JAKARTA - Microsoft is not complacent when it comes to systems that allow Windows 11 to run Android applications. On Friday, May 20, the US tech company announced an update that improves the version of Android that runs on computers and helps make apps feel more familiar running on PCs.
The Windows Subsystem Update for Android is currently only available to test Windows Insiders, but that might be a good thing.
The main improvement is an update to a version of Android that supports Windows' ability to run mobile apps. The current public release appears to be using Android 11, but the version Microsoft tested was running Android 12.1, aka Android 12L. This means that if you have something other than the latest Pixel, your computer is probably running a newer version of Android than your phone.
The update also brings improvements to how Android apps integrate with Windows. A pop-up message from the app may appear as a Windows notification now, and the taskbar will be able to show if the Android app is accessing your microphone or your location.
The company also says that Android apps behave better after you wake your computer from standby. Instead of starting over, they should continue where they left off.
Microsoft also said they completely redesigned the settings app you use to manage the Windows Subsystem for Android, grouping settings together and providing a "cleaner user experience."
The update also makes various improvements to how Android apps can access your computer's camera and has even improved networking capabilities so you can manage your smart home devices using Android apps running on your computer.
VOIR éGALEMENT:
While all of this sounds like a big improvement, you might want to hold off on trying to use the feature yourself for now. First, it's currently rolling out to the Dev channel, which is the bloodiest Windows Insider ring. This means that you are more likely to experience bugs and crashes when running Android apps.
To that end, as The Verge reports, Microsoft warns that upgrading to Android 12.1 "may cause some apps to fail to launch." Maybe that's not too surprising considering how rough the rollout of Android 12 was on mobile. The company says it is working with partners "to address this issue as soon as possible," so hopefully it will be fixed before it reaches consumers.
Even if the update isn't fully ripe yet, it's good to see that Microsoft is really putting some love into Android apps in Windows features. It could easily introduce it as something cool that came with Windows 11, launch it, and consider the project more or less done.
The fact that seeing the big changes in this update, makes it seem like Microsoft is committed to the feature for now. However, if it really wants to have a first-class experience, Microsoft needs to find an easier way to download apps from the Google Play Store, rather than the much more limited choice of the Amazon Appstore.
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