The Document Foundation, creators of the LibreOffice office suite of applications, have this week announced that they are currently working on projects to bring LibreOffice to Android and iOS devices, together with accessibility through web browsers.
The LibreOffice port project is based on the work of Tor Lillqvist and will now be focusing on bringing its suite of applications to mobile devices in the near future. LibreOffice currently competes and offers a great free alternative to Microsoft Office’s suite of applications. LibreOffice was created by former OpenOffice.org developers after concerns about Oracle’s community-hostile stewardship of OpenOffice.org and a number of long-standing procedural and governance issues that existed long before Oracle’s acquisition of Sun Microsystems.
Expanding LibreOffice to Mobile Platforms
The move to bring LibreOffice to mobile platforms is a significant step for The Document Foundation. With the increasing reliance on mobile devices for both personal and professional use, having a robust office suite available on Android and iOS can greatly enhance productivity for users on the go. This expansion will allow users to create, edit, and share documents seamlessly across different devices, ensuring that they have access to their work wherever they are.
The development team is leveraging the expertise of Tor Lillqvist, who has extensive experience in porting applications to different platforms. This expertise is crucial in ensuring that the mobile versions of LibreOffice maintain the same level of functionality and compatibility as the desktop versions. The goal is to provide a consistent user experience across all platforms, making it easier for users to transition between devices without any loss of functionality.
LibreOffice’s Competitive Edge
LibreOffice has been developed by The Document Foundation as a fork of OpenOffice.org and is compatible with other major office suites, including Microsoft Office, making it easy to switch to. When created, the developers’ goal with LibreOffice was to create a vendor-independent office suite with ODF (Open Document Format) support but without any copyright assignment requirements. This open-source approach has allowed for greater community involvement and faster development cycles.
Since its launch, the LibreOffice software has been downloaded over 7.5 million times since its launch back in January 2011. This impressive number is a testament to the software’s popularity and the trust that users place in it as a reliable alternative to proprietary office suites. The open-source nature of LibreOffice also means that it is constantly being improved and updated by a global community of developers, ensuring that it remains at the cutting edge of office suite technology.
In addition to its compatibility with Microsoft Office, LibreOffice offers a range of features that make it a powerful tool for both individual users and organizations. These features include advanced formatting options, support for a wide range of file formats, and powerful data analysis tools. The software also includes a range of extensions and templates that can be used to customize the user experience and enhance productivity.
The move to bring LibreOffice to mobile platforms and web browsers is a natural progression for The Document Foundation. By making the software accessible on a wider range of devices, they are ensuring that users have the flexibility to work in the way that suits them best. Whether they are using a desktop computer, a tablet, or a smartphone, users will be able to access the full range of LibreOffice’s features and capabilities.
The announcement by The Document Foundation to bring LibreOffice to Android, iOS, and web browsers is an exciting development for users of the software. With the expertise of Tor Lillqvist and the support of a global community of developers, the future looks bright for LibreOffice as it continues to evolve and expand its reach.
Source: Ars Technica
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