Ian McGurven looks at how to run Android apps on your computer
Virtualisation, the running of an operating system within another operating system, isn't a new idea by a long long way. In fact, for some operating systems it represented the only way of using one in a different environment. Windows, for example, was only able to exist on a non-x86 platform such as Mac OS by virtue of being hosted in a virtual machine. Virtualisation has come a long way since then, though, far from the curios of back then to business as usual for many, and virtual machine use in enterprise is common practice for loading separate 'servers' on to one single server.
It's not just for desktop operating systems, though, and recently Google itself added to the pile of methods with which the Android OS can be virtualised, with a Chrome extension called Arc Welder. How does it stack up to the competition?
BlueStacks (bluestacks.com)
Previously the leading Android emulator, BlueStacks is still a very capable emulator that is especially geared towards a simple, gaming-centric experience. Running on an older version of Android Jelly Bean, it's still pretty compatible, but BlueStacks promotes recommended apps that it claims work well on the platform. It's mostly games, but if you want a solid gaming experience that's easy to use, then maybe BlueStacks is for you. If you're after productivity and more, there may be a better alternative...
AndY (andyroid.net)
'AndY the Android Emulator' is the new kid on the block that many see as the usurper to BlueStacks' crown, and it's with good reason. Android 4.4 and a more rounded Android experience are the headlines here, so where BlueStacks is a one (impressive) trick pony, AndY may well appeal to those whose use of Android may extend beyond games. Home apps, WhatsApp and even rooting can all be done on AndY, and because it's running in an Oracle Virtual Box, AndY is even further tweakable for getting extra performance out on more powerful systems. Plus you can make copies if you want to experiment without losing anything. Some have noted, however, that the makers of AndY have connections with an adware company, though it's claimed there's no untoward software in AndY at all.
AMIDuOS (amiduos.com)
Better known for its motherboard BIOS code, DuOS is American Megatrends' Android OS environment for PCs. Running as a separate application, the user is supplied with a virtual device running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in an x86 environment. In use it's much the same as running Android elsewhere, though the age of the OS isn't ideal, and later revisions worked better on x86. However, it's easy to use, it's free, and there are simple instructions for installing Google Play services too.
Arc Welder (Chrome extension store)
And so to the newbie, Arc Welder. Unlike the previous examples. Arc Welder doesn't work as a virtual machine, requiring a full installation of the Android OS. It installs a large 43BM extension to the Chrome browser itself, from which you run the APK files themselves by adding them to Arc Welder. Yes, Arc Welder is a development application so no, it won't have Google Play to download from and yes, you'll need to go find the individual APKs for any apps you want to use. Not all work either, hit and miss being the order of the day. As a testbed for your own Android apps, it's fine, but don't expect a virtual Android environment.
So sadly Arc Welder isn't a simple way to run Android on your Windows tablet. What's more, the alternatives may be fine on desktops, but they also struggle on the lower specs of the current Atom-based devices, especially those with only the 1GB of memory. But it's a good start, and the next generation of Windows tablets, with more memory and faster processors, may offer Android a suitable virtual home, giving Windows 10 a very interesting card up its sleeve.