Microsoft's next try at introducing Android Apps support in Windows 10
Microsoft is working on introducing support for Android apps on its Windows 10 operating system according to reports. While this needs to be filed under rumor for now, as Microsoft has not confirmed this officially yet, the implementation could increase the popularity of the Microsoft Store significantly in the best case scenario.
According to Windows Central, Microsoft calls the attempt Project Latte, and it is designed to make it as simple as possible for Android developers to bring their apps to the Windows 10 ecosystem.
We have seen a similar approach in the past when Microsoft introduced functionality to create a Microsoft Store version of Win32 applications so that they could be published in the company's Store.
The all-in approach of making the Store the central location for all software needs has been abandoned some time ago by Microsoft as it became clear that it would not get enough traction to supersede Win32.
Microsoft did introduce support for mirroring the screen of Android devices on Windows 10 but the feature is limited to Samsung devices currently and requires that users have such a device at hand.
Support for converting Android applications to a format that can be downloaded, installed and run on Windows 10 natively would make this simpler, but it would require that developers convert their apps and games to the format supported by Windows 10.
There are other downsides, likely. Windows Central suggests that apps could not make use of Google Play services as Google prohibits use of these services in other environments. There are several possibilities in regards to this, a potential cooperation between Microsoft and Google seems unlikely, but Microsoft could consider creating its own version of it that developers could make use of. Another possibility is that apps that require Google Play services cannot be ported to the Microsoft Store; this would limit the number of apps that can be converted.
Closing Words
Support for Android apps could give the apps section of the Microsoft Store a much needed injection of content. There are lots of ifs currently that will determine the project's success or failure, e.g. whether Google Play services or an alternative will be supported, how easy conversions will be, how many developers will consider bringing their apps to Windows 10, and how many Windows 10 users will give the store a chance if Android apps become available. How many Android applications are worth porting over, and how many bring something unique to the operating system?
Lots of ifs and uncertainties at this point.
Now You: are there any Android apps or games that you would like to see on Windows 10?
I’d be curious how many android users worldwide also use Windows. Android phones are great in emerging economies and generally for those who don’t have the means or desire to own multiple devices.
Many US students are given Chromebooks or iPads for school and only own a phone otherwise. Gamers don’t count :)
So, not sure if this could be anything but a small niche desire.
@ULBoom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems
I guess if could/would port the Robinhood app to Win 10 I’d run it in corner. Can use the web site but its bit less neat displaying a list of stocks. Likely broker concerns might be a stopper too. Otherwise not that much on phone that desktop doesn’t do better. Thanks for notifying though in more detail than the news past few days on this.
Completely pointless. HarmonyOS about to make its debut on tabs and phones. Will eat away Android market share.
Nobody is going to care about it in all countries except china. Just have a look in q3, huawei fell 52% and xiaomi rose 38%. It is projected that it will fall 80% in 2021. Huawei is dying on tabs and phones worldwide, simple maths. What saves their complete downfall on tabs and phones is china sales. Android marketshare will fall only in china.
@Rocket
Being that this market is so huge, perhaps there’s a fluky niche for HarmonyOS to nibble on, at least in China Inc, as Huawei has little choice to do otherwise.
Would rather see Your Phone app upgraded to allow remote control of Android phone on Windows
So they are still pushing mobile crap on Desktop PC????? Seriously!!! Just make it Optional/Removable for those who wants less junk on their OS.
I don’t see how this would be desirable in the least? I can’t think of anything an app on a phone does better than a real program on a real computer?
I guess if you are really into some mobile game? I guess there must be a couple mobile only games out there that are so popular people would use this? I couldn’t name one myself but…
Breaking news: MS spends $1 billion to make an Android emulator. Microsoft is a joke.
I think this would be good for certain apps and games. I’d welcome this change on an optional toggle, much like WSL.
I don’t see the point as emulators are already doing this better. People mostly use Android emulators to play games, because they can set up controls, like WASD and stuff.
If Microsoft’s version of this doesn’t support these features or allow games to work better than emulators, because I’ve tried many emulators and the games run poorly and choppy, then nobody would use Microsoft’s version.
The only real value of Windows is Win32 (write your own or use someone else’s [freeware, shareware, whatever]). Being able to use Android apps or whatever else is the smallest of niches conceivable for Windows. Microsoft must think a whole bunch of enterprises are interested in this (so not the case).
yay for more crap.
I do use Android, but only a few apps – I don’t need many. Reading ebooks, an image gallery and VLC, which is far better on Android than on Windows (especially the Store version). These apps all are made for touch screens. I use WIndows on my desktop PC. So I don’t think these apps would work well on Windows – but I’d welcome Android app support anyway.
The Store isn’t attractive because UWP is such a regressive platform, the apps are less frequently updated than teh non-Store versions and in addition many apps include ads. The fact that you can get app updates rammed down your throat and then suddenly get ads (after the update, terms of use change) makes it worse. Apps aren’t properly vetted. I recently installed a media player which greeted me with a message that I have to subscribe to a fishy VPN network if I want to actually use it.
Ten years ago this would have been a way to help Windows Phone. Now, it seems pointless. There is no compelling reason to run Android apps on full blown Windows.