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Android Apps on Windows 11

blogs.windows.com

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Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#41

Post by lostgame »

unicornporn wrote: post #27
symlinkk wrote: post #26

What do people use features like this for?

Was just about to ask the same question. I can't come up with a single Android app I'd like to run on desktop. Is it just an app development thing?

Instagram and Snapchat want to say hi.

Even stuff like TextPlus that lacks desktop clients. I can think of quite a few apps I'd immediately grab.

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#42

Post by treesknees »

criddell wrote: post #38
unicornporn wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find that the argument embedded in that question isn't very insightful. The developments of personal computing since subscription applications became prevalent and app stores were integrated into operating systems has made things quite different from the era that preceded this one. Apple used to sell OS upgrades. Today you can basically run Windows 10 for free. The revenue streams are different these days and they…

Windows has essentially always been free. There have been something like two billion PCs sold running Windows. The number of people who purchased a non-OEM copy is relatively small.

But I believe upgrades have always been an extra purchase until Windows 8? Nowadays it's free OS, free upgrades to get you in the door and buy their services (M365 for Microsoft, iCloud/apps for Apple.)

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#43

Post by treesknees »

criddell wrote: post #6

I think Microsoft cares more about Android than Google does. They should work out a deal where Microsoft takes over Android.

What about this makes you think that? Microsoft cares about getting Android _users_, I don't think they care that much about the Android OS beyond their rather poor implementation on the Surface Duo.

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#44

Post by blacksmith_tb »

DeathArrow wrote: post #40
SahAssar wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Windows Android layer can only install from the amazon store and does not include any google play stuff, right? Is the amazon android app ecosystem that much better than the current windows store?

Probably yes. People don't like to use app stores unless they are forced.

Or maybe I'd even say "people don't like to use terrible app stores unless forced". Unfortunately, all of the commercial ones I have used are really terrible (gPlay, the Apple App Store, the MS Store), though at least on everything but iOS you aren't 'forced' to use them per se, just aggressively encouraged. It's kind of mind-boggling to me that none of them have managed to make an acceptable example, how hard can search + suggest be? Even when they implement wishlist/bookmarking, it's clunky and frustrating.

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#45

Post by n8cpdx »

open-paren wrote: post #5

I have a suspicion that they went with the Amazon App Store because it removes the dependency on Google Play Services. Is that just me?

That’s certainly part of the advantage, but I always wonder about the geography here. Amazon and Microsoft are both headquartered in Seattle (technically Redmond for MS, but it’s only a short drive). I imagine there’s a lot of cross pollination going on. They’ve also made noises in the past about integrating Alexa and Cortana, and it’s quite easy to turn a PC into an always-on Alexa device. Everything that makes sense about the Amazon collaboration would make more sense if it was a Google-Microsoft collaboration, except the geography and cross-pollination aspects. Surface Duo has play services and no one bats an eye.

That’s just my unfalsifiable hypothesis, and I’d like to hear other takes.

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#46

Post by doublerebel »

Requires use of Hyper-V... does this mean they will bring Hyper-V to Home edition? Seems like many users who would run Android apps are likely to crossover with the group of users who are not going to upgrade their Windows license to Pro or better.

Windows Subsystem for Android™... runs in a Hyper-V Virtual Machine, like the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#48

Post by Mindwipe »

bilal4hmed wrote: post #11
open-paren wrote: post #5

I have a suspicion that they went with the Amazon App Store because it removes the dependency on Google Play Services. Is that just me?

I would say Microsoft needed an Android store and Amazon wanted another large customer base for theirs. I bet Google had no interest in obliging for either of them

And Amazon has a lot of versions of popular apps with their requirements for Google Play Services patched out as it doesn't appear on FireOS (without a bunch of work by the user).

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#49

Post by wvenable »

SahAssar wrote: post #34
wvenable wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To answer your second question, very likely. Microsoft would have zero luck populating their own Android store from scratch. It's a win-win for both companies as they're playing second fiddle to the Google Play Store and maybe even the Samsung store. Attracting developers to submit apps requires a large market.

The question wasn't if it was better than a new, from-scratch store. It was if it was better than the current windows store.

The Windows Store would always be from scratch for Android apps. This is just adding the apps from the Amazon store into the Windows Store.

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#50

Post by vadfa »

doublerebel wrote: post #46

Requires use of Hyper-V... does this mean they will bring Hyper-V to Home edition? Seems like many users who would run Android apps are likely to crossover with the group of users who are not going to upgrade their Windows license to Pro or better. Windows Subsystem for Android™... runs in a Hyper-V Virtual Machine, like the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

They can bring Hyper-V to Home and only let you use it to run Android apps.
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