LibreOffice 26.8: Standing Firm
The newest version of LibreOffice has launched, giving a playful nod to the AI frenzy. The Document Foundation has unveiled LibreOffice 26.8, presenting a press kit to GadgetLad. We won’t overwhelm you with specifics: the suite has been around for a while, and most Linux distributions already include it, even the uncommon ones. The release notes cheekily declare: “LibreOffice 26.8 offers professional typography, enhanced support for various writing systems, and zero artificial intelligence.”
No AI Permitted
Opposing AI in 2026? That’s bold. This decision arose from The Document Foundation’s choice to part ways with Collabora. We had a discussion with representatives from both sides, yet found TDF’s rationale less than convincing. A significant portion of the LibreOffice development is credited to Collabora’s developers. They were responsible for the robust Markdown support, remember. Despite this, TDF is casting a shadow on Collabora’s offerings with its own cloud-based solution. Meanwhile, Collabora has embraced AI fully in their CODE 26.04 release, much to our dismay. They assert that it meets consumer demands, but we appreciate TDF’s commitment to a local application focus.
Staying Local and Proud
LibreOffice remains steadfast as a native application on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It operates directly on your hardware, with no sneaky cloud storage. Your hardware, your software, your data – that’s what it’s all about. As reported by GadgetLad, TDF is also confronting the ubiquity of MS Office file formats. Their argument is sound, although practicality does factor in. In spite of their principled stance, the press kit included both .ODT and .DOCX formats. We dusted off an old MS Word on our Mac and took a look. Can’t deny, Word had the upper hand in aesthetics.
Exploring Alternatives
LibreOffice is undeniably a keeper. If you’re using Linux, alternatives like OnlyOffice and WPS Office are available. WPS may not be FOSS but it gets the job done. In China, Ubuntu Kylin has favored it over LibreOffice. OnlyOffice utilizes cloud technology but can operate locally as well. In the cloud arena, there’s EuroOffice from Nextcloud. If you’re open to investment or fancy a European flair, Softmaker Office might suit you. Nevertheless, LibreOffice is free and performs excellently. We’re advocates for staying local and eschewing AI.
What’s New?
Version 26.8 introduces a host of features: improved internationalization, support for a variety of scripts, enhanced paragraph formatting, and better accessibility with ARIA support. It’s offered in 120 languages. We often recommend MS Office users keep LibreOffice close; it’s quite skilled at recovering corrupted Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. If you have OpenOffice still lying around, toss it out and switch to LibreOffice without delay. OpenOffice is still in circulation, but less trustworthy than a questionable kebab.
LibreOffice vs. Collabora: A Slightly Awkward Situation
TDF’s tension with Collabora is a bit tense, since Collabora contributes more developers to LibreOffice than any other external source. TDF maintains two branches of LibreOffice: a stable release for enterprises and the current iteration with regular updates. A sensible approach would be guiding enterprise users towards Collabora for reliability while retaining the latest version for themselves. Unfortunately, TDF was not keen on our recommendation.
The Value of Tradition
In a world increasingly enamored with “AI” and cloud applications, LibreOffice may seem a bit retro. Yet, it serves as a vital resource, promoting the reuse of legacy tech rather than discarding it. Dismiss the so-called “thought leaders” – LibreOffice’s moment is now, more than ever.
Summary: No AI? No Problem!
LibreOffice 26.8 charts its own course, and we’re thrilled. If you prefer to keep it local while steering clear of AI, this is the suite for you. It’s free, it’s fantastic, and it has its priorities straight. Saving the world, one vintage PC at a time!
