Is there news about Android apps on Windows 10 phones ??

[Pieter Comello]

Some time a go there was said Microsoft would ad the possibility to use Ios and Android apps. Lot's of news but nothing about this.

 

[charlatan1978]

There have been posts on this previously if you search the forums.
Microsoft will make it easier to port Android and IOs apps to Windows Phone.

 

[Pieter Comello]

Yes i know that but when, how, is ther news are there apps etc

 

[a5cent]

Microsoft isn't using anything to make apps. They "just" created tools so OTHERS could more easily port THEIR apps to WP.


There won't be a big bang were many apps suddenly appear in the store. All we can do is wait for new app announcements to trickle in, although that is still quite some time away, as the porting tools themselves are all still in beta.


Once such apps do arrive, we may not even realize that it is such a ported app. It's unlikely to be advertised and it won't be apparent in the store.

 

[MysticForce]

No news for this. Only Firefox said that they are making universal application.

 

[a5cent]

^ A universal app is not the same thing as an app ported from iOS or Android.

 

[charlatan1978]

^ A universal app is not the same thing as an app ported from iOS or Android.

Universal = app for all Windows variants (desktop, tablet + phone)
Ported app = IOS or Android app configured to work on Windows Phone (Won't necessarily work on Windows desktop, etc)
Does that sum it up?

 

[AndyCalling]

Universal = app for all Windows variants (desktop, tablet + phone)
Ported app = IOS or Android app configured to work on Windows Phone (Won't necessarily work on Windows desktop, etc)
Does that sum it up?

You forgot, a Universal Ported app would be an iOS or Android app configured to work on Windows (desk, tab & phone) and on Xbox. Also, non-ported universal apps work on Xbox too.

 

[a5cent]

Universal = app for all Windows variants (desktop, tablet + phone)
Ported app = IOS or Android app configured to work on Windows Phone (Won't necessarily work on Windows desktop, etc)
Does that sum it up?

Almost. I prefer to say that a universal app is an app that runs on MS' UAP (universal app platform), which will be available on W10 (desktops, laptops, servers, large tablets), Xbox One OS (consoles), W10M (small tablets and phones) and Windows IoT (Raspberry, HoloLens, etc). The UAP will become available on other devices and OSes too, over time.

EDIT:
At least in the public's eye, being a universal app implies the app will actually run across at least two of the groups I mentioned above (desktop + phones or XboxOne + HoloLens, etc). That's the whole point of a universal app. Technically, an engineer could argue that an app that runs on the UAP but lacks a UI that scales to different form factors is still technically a (unfinished) universal app. That's just not a useful way of thinking about it for consumers. For us, it must run on at least two form factors for it to be validly considered a universal app.

Apps ported from Android will apparently be phone-only, i.e. they can never be universal apps. Apps ported from iOS can potentially be universal apps, but don't necessarily have to be.

 

[charlatan1978]

You forgot, a Universal Ported app would be an iOS or Android app configured to work on Windows (desk, tab & phone) and on Xbox. Also, non-ported universal apps work on Xbox too.

Good point

 

[charlatan1978]

Almost. I prefer to say that a universal app is an app that runs on MS' UAP (universal app platform), which will be available on W10 (desktops, laptops, servers, Xbox One, large tablets), W10M (small tablets and phones) and Windows IoT (Raspberry, HoloLens, etc). The UAP will become available on other devices and OSes too, over time.
Apps ported from Android will apparently be phone-only, I.e. they can never be universal apps. Apps ported from iOS can potentially be universal apps, but don't necessarily have to be.

Ah yes, I forgot about all the other Windows platforms.
I expect someone else to ask this question again in the coming days, so will point them to this thread!

 

[Panos Athanasiou]

and dont forget this Tool is sure to release after the wp 10 releases

 

[realwarder]

Brownie Points for the first person to compile an Android build of Chromium onto WP10. Not because I have any love or desire to see it, except for the fact that it would then be a Google app on WP that some people will want and because being open source, Google can't stop it.

 

[dilanthaw]

From what I remember Microsoft said that they are making tools so that iOS and Android developers can easily convert their original apps into apps that support Windows 10 mobile

Sent from my SM-G530H using Tapatalk

 

[anon(3463402)]

Yes i know that but when, how, is ther news are there apps etc

Until Windows 10 Mobile is officially released nobody knows.

 

[MysticForce]

^ A universal app is not the same thing as an app ported from iOS or Android.

Ohh sorry wrong topic.