Well in case you're wondering, if you use Ubuntu 8.10 that means you use Gnome 2.24.1. So no, you don't have it.
The good news is Gnome 2.26 includes many long-waited improvement in Brasero, Media Player, Empathy, Evolution, Epiphany, PulseAudio and more (read it here).

The semi-bad news is : it is available on next Ubuntu, the Jaunty Jackalope.
Although surely maybe you can use Jaunty Jackalope's repository and install it on your Intrepid Ibex, just remember it may break your current system. I haven't test it, so I am not sure. But based on my previous experience : installing from alien repository that is not intended for your particular version is prone to crash your system. Especially with major update like this,

So I suggest if you reaaaaally want it :

• install current Jaunty Jackalope,
  
• wait for stable Jaunty Jackalope which is just around the corner, or...
• wait someone with bigger balls and time to try installing it in 8.10 and survive to tell about it, or ...
• try it yourself

keyword : gnome 2.26, ubuntu updates