Android apps on our PC’s
With the recent release of Apple Macs and MacBooks powered by M1 that are capable of running iOS apps, it seems as if we will soon see something similar happen on the PC side of the fence. Microsoft’s “Project Latte” could see Android apps running on Windows, according to Windows Central.
So some of your reading would probably convince you that you can do this already. Yes, thanks to the Connect to Windows feature with the Your Phone app available on some Samsung Galaxy hardware, you can sort of do it. This execution is not always the most effective, with disconnections and problems that mean that the experience can be a little temperamental.
With very little extra work needed, Project Latte will effectively allow developers to port their Android apps to Windows 10. Plus, for developers looking to expand their installation base, this might also open up an expanded marketplace.
The use of the Windows Subsystem for Linux plus an added Android subsystem would require Android apps on Windows so that apps may actually run. Unfortunately, Project Latte is unlikely to support applications that require Google Play Services to run, if this comes to fruition. This limits the pool of applications that will be available immediately, at least before developers eliminate their dependency on Play Services to run.
Android apps are now running Chrome OS, although it took a long time to actually be introduced. So, with that in mind, it may take just as long for Android apps on Windows with Project Latte. Throw in the added space for problems and the implementation of Your Phone and Connection to Windows sounds a lot more appealing.
This also isn’t the first time that Microsoft has tried to bring Android apps to Windows, as the failed Astoria project is over 5-years-old at this stage. We’re not holding our breath for Project Latte, but according to Windows Central, a touted launch timeframe is “fall 2021” alongside the Windows 10 release around that period.
The bigger question is would you even want to run standalone Android apps on your Windows PC? Let us know down in the comments section below.
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Robert Haba is the founder and editor-in-chief of Droid Tools. A lifelong gadget enthusiast with over a decade following the Android ecosystem, he built this publication to cut through the noise and give readers honest, real-world coverage of the tech they actually use.
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