LibreOffice is a free and open source office suite for Linux, Mac, and Windows computers. Now the software, which is one of the most popular alternatives to Microsoft Office, is on its way to Android.
Late last year the LibreOffice team announced an Android version was in the works. While it’s still very much a work in progress, developer Michael Meeks posted a progress update with a few photos today.
They don’t look like much yet. Few parts of the operating system are optimized for touchscreen phones and tablets yet. But Meeks’ update does help show where LibreOffice for Android is heading.
While the user interface isn’t really optimized for Android yet, the good news is that the LibreOffice team is now able to cross-compile new builds of the office suite for Android.
In fact, the software can also be compiled for iOS, but I’m not aware of any plans to release LibreOffice for the iPad anytime soon.
Ian Billet is also working on a Java viewer user interface to make LibreOffice a little more Android friendly.
The file manager actually looks pretty good so far — although not quite as nice as the concept artwork the Document Foundation created for a LibreOffice file manager earlier this year.
It’ll probably be a while before LibreOffice is officially released for Android. Right now there are a number of alternatives including Google Drive, Documents To Go, QuickOffice, and OfficeSuite Pro. But while some of those apps are fairly full-featured office applications, none are open source apps capable of handling open document formats such as .odt files.
via Muktware
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Come on boys. I love your job
While Androids are mostly content consumption, not content creation devices, it is useful to be able to carry docs around with you and at least display them from time to time. Also useful for meeting notes, drawings etc on the fly.
Seems like it would already work on something like a Transformer, if they would release a beta.
I use an old version of Open Office at home, so I need the ability to open ODF files. I can’t wait until this is released!
There is already an app that can open (although only read mode) odf files. Just look for it on the Play Store.
Kingsoft Office Free is all I need!
Writer:
Input file formats: Word (97/2000/2003/2007/2010) doc, dot, docx, .rtf, .wps and .wpt formats
Output file formats: Word (97/2000/2003) .doc, .dot, .wps and .wpt format.
Spreadsheets:
Input file formats: Excel (97/2000/2003/2007/2010) .xls, .xlsx, .xlt, .csv, .xml, .et and .ett
Output file formats: Excel (97/2000/2003) .xls, xlt, .csv, .xml, .et, .ett and more.
Presentation:
Input file formats: PowerPoint (97/2000/2003/2007/2010) .ppt, .pptx, .pps, .pot, .dps and .dpt formats
Output file formats: PowerPoint (97/2000/2003) .ppt, .pps, .pot, .dps and .dpt format.
I don’t see anything USABLE in there. We need a proper wordprocessor and spreadsheet that works on STANDARDS COMPLIANT document formats, not MSVENDORLOCK-IN formats.
Try changing a font in Kingsoft office writer, or work with tables, or set the paragraph settings to double spaced. Or how about adding notes to a powerpoint slide?
Are you kidding me? While I applaud the Kingsoft devs for supporting a free office suite while others cost upwards of $10, it’s really not usable for any serious document authoring.
I would put a finger friendly vertical dock instead of a mice menu.
This dock with icons and with the submenu icons nested as it were a android folder.
And of course being able to use the voice to text or to number from android.
This is a great effort, keep it up guys!
Android really needs a full fledged office suite!
This is looking promising.
Best of luck guys!