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Android Apps on Windows 11

blogs.windows.com

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Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#101

Post by mdasen »

Is this a good move for Microsoft? It feels like what IBM tried with OS/2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS/2#Windows_3.x_compatibility

IBM created a Windows compatibility layer. However, that meant that developers saw that they could write their programs once for Windows and OS/2 users would be able to use the programs. The reverse wouldn't be true. So there was little incentive to create native apps for OS/2 compared to Windows.

https://www.howtogeek.com/688970/what-was-ibms-os2-and-why-d...

> Also, OS/2 had a chicken-and-egg problem. Its best selling point was its compatibility with MS-DOS and Windows applications. However, this meant few developers took the time to write OS/2-native apps. So, why run OS/2 at all?

Do developers start believing that an Android app is enough to also court the Windows market? Android apps, even if they run "well" on Windows, won't be as well adapted to the Windows UX as apps intended for Windows. This isn't the case of Microsoft saying "you can now develop for Windows using the Android APIs." It's more, "you can now run Android apps with their phone UX (as submitted to a phone app store) on Windows."

I'm not saying that the feature won't be popular. However, it is potentially a weak strategy. Let's say that Microsoft makes Android apps on laptops/desktops popular. That makes it easier to market ChromeOS/Android-based laptops/desktops. If people see their apps as coming from Android and not Windows, why bother with the Windows license?

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#102

Post by staticman2 »

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?

Windows doesn't have a lot of great touch friendly apps since Windows 8 was a huge failure.

I could see myself using this if I ever bought a windows tablet.

For example, if you like comic books, the touch friendly comic readers on windows are pretty bad. Also the biggest comic store, Comixology from Amazon, is not available in a windows app version.

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#103

Post by kevingadd »

unnouinceput wrote: post #13
kipchak wrote: post #12

I wonder if Bluestacks will stick around as an alternative or if this will be the beginning of the end for it.

I gave up on Bluestacks years ago. Was too slow to start/load, had some graphic issues with some apps, overall a mediocre experience. Nowadays I use Memu, it's fast and way more flexible than Bluestacks ever was.

For me the biggest problem with Bluestacks is that apps crash frequently and at random on both 4 and 5. It's really baffling that it manages to be so low-quality compared to its competition when they all seem to be using Virtualbox at their core.

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#104

Post by kevingadd »

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?

Lots of games, and some apps/services are mobile-first. I play a few different android games on my PC in an emulator. The best (IMO) Twitter client around is also Android-only.

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#106

Post by MikusR »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #21

In classic Microsoft scattershot leadership, the preview is only available to Beta channel members, but not Dev channel members. Typically, new features would go Dev > Beta > RC > Final. This is going Beta > Dev > RC > release. Surprise - Dev channel members (who were there because they wanted Android apps as soon as possible) are pissed. It also doesn't help that Microsoft removed the ability to switch to the Beta c…

Dev channel is for what will become Windows 12.

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#108

Post by pbalau »

mdasen wrote: post #101

Is this a good move for Microsoft? It feels like what IBM tried with OS/2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS/2#Windows_3.x_compatibility IBM created a Windows compatibility layer. However, that meant that developers saw that they could write their programs once for Windows and OS/2 users would be able to use the programs. The reverse wouldn't be true. So there was little incentive to create native apps for OS/2 compar…

I think this is aimed at developers. "You can build your app for Android and can test it directly on Windows. Pick a Windows machine, not a Mac..."

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#109

Post by int_19h »

SahAssar wrote: post #10
gavin_gee wrote: post #8

(caveat i worked at MS for years but now don't) One of Microsoft's greatest strengths on show here. Embrace and extend. They made a mess of trying to build an app business with windows RT, Windows 8, windows 10. They can't get into the apple appstore ecosystem so they pivot to embracing the Android ecosystem to have an app catalog on windows. (Ironically what google did with Android was the play that Microsoft should…

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?

The current Windows Store doesn't have many good non-desktop apps. Even just getting a properly working Kindle app would be a pretty big deal.

Re: Android Apps on Windows 11

#110

Post by hirsin »

iamstupidsimple wrote: post #81
jrm4 wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ugh, this just came to me and I hate to put this deviltry in the air: But right now, kinda feels like Microsoft buys Steam or dies. (Maybe not dies, but "becomes IBM.")

Valve is a private company, I highly doubt Gabe Newell will ever sell.

Seeing as Gabe viscerally hates Microsoft, I imagine so too. Also, what's the appropriate P/E ratio for a money printer?
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