Android applications on Windows: the big step forward from Microsoft


Microsoft has released an update for Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) on Windows 11 that fixes more bugs in Android/Windows cross-system support.

This update for WSA, version 2209.40000.26.0, brings improvements to camera support, clipboard stability, multithreaded performance, graphics streaming security, and package launching.

It also introduces security updates for the Linux kernel, general platform stability, and the update to Chromium WebView 105. It’s available on the Windows Insider Dev and Beta channels, according to Microsoft’s blog.

WSA consists of the Linux kernel and an Android operating system based on the Android Open Source Project

Microsoft claims that WSA has reached “version 1”, as one of its engineers put it on Twitter ahead of the new version’s arrival: “Windows Subsystem for Android is officially v1. 31 markets and more than 50,000 applications! What’s amazing is how easy it is to run these apps. They feel like you’re running a normal Windows application… WAPost, Kindle Reader (on my SurfaceGo3), and Subway Surfer are my favorites,” said Cory Hendrixson, a project development manager.

WSA consists of the Linux kernel and an Android operating system based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). WSA runs on a Hyper-V virtual machine, just like the Windows Subsystem for Linux. It must map the runtime and application programming interfaces of Android applications in AOSP (Android Open Source Project) to things like Windows inputs and graphics layer.

Microsoft has now checked off most of the features it aimed for WSA, but wants to add support for Android widgets, direct Bluetooth access, file backup and restore, file transfer, hardware DRM, picture-in-picture and USB. Android 13 support and default LAN access are also in its sights.

WSA has had limited success with Windows 11 users so far

Amazon is also continuing its support for WSA with Android apps for Windows 11 PCs from the Amazon Appstore.

Additionally, Amazon has opened its developer preview of the Amazon Appstore on Windows to all Android developers. According to Amazon, the store also has a catalog of 50,000 apps in marketplaces for Windows 11 users in the US, Japan, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Canada. , Australia and Germany.

Previously, Amazon had a closed beta for developers, and US Windows 11 users had access to around 1,000 Android apps.

So this is a big step forward, even though WSA has had limited success with Windows 11 users so far.

To go further on the subject of Windows Subsystem for Android

  • How to Install Android Apps on Windows 11
  • Want to run Android apps on Windows 11? You need 8GB of RAM but should get 16, Microsoft says

  • Source: “ZDNet.com”





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