OpenOffice.org has made available version 3.1 of its OpenOffice software suite, marking the first major release in the 3.0 series. Several new features have been added to just about every aspect of the open-source office program, making this a must-have update if you roll free with your productivity apps.

As a whole, the 3.1 update sports an improved screen appearance, as it now uses anti-aliasing to smooth out any rough edges. Dragging is made easier by trading in the dotted outline for a shadow of the object you're trying to move. Other non program-specific enhancements include improved file locking to prevent others from overwriting a file, and support for overlining text.

Just a handful of the many program-specific changes:

• Carry out a conversation through Comments by selecting 'Reply' (Writer)
• Better grammar checker integration (Writer)
• Rename sheets with a double-click (Calc)
• Significant performance improvements (Calc)
• Font size buttons (Impress)

You can view a full list of changes here and download the 3.1 update here.