LibreOffice's mobile version resurfaces on Google Play

LibreOffice, now in a slimmed-down mobile version, has made a comeback on Google Play. The LibreOffice Viewer application could come in handy for those using an Android phone or tablet. However, as the name implies, the app's capabilities are fairly limited.

The debut of LibreOffice Viewer took place a few days back, coinciding with the release of the latest desktop version of LibreOffice 7.6.3. The app enables efficient viewing of text documents, spreadsheets, and multimedia presentations saved in Open Document (.odt, .ods, .odp) and Microsoft Office (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) formats. It employs the same rendering mechanisms and algorithms as its popular desktop counterpart, LibreOffice.

However, this app might not satisfy the needs of more demanding users. At its current development stage, LibreOffice Viewer does not function as a full-blown mobile office suite. It offers read-only access to supported files, but does not enable their editing, even at a basic level.

Interestingly, among the configuration options, there is an experimental feature that allows for creating and editing existing documents. However, this function is not yet stable. Developers are still working on it, so it could possibly become available in the future.

Notably, LibreOffice Viewer was previously available on Google Play. However, in 2020, it was withdrawn due to lack of ongoing development. Since then, over 200 changes and improvements have been implemented to enhance stability, usability, and compatibility with current Android versions.