iWork '09 OpenDocument speculation

I'd assume that some sort of ODF capability will make it into iWork '09 (or '10, whenever we see a new version) since Leopard's TextEdit supports it. But does anyone speculate that Apple will provide anything close to complete support for ODF? After all, everyone seems to be moving toward a more open, data-portable way of doing things, and although Apple's iWork format is documented it's not implemented across platforms. Seems to me like native ODF support (or even native OOXML support) would do nothing but foster Apple's place in the Office program industry since files could be exchanged with everyone. Especially when you consider the alternative that we now have three different variations on Apple's own iWork document format (take yer choice, save in iWork '05, iWork '06' or iWork '08 formats!)

Thing is, is Apple's feature set even implementable in ODF? I mean, I don't know much about the XML-based Office specs, but using Numbers as an example, all other spreadsheets support a one-table-per-sheet model. Could a many-tables-per-sheet model even be expressed in ODF? What would it look like to other applications?

The sad thing about open standards is that they collide with innovation. I completely see Apple's need to make their own format so that they can bring an innovative, new user experience to the table. It's just a shame that they had to create their own format to do it rather than working with the ODF group to implement something like this in the spec.

Realizing that I'm apparently beating a dead horse that nobody's interested in here, I've come to realize that I have a problem. There needs to be a 12 step program for people interested in Apple supported a *real* ISO approved, vendor neutral document format that's going to be around for a while and that can be used in a multi-platform environment.

Anyway, I wasn't really expected an iWork update at WWDC, but now that it's passed I'm setting my sights on Macworld or the fall. Not that it matters but I have several reasons why Apple should support OpenDocument. Nobody seems interested in it here but I'd love to see some discussion:

1) Apple has a history of supporting open standards where it bolsters its business and reduces the complexity on its own developers (FreeBSD, CalDav, Apache, Postfix, the printing components, etc.),

2) OpenDocument would be FAR easier for Apple to implement than native support for OOXML (heck, ODF is even easier for Microsoft to implement in their OWN product than OOXML),

3) No more dialogs asking, “Do you want to save this in iWork ‘06 format, iWork ‘08 format, iWork…. ” What’s good for one is good for everyone.

4) OpenDocument is extensible so they could… possibly… implement such features as Numbers’ multi-table-on-a-single-sheet feature (not sure about the viability of this one), and

5) it will make Apple not look like they’re drinking Microsoft’s Kool-Aid, while, when native ODF support is added to MS Office next year, Apple will be totally compatible and competitive with not just most Windows users but Linux/open source advocates too.

6) Apple obviously has expressed interest in heating up competition with Microsoft on the desktop since the disaster called Vista. If Apple ever hopes to bring iWork to Windows, joining iTunes and Safari, they’ll need to have a document format that’s not based on bundles. A .pages file is just a folder as far as Windows is concerned.