Microsoft has finally released the Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 1.0. If you'll recall the converter got off to a bad start, but it's here at last. According to Microsoft's website the Converter will allow you to convert Open XML files that were created in Mac Office 2008 or Office 2007 for Windows to files that you can open,edit and save in earlier versions of Office for Mac (Mac Office 2004 and Office v.X for Mac). It's compatible with Word, Excel and Powerpoint files. You have the option of converting or opening one file or performing a batch conversion of multiple files.

It's available for download here as a 45MB DMG file.

Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.1 Update offers the standard improvements to enhance stability and performance. For more information about this update, please visit the Microsoft Help and Support site. The knowledge base article goes into explicit and lengthly detail about this update. It looks like the Mac BU team is working hard to make Office 2008 even better. The update applies to: Office 2008, Office 2008 Home and Student Edition, Office 2008 Special Media Edition, Word 2008, Excel 2008, PowerPoint 2008, Entourage 2008.

It's available for download here as a 153MB DMG file.