Microsoft unveils Android apps for Windows 11 (for US users only)
- Reference: 1634749267
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/10/20/wsa/
- Source link:
The document, spotted by inveterate Microsoft prodder [1]"WalkingCat" makes for interesting reading for developers keen to make their applications work in the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA).
WSA itself comprises the Android OS based on the Android Open Source Project 1.1 and, like the Windows Subsystem for Linux, runs in a virtual machine.
[2]
This is currently on the Windows Insider blog. (Note the "LINK COMING SOON")
The brief note details how developers should set things up in Windows 11, deal with the inputs and outputs of Microsoft's wares and finally submit apps. The latter step requires the use of the Amazon app-store.
"Your device," warned Microsoft ominously, "also must meet specific Windows 11 requirements."
[3]
The document was rapidly followed by a [4]lengthier blog post detailing the tech's arrival for Windows Insiders.
[5]What you need to know about Microsoft Windows 11: It will run Android apps
[6]Microsoft rethinks the Windows application platform one more time
[7]Brave's homegrown search claims to protect your privacy but there's a long way to go if it's to challenge the big G
[8]If your apps or gadgets break down on Sunday, this may be why: Gpsd bug to roll back clocks to 2002
To kick things off, the Amazon Appstore (or an Android or Amazon app from the Microsoft Store) must be installed, which will also install the WSA. Once set up, a Settings app permits developers to adjust the platform, which includes options to disable hardware-accelerated graphics and choose whether or not WSA should be continually open in the background (and thus speed the opening of apps.)
Dev Channel Insiders on the bleeding edge of things might be forgiven for feeling a little left out, as - for the time being at least - the initial preview appears targeted at [9]Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel .
[10]
[11]
In addition, only US users with a US-based Amazon account need apply (so a simple switch of Windows region is unlikely to do the trick.)
Other elements for app developers to consider are mouse and keyboard input on Windows devices. Resizing of the app (since it will be in-window) also merits consideration. "Android apps running on Windows 11," said Microsoft, "can be freely resized, should be responsive in their resizing, and can be snapped using Windows actions/gestures."
[12]
As expected, ARM applications will run on x86-based processors, although at an as-yet unknown cost to performance. "For optimal performance please submit your application for the x86-64 architecture," said Microsoft.
Android applications on Windows 11 were trailed by Windows supremo Panos Panay during an occasionally wobbly stream unveiling the operating system [13]in June . Intel Bridge Technology was required to work the magic, comprising a runtime post-compiler to permit ARM apps to fire up on AMD and Intel devices.
[14]Amazon has also trumpeted the coming of the its Appstore (and a "limited selection" of apps) to Windows 11 today. ®
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[1] https://twitter.com/_h0x0d_/status/1450814023746867205
[2] https://regmedia.co.uk/2021/10/20/18_03.png
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YXCRkTzdiVHh4vbMGGhg-gAAAAk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/10/20/introducing-android-apps-on-windows-11-to-windows-insiders/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/24/microsoft_windows_11/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2016/04/07/microsoft_rethinks_the_windows_application_platform_one_more_time/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/20/brave_search/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/19/gpsd_bug_reset/
[9] https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/10/20/announcing-android-apps-on-windows-11-preview-for-windows-insiders-in-the-beta-channel/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YXCRkTzdiVHh4vbMGGhg-gAAAAk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YXCRkTzdiVHh4vbMGGhg-gAAAAk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YXCRkTzdiVHh4vbMGGhg-gAAAAk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/24/microsoft_windows_11/
[14] https://developer.amazon.com/blogs/appstore/post/fe7771ac-f2df-42be-ac51-eb7fe0df1b5b/amazon-and-microsoft-announce-next-steps-for-bringing-the-amazon-appstore-to-windows-customers
[15] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: "Android apps for Windows 11"
Go and learn about the Linux Subsystem and how it's completely different to "developing Linux Programs"
"Microsoft has further teased the arrival of the Windows Subsystem for Android by..."
... tickling its little nubbin?
is this new?
Aside from issues of convenience for the lay user, is this actually different from running the app in the emulator in Android Studio?
And why is it limited geographically? Is it just not very good yet and they want the initial tranche of bug reports to be in English?
Re: is this new?
I think it would have several features not in the emulator. For one thing, you should be able to run several things together, rather than just your one project. You can also run things that you don't have the source for, which also helps. And it should integrate better with the local system, for example by letting you share disk space between Android apps and Windows programs.
All that said, I can't think of why this is useful. I'm sure I'll download it when it's available in production because I have some time I don't mind wasting, but I can't think of any Android app that I want running on my computer. Most apps either have better versions for desktop which work natively or benefit from the features of a phone (my computer can't provide a GPS receiver or mobile connection, and it isn't pocketable). I'm more interested in trying to run desktop apps on the mobile device, to be honest.
Well hopefully this might get more app developers to submit their apps to the Amazon App store which is missing a lot of useful apps. And to get them to develop apps that don't rely on Google Play services so they will work on deGoogled devices.
The huge problem is that Android apps are for Android, adding compatibility for Windows 11 on a single country and being forced to use Amazon store seems like too much of a hassle when you can develop Android Apps for Chromebooks instead.
Developers don't have the time and money or motivation to change their Apps for Windows 11.
Whatever is the point? What can you do with an Android App that you cannot do with a Windows App?
On Chromebooks well is different because they do not have the thousands of programs Windows has.
"Android apps for Windows 11"
I do hope this just means that you can now also develop Android apps on Windows 11.
Which shouldn't be a news event since, if you can do so on Windows 1 0, I fail to see why it should be such a revolution to do it also on Windows 11.
And if you can't do so on Windows 1 0, why ?
This is just Borkzilla pushing 11 to the forefront.