The older the crab, the tougher his claws
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Bluestacks will bring Android apps to Windows PCs
AN UPSTART SOFTWARE OUTFIT plans to offer a way to run Android applications on Windows PCs.
Bluestacks said that its software provides tools to run Android applications under the Microsoft Windows operating system on x86 hardware. The software supports mouse and keyboard input, as well as touchscreen systems and Windows tablets.
Rosen Sharma, CEO of Bluestacks said that the idea was born when an executive let his child use his mobile phone to play a game during a trip, only to find that the game could not be played on the family's home PC.
Sharma believes that the software will appeal to users who want to extend the reach of applications originally developed for mobile devices.
"All employees have Windows desktops but some of them might have BlackBerrys," said Sharma. "The choice is to buy an Android devoice for everybody or deploy the application for Windows desktops."
Bluestacks has a partnership deal with Citrix, and has been speaking with OEMs about deals to bundle the Bluestacks software with Windows devices.
Tim Bajarin, principal analyst at Creative Strategies sees a definite opportunity in the market for software that can bring Android software to Windows, and said that Bluestacks will have a definite appeal to businesses using Android tablets.
"You have a lot of individuals who are Android-based, and they get used to using these applications on their Android devices," Bajarin said. "There is the real question of why can't I have those same apps on a Windows laptop or desktop?" µ
A version of this story originally appeared at V3.co.uk.
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Looks like he wants to re-package the SDK for just running the emulator...
@linker3000 - Android SDK is available not only for M$ Windows, but for Unix/linux/BSD, and even (oh, the horror!) OSX. Get yourself some linux love, you can run Android emulated without Windows.
Actually Robert the Android OS is distributed under the Apache 2.0 license which basically lets you do whatever you want with the software as long as you maintain proper notices on credit and licenses upto the point you got it. In otherwords anyone can make an Android emulator for any reason and be completely within the license terms as long as they keep the proper documention in their distribution.
That said on a general note I don't see this being a good idea for a purchasable product. Given you can already download an emulator as part of the SDK and odds are there are plenty of non-profit groups, and possibly google themselves, who would be willing to make a free one that runs better then the SDK one if the public showed interest I can't see them making much money off this. For that matter given Android apps run on the java platform it's not a huge difficulty to adapt them to run on windows natively unless they make heavy use of the Android specific api's.
Why would Microsoft care more about this product than something like the Amazon Appstore for Android's "Test Drive" feature, that lets you run Android apps inside your web browser? What's more significant about this?
I assume that any PC-based emulator for Android included in an SDK is licensed for only software development use. That's the case with the others I've seen. Otherwise you could indeed install the emulator on your PC instead of buying the device that is emulated.
If it's a condition of my software licence that you stand on one leg whilst using my product, then you must use it that way only - although I'd probably get complaints and lawsuits from wheelchair users for instance. But you get the idea.
Rule of thumb - The guy being transported TO the other platform is one that is unhappy.
Microsoft will love this. Another reason to stay on Windows and not move to a GOOGLE OS.
(Chrome OS + Android) * on-desktops == not-Windows == gimmie
Now if only there was some way to remove the Windows part of the equation too.
Download the Android SDK and run apps on Windows now via the emulator. It's slower and there's no GPS, phone, or camera, but you can play most games and apps. This company just wants to market something thats already free and make another buck. I bet thier product is essentially the emulator repackaged.
Microsoft isn't gonna be happy? So! Droid apps on Windoze! I'm stoked.... where can I get me some Bluestack?