sub-notebooks, the OLPC and how these initiatives impact on education in the developing world.
• Driving collaboration in open communities.
• Windows 7.
• The adoption of open source by traditionally proprietary companies.
• The importance of open API’s in Web 2.0.
• What to expect in the next version of Ubuntu Linux.
• MTN’s talks with Reliance.
• Eskom’s investments in infrastructure.
• Dell being sued for fraud by the city of New York.

Plus you’ll hear Mark answer some unusual questions.

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We gather in an overcast Johannesburg this week, sans Ben Kelly, to discuss the following:

• Open document formats and the SABS appealing ISO’s ratification of OOXML.
• The ultra-portable and sub-notebook market and who’s doing what in the space.
• Microsoft’s strategy for Windows on portables.
• Online operating systems, ala Jooce.
• Privacy online and why people trust Google.
• Mashing-up social networks and examples of applications that do this, like Flock.
• Instant messaging.
• Red Hat’s Mugshot.
• Vodacom’s WirelessG, iPass and other innovative wireless offerings, like Skyrove.
• Utility bandwidth.
• Final confirmation of Neotel’s consumer offerings, including uncapped solutions.

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We have a full-house this week on ZA Tech Show with Simon Dingle, Brett Haggard, Duncan McLeod, Jon Tullett and Ben Kelly discussing:

- ISO ratifying OOXML as a standard
- Google Gears allowing you to work on Google Docs offline
- Douglas Merrill resigning as CIO of Google and going to EMI
- Telkom Media’s troubles
- Broadcast regulation in SA
- SA Blog Awards
- Firefox 3 beta 5
- The PWN to OWN awards
- Wordpress 2.5 and web app security
- The promises of Intel Atom and mobile computing
- SA Cricket entering the blogosphere

It’s all yours for Mahala.

Direct file download.