OStatic

Calling all artists: If you want to try your hand at creating images as spectacular as the one on the left and win a prize for them, then you need to enter the Blender World Cup 2009 contest. This year's topic focuses on the other world which should contain fantasy, creativity, and interest.

Contest rules are pretty straightforward. As long as Blender is the predominant 3D software you use to create your image, you're welcome to use any other apps you like. Entries need to be submitted in .JPG format and saved at 80-95% quality.

Blender World Cup judges offer the following tips for getting the best shot at nabbing a slot as one of 2009's winners:

There's a lot going on in the world of open source software development, including some early looks at updates to several popular applications. Remember: beta versions of software are fun to play with and crucial for getting final versions out the door, but aren't stable enough for everyday use.

AbiWord 2.7.10 Beta - Open source word processor, AbiWord, mainly fixes bugs associated with plugins but there are also a handful of fixes for some cross-platform issues. You'll also want to check out this beta version if you've been having issues with importing and exporting Open Office XML docs.