Monthly Archives: October 2010
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Unicode version 6.0 released
The newly finalized Unicode Version 6.0 adds 2,088 characters, with over 1,000 new symbols.
The October 2010 release includes the Unicode Character Database (UCD), Unicode Standard Annexes (UAXes), and code charts. With the release of these components, implementers are able update their software to Unicode 6.0 without delay. The final text of the core specification will be available in early 2011.
A long-awaited feature of Unicode 6.0 is the encoding of hundreds of symbols for mobile phones. These emoji characters are in widespread use, especially in Japan, and have become an essential part of text messages there and elsewhere. Unicode 6.0 now provides for data interchange between different mobile vendors and across the internet. The symbols include symbols for many domains: maps and transport, phases of the moon, UI symbols (such as fast-forward) and many others – including the symbol for mobile phone itself.
A late-breaking addition is the newly created official symbol for the Indian rupee. “With the help of the Indian government and our colleagues in ISO, we were able to accelerate the encoding process.” said Mark Davis, president of the Consortium. “Once computers and mobile phones update to the new version of Unicode, people will be able to use the rupee sign like they use $ or € now.”
MultilingualWeb Workshop, Madrid. Initial program published.
The MultilingualWeb project, funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the W3C, is looking at best practices and standards related to all aspects of creating, localizing and deploying the multilingual Web. The project will raise visibility of what’s available and identify gaps via a series of four events, over two years.
The first workshop takes place in Madrid on 26-27 October 2010. It is free and open to the public.
A first view of the workshop program has just been published. Speakers represent a wide range of organizations and interests, such as:
BBC, DFKI, European Commission, Facebook, Google, Loquendo, LRC, Microsoft, Mozilla, Opera, SAP, W3C, WHO, WWW Foundation, and more.
Session titles include: Developers, Creators, Localizers, Machines, and Users. The workshop should provide useful cross-domain networking opportunities.
If you are interested in attending the workshop, see the Call for Participation for details on how to register.
New translation into Brazilian Portuguese
Idiomas na Web (Choosing & applying a character encoding)
This ‘Getting Started’ article was translated into Brazilian Portuguese thanks to Matheus Salmi, CZ SEE.
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