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Android-x86 Project – Run Android on Your PC

android-x86.org

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Re: Android-x86 Project – Run Android on Your PC

#21

Post by ypcx »

If you are one of those die-hard Linux fans who, like me, have been eagerly expecting each new Linux video driver release from AMD and/or nVidia, to be able to finally show our employer and everyone else that we can use Linux as our main machine, then these times are like living in a dream. (I don't really care that this Linux is labelled "Android" and has a Java "GUI", and I like many of the design decisions, e.g. for creating Apps.)

Needless to say, while the old proverbial "elephant in the room" (in the form of absolutely needing Microsoft Office on your Linux machine, or another Windows-only program) has been defeated[1], the new elephant in the room seems to be the necessity to be able to create native iOS apps on your machine, which is only practically possible on a true Mac system. I wonder if this is something that we tackle along the way as well.

[1]It is not entirely clear to me whether the Microsoft Office "tax" went away more because of the advent of Google Docs, or because people started to migrate their tasks to specialized web apps.

Re: Android-x86 Project – Run Android on Your PC

#22

Post by 616c »

So they are still working on 4.4.3. I assume this is a daunting task, but are they always playing catch up?

I do not say that dismissively. It is mind-blowing to me that they can port this to x86 (whether or not the toolchain supports it at this stage) and iron everything out with every major and minor release.

I see no mention of Lollipop or Marshmallow, but I am really curious.

Re: Android-x86 Project – Run Android on Your PC

#23

Post by fla »

rplnt wrote: post #15

But android is horrible, HORRIBLE, OS. Why would you want it on your PC. Only reason I can see is to run it in VM for development purposes. Should be faster than emulation.

It's pretty good for a phone, but definately bad for a desktop.

By the way, x86 VMs for development have been there for many years. It runs way better than their ARM counter-parts of course.

Re: Android-x86 Project – Run Android on Your PC

#24

Post by joelhaasnoot »

btzll wrote: post #17
joelhaasnoot wrote: post #10

If this is what you want - Android on your PC, you might as well use Genymotion ( https://www.genymotion.com/ ) - essentially a well packaged version that uses VirtualBox. Free for non-commercial use, $100/year for commercial use. Have new OS versions fast and easy to install Google apps/services on.

Genymotion's free edition has too many limitations. It's not just free for non-commercial usage. Some examples are: multi-touch and accelerometer, which are not supported in the free edition. Comparison can be found here: https://www.genymotion.com/#!/store

Sure, if you develop some sort of special app or specific game, or want to play something specific it won't work. But for 90% of use cases, Genymotion will work better than barebones Android-x86.

Re: Android-x86 Project – Run Android on Your PC

#26

Post by wila »

cblte wrote: post #14
rodgerd wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've run it on an old Centrino laptop. It runs quite well, all things considered (wireless and so on and so forth.

sounds quite nice. I am still running around looking for my power supply for my old lifebook here. I have a MacbOk G4 and a PowerBook G4 lying around. Not quite sure if I can install it on those machines.

No you cannot as this is an x86 version of Android, not a powerpc one.

Sounds like the lifebook might work though.

I installed this image about a month ago on a VMware virtual machine. Not sure if I did something wrong, but didn't really get far and after a couple of tries to install it, eventually I gave up and figured to spent my time on something else.

Re: Android-x86 Project – Run Android on Your PC

#27

Post by codemogul »

srikz wrote: post #12

ConsoleOS[1], a similar solution, got successfully funded on Kickstarter[2] last year. [1]: http://consoleos.com [2]: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mmv/console-os-dual-boo...

Or Remix, "the first true android PC" which just finished its run at Kickstarter 2 days ago. I went in for 1 for testing, they deliver in Oct 2015: http://www.jide.com/en/mini https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1123481999/remix-mini-t...

Re: Android-x86 Project – Run Android on Your PC

#28

Post by venomsnake »

616c wrote: post #22

So they are still working on 4.4.3. I assume this is a daunting task, but are they always playing catch up? I do not say that dismissively. It is mind-blowing to me that they can port this to x86 (whether or not the toolchain supports it at this stage) and iron everything out with every major and minor release. I see no mention of Lollipop or Marshmallow, but I am really curious.

Yes the do play catch up. We don't want those pesky free (in what you can do with them) mobile devices on well understood platfoms to treaten the sweet vendor lock in gig we have at the moment with arm. Or the carrier subsidy model.

Re: Android-x86 Project – Run Android on Your PC

#29

Post by johnchristopher »

Note that the project focuses on eee-pc. Latest 4.4 release still works on mine but the landscape/portrait mode is unnerving at time.

It's way faster than any ARM flagship tablet of the day though, except for HD video. I don't think it's brings enough on the table when compared to a `real' desktop OS such as Windows or Debian because it's not designed for keyboard at all.

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