Microsoft has already announced its plans to help Android developers convert their apps so they work on Windows 10 Mobile. Now a document leak has revealed more information on those tools, which have the code name "Project Astoria".
The document, as posted by WMPowerUser reveals, among other things, that Android apps on their own won't need any modifications to the code when they are converted to Windows 10 Mobile apps under "Project Astoria". Modifications will be needed if an Android app used Google Play Services. The document also shows that Microsoft plans to release "Project Astoria" SDK tools for both Windows and Mac.
Microsoft is currently testing "Project Astoria" in an invite-only private beta with a number of Android developers, and plans to release a public preview version later this fall. Earlier this week, the company released an early version of its Windows Bridge for iOS tools to the open source community, with a full release planned for later this fall. Microsoft has already released tools that will allow web-based apps to run in the new Windows 10-based store, but tools to covert desktop Windows apps to the Windows Store won't be available until sometime in 2016.
Source: WMPU
Reader comments
Microsoft's plans to convert Android apps to Windows 10 Mobile revealed in info leak
Simple awesome
Friend of mine bought sony aqua bla bla bla with double quad core cpu with tone of ram bla bla bla and my 820 still eat his phone after 3 years having it... Really amazing wp-s!
If its successful , out would be great to see the faces of all windows haters
If it's really gonna work and companies like facebook and Viber will (probably, I hope) enable chat head and pop up notification on Viber.
Heheheh clash of clans boyzz
New launches??????
When is launch this future?
Nice
Patiently waiting for that day
I don't know this guys if today there is Nokia than they will never share there priority app with android and where Microsoft simply cant able to run there few simple app and games......whereas all Microsoft devices also not having a steady network connectivity its always fluctuates how can they brings android apps on windows
I really hope that this gets developers to bring over their apps.
Great
Awesome
So BlackBerry allowed developers to Port apps into BlackBerry World. After a poor showing, it led to sideloading, then APK installer directly using the device, and finally what we have today which is Amazon store. Not including the unofficial ways of getting Google Play.
It seems easier for W10 users such as myself to install Bluestack on my SP3 if I want these apps....which I don't.
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android on my BlackBerry Passport
Great idea
I want VSCo :(
I think the biggest mistake is when people compare high end devices. Most people use low end and mid range devices like Lumia 5xx or Galaxy S5 Mini or even lower end Android devices. I am prettey sure people with low end Android devices have problems with lag and updates. Google is trying to bring good user experiance to those devices with lower RAM requirements but I am not sure how are they doing. It seems to me that is where Windows has advantage and that is the MS strategy. Of course app number or better to say wide number of apps is crucial if an OS wants to have large number of users in all consumer categories (kid, teenagers, women,...) and MS is obviosly thinking about that too.
Will clash of clans take place in windows phone 10
could someone explain me some things?
why ios bridge is open-source and android bridge is not?
is true that ios converted apps could work on w10 AND w10M while android proted apps only on mobile?
So given Android apps can run in the background relatively free reign and this isn't allowed on WP. How will that work?
There will be no App gap ...
Am I the only one that has ALL apps he needs except Snapchat? That's the only app I'm missing. Well and maybe a Official YouTube app but I still prefer MetroTube
They said, with some Android developers... Guess one of them are Snapchat, as it's been reported that Microsoft had plans together with snapchat to bring the app to Windows. But this is just a theory
So. Everyone can convert an APK to a XAP without being a developer? I think it will be easy for non developers. Just a silly question
What app gap? The promised universal windows apps are now real and now this and ios bridge...... Microsoft is winning!
Hopefully this will attract more devs into porting apps to W10M
How much different idea is it from the executed porting to Blackberry? Until apps will be ported and cared for updates by developers continuously, it will be art for art - feasibility.
It is to be invitation for easier work. But if there will be no will...
I have read some comments as to why Android or Why IOS... Honestly, I really have no answer as to why anyone would not want a confluent eco system that MS is offering: phone, tablet, PC, XBOX, Band, Holo Lenz, One Drive, enterprise etc .... As well as x pollination of Android and IOS apps - on its way... Is it Microsoft's lack of Marketing ability to make the message clear to the consumer... is it a lack of trust ..... ? Odd... just some thoughts
I think because Microsoft is a little bit late compare to Android and iOS. Consumer already have devices using these 2, so when they are ask to port to another OS, it is maybe a little bit difficult change to other ecosystem
So this means Clash of Clans right?!
The most important thing for Microsoft is that they have to improve their app quality just like Android. I am the biggest hater of Android OS but we have to admit their app quality is much better than windows. Microsoft just make a best facebook app, and the game the change dramatically. They dont just make apps, they should workout to give users a better experience after shifting from Android or iOS!
MS's job to not to make each and every app the best.. Thats dev's job.. They're job is to bring apps.. If android apps works good on android it will definitely work good on WP too..
That means all my favourite android and ios games will be available in windows phone 10 mobile like clash of clans etc... Cool
Only if the devs are interested porting their apps/games to WP
I just hope people don't get their hopes TOO high over this.
"Modifications will be needed if an Android app used Google Play Services."
A vast majority of Android apps is linked to Google Play Services. Which means developers will still have to WANT to spend time working on converting and modifying their Android apps to run on WP.
at build conference a demo was made. those modifications you are talking about, are possible to be done in few hours. is just adding some line of codes. (if the presentation was true)
but the real problem is something else. rudy huin claimed that besides that no modification is required if app is not linked to gplay services (or some small modifications are needed), the porting tool is still meant for simple apps. i dont know why, but thats what he said.
So windows will b an open source :c
Huh? Bringing android apps wont make windows open source..
What about live tiles when a android app will be converted into Win 10 mobile App?
It will definitely be there, that's one of the key features of a windows phone app
It will only have icon and no live tile.. Later the dev can, by an update bring the live tile feature..
Does apple allow their apps to run on windows phone.
Hi friends I have a question. I have Nokia Lumia 520 which I update it with 8.1 denim update. Now my question is if I doing hard reset my phone then after reset my phone will be restarted then what happened will my have 8.1 denim update or it will be comes with initial windows 8 software...? Pls reply me friends. Thank you....!
It'll still remain in W8.1 Denim.... Don't worry.
Why would you ask that question here and not the forums FFS?
So after being burned on the app front for 5 years, people have to trust Microsoft with phones now and assume the ports will be available in a reasonable time frame.
GO PROJECT ASTORIA!!!
Surprised at the wmpu like title."MS plans to covert android apps".. Yada yada
I just hope that my credit unions release a windows phone app. I'm in the verge of going back to Android.
Ummm, there is official information here for all the "Windows Bridges" Microsoft is currently working on...
https://dev.windows.com/en-US/uwp-bridges
Good thinking
Well convert CoC anyhow!
Yes, I don't care if they port the Android of IOS version, just make it happen Supercell! :)
Title is wrong - covert should be Convert.
All of these comments and no one has mentioned that we're looking at a unicorn yet?
WC linking to WMPU???
These moments are like a double rainbow.
LMAO that's true! Often WMPU gets treated a second-class stepchild while WC gets all the credibility and klout. It's interesting to see this site link WMPU as a source of info
Hopefully we can get some Yahoo apps now.
I don't understand why more time wasn't given before windows 10 was release let alone windows 10 mobile so we could have had more available apps in the store
The appraoch actually makes sense; the ported apps wont work in Windows 7 (or below). Devs were already ignoring Windows 8/8.1 because of poor adoption. In order for the bridges to really convice devs to switch over, Microsoft needed to get as many people as possible over to an OS which can actually use the apps. Enter Windows 10, which is being adopted at a pretty decent rate. Also, the bridges support migrating ported apps to the Universal Windows Apps Platform, which means running on all Windows 10 enabled devices (PC, Phone, Tablet, Xbox, and potentially Hololens). Porting an app once, and having it run on several different types of devices is much more appealing than just having it run on Windows 8.1.
Also, it will take time for devs to adopt the use of these Bridges, they aren't just all going to decide to do it overnight. Many will want to wait and see how well the tools work, and how well ported apps are recieved by users (i.e. does it function as is expected, or is it a big mess?). Not to mention the fact that few (if any) devs would just port and publish. They will want to test out the apps first, which takes time.
Ahh, the "covert" in the title is a typo, I was totally blaming my reading comprehension skills for not understanding the sentence.
If Microsoft can convince major app developer on obth Android and iOS ends to port their apps to Windows 10, that will be one major leap for Microsoft's lack of quality apps~ Brilliant move~
Your point of view may be true, but it's better than having no app at all.
This OS is in a situation where everything must be done to ensure apps are ported! Just look at the Snapchat situation.... pitiful :(
Yaar first I thought Microsoft will eventually be aggressive in 2015 with all their tools then they said summer and now somewhere 2016 I know they working very very hard but they have most strongest employees in world so they should be more aggressive in order to launch this tools to ensure the developers I mean time is running now so fastly ... Virtual world is changing day by day so please Microsoft force me to believe you ya I still love you is well..
just need more confidence...
When is fall?¿
I really hope all this creates a major boost in our apps being ported. Obviously they need to win over developers but if devs don't want to port apps over even with this new software making it extremely easy.. Well then we'll know who the lazy devs are.
Yes. We could use some covert apps ;)
So the plans to convert Android apps was "covert" (See article title). :P
I'll have to peruse the docs, but at first blush there isn't anything here that wasn't announced at Build (I attended the Astoria session).
Is this conversion being done covertly or did somebody not check the spelling. Covert should be convert.
Soo can anyone push an app into this process or does it have to be the provider? Example: PlayStation app for ps4 . Sony would never put this on WP but could someone do it for them?
Technically, yes, but it would be a huge copyright violation, since you'd be redistributing third party software without the proper authorization. I don't get why this question gets asked so frequently.
Because some people might want to dev unlock their phones and sideload these recompiled apps . Makes a lot of sense to me
theoretically it's possible, but there will certainly be a process in place to ensure the submitter is the owner/creator of the app.
Will the converted apps be available in India?
Yes
*coverted (they're on the down low for now, shhhhhh....
Like all other apps, it will depend on what regions the developer wants their app(s) to be available in.
It takes some time til this fall has comes,will see.
Will these apps that are being ported have a live tile to show information?
I would assume no if they are simply just converting them over. But I'm sure the developer can easily tweak their code to enable live tiles.
Yes, that's right.
It's easy to switch to MS-service and to enable live tiles. (as demoed i think at build)
Yea, they demoed at build that devs can "easily" add support for Live Tiles, Cortana, and other Windows/MS Services. WHich will help make the apps a little more unique to Windows.
http://uwp.dev.windows.com/en-us/uwp-bridges/android/
I guess this is mainly to benefit Windows Phone. I can already run android apps on my PC using Bluestacks...
not everyone is smart enough to use bluestacks. they want to download from the store... so pc users benefit too.
Bluestacks is pure emulation. It lacks the ability to use certain hardware, such as GPS or Webcam. From personal expereince, apps also tend to run pretty buggy (not to mention slow and unreliably) in Bluestacks, as they can't take advantage of the actual hardware (limited memory, limited CPU, etc.). Apps ported via the bridges will be able to use Windows Services, access all the hardware on your phone/tablet/pc/Xbox, and will perform better as they will not be limited in terms of CPU and memory (like they are in the VM ran through the Bluestacks emulator).
Also, for those with lower hardware, Bluestacks performs terribly. My spouse has a laptop with 3GB of RAM, a 4th gen Intel Core i3, and Intel integrated graphics. Bluestacks struggles (and periodically crashes Windows) when ran on his machine. Not exactly an ideal solution.
Oh yeah bluestacks works horrible on my PC too. In fact, it never worked smooth.
But companies who don't want to make a windows app will still not make one. Take snapchat and their idiot ceo for example.
I won't be switching until the app gap is closed. There is no reason why it can't be closed if it takes so little effort to port it over, but some people are hard headed.
Because they don't want windows to grow. They fear!
Yeah,maybe.Another reason is WP grows up slowly in the passed 3 years.And windows 10 will help or hurt MS will see.
Another reason devs skip WP is also cause Microsoft asks 30% royalties, as google/apple, BUT with a 3% of marketshare... It s an easy math to choose where to go for a professional dev/company...
WP devs are enthusiasts who REALLY love WP, you can bet on it.
Apk are easy to decompile, very easy....That s how many devs reverse engineer private APIs.
And sideload is now opened to any device :)
1 + 1 = 2
Yep, I've been planning on decompiling snapchat, putting it through the tool and sideloading onto my 930. I'm hoping this will work, all I really need is a few apps that are missing
Maybe with a few arrangements, but absolutely possible.
It feels like Microsoft these days keep on having amazing, brilliant, innovative and industry leading ideas.... And then they take a million years to actually implement it to the general public, by wich time everybody has already moved on to the next best thing. Come on Miceosoft! You have what it takes! Just decrease implimentation time!!!
A milion years? They only announced this a few months ago, and the iOS one is already live, and the Android one is already in private beta and will be public in like a month or two. Gosh people are so impatient these days.
Its not about being impatient, it's about necessity, MS clearly knows they need apps, so this process needs to be running in full steam rather than wait till fall to release it so devs can start converting apps. It's not the end of the world but it should given to devs earlier, so that when Win10 mobile launches, we'll be able to enjoy adding these new apps to our collection ...and that is, if the devs even agree to covert them, which also looks like it will take time ...aside from giving devs time to tinker with this process, by releasing these earlier, it might make it more attractive for devs, knowing they can be a part of the Win10 Mobile launch.
Perhaps you missed the news awhile back about Candy Crush Saga for WP being a port from IOS using the tools Microsoft is providing. Here's an article from today on how Microsoft is Open Sourcing the tools which are now available on GitHub. I think it's safe to say they're working with developers and aren't going to just throw it over the fence and hope it works.
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2421163/microsoft-open-sources-ios-bridge-tool-that-enables-candy-crush-on-windows-10
Read my reply below. My point exactly, CC was nearly a year ago, so they should have done this with more developers back then, which i actually believe they did and will see those soon, but if not, then they have made a huge mistake not announcing it sooner and having it work for other devs as well. That's all im trying to say ...had Candy Crush not been released a year ago, I would by no means, then obviously it wasnt ready to be used or announced but it was.
This is full steam....Windows phone survived this long, I'm sure MS can spare 2 months more to ensure the final product is worthy of a Public release.
My point is why did they only announce it "a month ago" this should have been announced when Microsoft decided to create a platform called windows phone!! And it should have been pre installed and working at least with the launch of WP 8 !!
@Th3 l3LooD ..With Windows 8 it was a bit far fetched and management was also a bit more (dare I say) "arrogant," and thought everyone would just jump onboard.
------
@KickAssLumia I agree with everyone (below posts aswell) that something like thos should be done properly and not "half-assed" just to get it out ...and please dont misunderstand me, this IS a great undertaking and initiative by Microsoft that works even better than paying off developers, which usually results into an 'Instagram Beta' joke but all Im saying is, that MS should (and probably could have) put more resources into this project to get it moving faster. Dont forget, they had this working since Candy Crush was released, which was well over a year. Would have been wiser to announce it after Candy Crush was released (since that worked smoothly), maybe by now, we would have already had more apps happen that way.
----------
With all that said, I do have a feeling MS worked with more than just King for CC, and they were just saving those for when they reveal the flagship devices, and i also believe Instagram and Snapchat are some of those apps, BUT if they really just worked with King for whatever reason, then they missed an opportunity and were definitely not pushing this in full steam.
Why didn't you think of it at the launch of Windows 8 and tell them why are you telling them now
Because just like everyone else, we were all hopefully and believing in what they are doing, just like we are now. Nothing wrong with pointing out some mishaps.
^This. I appreciate their hard work and that they have taken initiative to do this but if anything they should already have devs using it so they can begin converting apps for W10, so that when they finally pull the curtains on the mobile OS or the flagship Lumia's, they would have a plethora of apps to announce which could only help with the headlines, they are going to get with the announcement of their first W10 Mobile devices/flagships
The necessity of more apps is important but don't overlook the possibility that if they put these tools out and they suck, then devs WILL NOT port their apps over. I know the waiting sucks but Microsoft has to get these right the first time.
Exactly! What they are working on is by no means simple or easy to occomplish. Others have tried to do somethign semi-similar, or create easy porting tools, but always fall short. In all honesty, Microsoft only has one shot at this; if they release the tools too soon (i.e. in a rushed, incomplete, bug-riddled form) devs will never give it a second shot. However, It is also true that if they wait too long, devs will look past it. But, seeing how the iOS and Android bridges aren't just for Windows Phone, but also for Universal Windows apps, which makes it MUCH more appealing to developers (and in a way buys Microsoft a little mroe time to polish everything up), regardless of the state of Windows Phone. Personally, I believe devs are less likely to consider porting strictly as a Windows Phone app or one app for Phones and another for PC's, but instead as a Universal App, as this allows them to target PC, Tablet, Xbox and Phones.
Also, I doubt they will have a "plethora of apps to announce" by October/November (when W10 Mobile is expected to launch). Even though the process is somewhat easy, devs aren't just going to port and publish. THey will need time to test. They wouldn't want to port an app, have it get terrible reviews/ratings, tarnish their image, and then try to do damage control for who knows how long. Additionally, plenty of developers will wait to see what others think of the tools, and what users think of the ported apps, before trying it out for themselves. It will probably take a few months for the bridges to really catch on.
What do you think private beta means? There are developers worldwide working with MS to re-compile their apps using tools provided by Project Astoria and then reporting back with problems they are having. If a work-around or fix is provided, thery assess if it is acceptable to their development sensitivities like time taken to implement workaround etc and then Microsoft decides whether they should pursue other more palatable options. When Project Astoria goes live, I expect it to do so with day-one editions of several prominent apps. Given the dedication MS is showing in this respect, I would expect no less.
Typo... Shouldn't it be 'convert' instead of 'covert' in the title and the 2nd last line of the article.
Covert:not openly acknowledged or displayed.
Only AOSP apps, like what you find in the Amazon App store?
Kind of. They basically have to convert google services like maps and games into Bing maps and Xbox live.
Will it be .apk to .xap/.appx converter or will it be a code converter?
It will be a hybrid(.xapk) lol just saying.
From what I understand you as a developer upload it as an apk but it's converted (it has the necessary components slapped onto it) into an appx. Oh, and please, let .xap die.
While they're at that it'd be better if they could also create a .xap to .appx convertor.. I don't understand why so many apps are still using .xap instead of .appx, I prefer not downloading the enitre app for an update and that it doesn't close the app (coz accidental back button press)..
Xap are Silverlight, appx Store apps.
John,
Change the title: it's not "covert" but "convert"!! We want to see the Android apps on Windows Mobile, not hide them.
lol true.
Covert - not openly acknowledged or displayed.
True, but that's not what they want to say here.
It would make an interesting new word meaning "change (both) together" (co- 'together' + vertere 'turn'). ;P
But that's still not what's described in the article.
Not just the article title, but elsewhere in the article too. And other articles, including one as recent as yesterday I noticed this typo. In fact, try searching the site for "covert" and not how many times it shows up, without any relevance to spying or secrecy. :-)
Title fixed. I'm not home so I can't look over the rest.
So now we can see ported fake apps and viruses in windows phones...
Complaints need to go out of the window. We need to grow. Just saying.
Do you mean complaints need to go out of the Windows? :P :D
Aha, sure... We already had fake apps though.
There are already fake apps in the marketplace, this process could very well open the proverbial flood gates and allow for more pirated / fake applications. You take the good with the bad, but hopefully Microsoft will get its act together with the store and currating it to exclude the many me-too and fake apps out there.
If the new OS becomes a haven for hackers to perfect their craft, viruses could pose a problem. If Microsoft addresses this accordingly and keeps their walls high and thick, perhaps the malware issue won't become a problem. You have to look at the future with ears and eyes wide open, and your mouth shut. Allow Microsoft to set forth the expectations they have for the OS and what will work / not work when it is released. As a consumer, it's our job to hold them accountable when they aren't meeting those expectations. Fact is, we don't call them out often enough.
they will go through same review process as windows apps
No, because, as the documentation states, only one ported app can be launched at a time without permissions to start new processes. So in mortal words, these apps will be in a sandbox.
Microsoft already clearly said before that when this process opens, they'll be heavily monitoring any new Android apps that get compiled over. I hope they actually keep their word on that.
They will run as natively as the News app does in Windows Mobile. Stop whining, will you?
How can you judge about whining by just going through one sentence....try keeping your crap to yourself....
These aren't ports actually. There is a difference
How about Microsoft releases set standards for developers that they have to adhere to, so we can avoid fake apps?
Thank you. Best thing
Posted via the Windows Central App on my Lumia 640 or using the Android Version which is free*
Have you see the Windows App Store. It's pathetic and crawling with fake apps some paid which is disgusting to actual developers. Get real
Posted via the Windows Central App on my Lumia 640 or using the Android Version which is free*
this is the link for the ported app video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIevF0_bIrc
I'm going to relay this information to every company who currently doesn't have a wp app once project Astoria is ready for primetime.
This^
Snapchat *cough*
Snap chat cough I spit
what about instagram from beta , official facebook by facebook . lolzz
Why?
Crapchat *sneezes*.
Just the worthwhile ones.
Snapchat soon will be diminished because of Kaboom app. Check or Bing that Kaboom app, and start to write to the developers so they can port over to Windows 10 and mobile.
Lol I doubt anytime soon
Posted via the Windows Central App on my Lumia 640 or using the Android Version which is free*
Good marketing plan!
Nice
And that's why they are called as Masters of software solutions
they have to do everything to save future of os
+1030
I agreed with you
Windows phones are faster and smoother but people still like lagging and sluggish Android phones.. And I don't know why..... My android used to restart thousand times a day and I threw it and bought Nokia Lumia 1020....
Well, my Note 4 is faster on every thing compared to my Lumia 920, which is also a fast phone. Don't get me wrong, i don't want to fully compare the Snapdragon S4 or whatever is in the Lumia 920 to the Snapdragon 805 but the times that Android are slow is over. Unless, just like x86 Windows, the user installs bloatware.
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android.
Come with your Note 4 to my 1520 ... To see how my beast will eat your LagBook in everything ;)
Seriously guys, acting like Android is still a laggy mess is just as bad as people who refer to Micro$oft. It does nothing but give a bad name to people who like their products.
I've a Surface Pro, 928, had an 8X, Nexus 7 2013, an S6, and probably soon to be a new Nexus 5. The experience on all of them is honestly great.
Recognizing that both Android and iOS have something that could improve Windows gives you the ability to push Microsoft to improve their OS even more.
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
Nope, it's still valid. Scrolling is pretty bad on droid, especially in web - even with an extremely superior CPU. I compared a html app with css3 transitions on a new droid and a lumia 520, and the 520 won with no lag.
If the apps can be optimized to run on a 520 (which shouldn't be a stretch) we should be quite pleased with the ports.
You know how I can tell you've never used a Note 4? I have both, so...
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
Most of it is Android and the crap they put on...my G2 was lagging with lollipop...installed custom rom which stripped out all the AT&T and LG crap and running the basics perfectly...before Lolipop, my G2 was faster than my 920, after, it was slower...get android apps running on WP device, I will go back to a WP
Yeah Android has its problems. I flashed a mx2 clone stb with ember(buildroot distro.) much better then the laggy jellybean & also chromiums certificates started to expire making any use it had null
Not sure why people are downvoting you so much @Credo93. Either people want to hold on staunchly to their beliefs or just haven't tried Android on modern devices lately.
Android on the Note 4 is pretty much completely free of lag, and things actually load faster in most situations due to both the processor and the continued evolution of Android.
And that is with Samsung's notoriously crappy skin on it. If you look back at the original 2013 Moto X that came out not too long after my Lumia 928, it runs a pretty stock Android 4.4 with no lag (ZERO lag) and loads apps faster.
I've been a WM/WP user since WM 6.1. I'm still using and rooting for the platform. That doesn't mean I should be ignorant or spread falsehoods about what else is out there.
Politics. You can't be pulling for one candidate and still think the other does anything well.
Or maybe, just maybe some of us have used modern androids and had major issues with them.
Free of lag? No it isn't. Try scrolling a large webpage, or any list with a large dataset.
EASY, BECAUSE THERE ARE JUST SO MANY BLIND FANBOYS HERE!
Problem is that a lot of times it's not the user installing bloatware. It's the carrier or OEM and you can't remove it. Plus, you don't always know what apps run in the background are doing. My wife's galaxy note 3 start getting popup advertisiments on the home screen and I could figure out which app was doing it. Only solution was to just uninstall all the games my son installed on it. Bottom line is that android takes a lot more work to maintain. It operates too much like a desktop OS and I don't need this kind of hassle on a phone. I bet the vast majority of people using it only customize the wallpaper and don't use any of the customization features.
Yo the Lumia 920 is an old fucking phone and you compare it with the Note 4? A high tier android phone which isn't even a year old? That's not even a fair comparison so it's logical your Note 4 with those specs are fast(er) still lumia 920 will beat any android with the same specs when it running WP8
I'm still amazed with the 920, but I do like the Note 4, especially the Edge. But as fast as the Note 4 is with native apps, it's the glitchiness and sometimes the design of the other apps that irritates the whole experience. It's in this area that I still find my 920 in comparison excels. One of the best examples is Subway Surfer...there is some issue with the advertising panel stalling the game on the Note 4, but since they introduced the advertising panel on the 920 it doesn't stall the phone. So even though SS loads faster on the Note 4, the experience is smoother on the 920.
What I'm wondering is what Google will come up with to try to prevent devs from converting
Due to lacking of knowledge
my android is very laggy ... going to the 950XL when it releases
This!
This generation of Android 5.1 devices running on lower end hardware like the new gen Motos and LG Leon like phones are catching up in the usability department ...
what amazes me is i broke my lumia 635 and didn't want to have to order a new phone so i just walked in and bought the tiny Lumia 435 from a target and just tossed my sim card in ... this little $39 phone with its tiny snapdragon 200 keeps up with all my email and music needs at an amazing rate .... it was just a band aid to the problem but i am just going to keep it until the new windows 10 phones come out in winter. the little phone that could.
I don't think it's doing too badly.....but every little helps
+930
Masters of the Universe LOL
It's indeed nice until a jerk like ZackTheWhatever comes and starts complaining with all his BS!
Give the guy a break. I think he just wants the same effort put into Windows phone apps versus someone just porting without giving it the proper treatment. I see both sides of the argument and I think what Microsoft is doing will help but I also just don't want an android app on my windows phone. I guess I've been spoiled by WindowsPhone, Android and Ios design is so boring to me. I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Yes Windows phone app design is quite beautiful and rich when compared to Android app interface..
Astoria 2.0 will fix android design issues too ;)
If Microsoft can't attract NEW phone users there may not be a PA 2.0. Do people want to run Android apps on an Android device or run Android Apps on a Windows for Mobile device? That's the simple choice non-W4M users have to make.
Problem is, there is just as much effort if not more. You still have to develop the idea, write the app, debug the code, and support it. With the bridging tool, NOT PORTING, you now have to add the effort of potentially making changes to support differences where one uses Google Play, as well as supporting the app on multiple OS's. This is not click a button and make money on Windows Phone like people think it is. Either Zach doesn't know this, or refuses to believe it because he's upset that he can't rewrite ideas other people have and make money off it in a small market like Windows Phone.
This commet is just silly. The work isn't yet done. Their job is to write software that will make those changes at he touch of a button. They can't do it? They just wrote windows 10. Which is harder?
You are so far off it's actually kind of sad. First off you're comparing writing an operating system to a utility that analyzes code in one language and completely rewrites it in another language. Not only are both incredibly difficult, both are so different, there is no accurate comparison. Second, I can pretty much garuntee that it's not the same group that built both, so even the difficulty of the two in comparison is irrelvant.
"a utility that analyzes code in one language and completely rewrites it in another language"
Project A doesn't rewrite to another language. It builds Windows apps directly from the same language that Android apps are built from.
It has been said in one of the articles, that MS wanted Android apps to run with zero changes to code and UI, like having custom Dalvik machine built-in. It's literally like having Android on our precious Lumias. I like the idea of converted iOS apps, almost similar functionality is already presented via a thirdparty tool (bing "Objective-C to C#.NET", can't remember it's name or URL).
So, this is why Zack's complaining. The platform might be flooded with Android apps and jerks like Instagram and Snapchat stick out their heads out of their butts to treat it with some attention, but the biggest concern is that Windows 10 will loose its authenticity and become another Nokia X. That's what Zack and me are really worried about.
There is something to be said about the metro designed apps. IOS and Android apps don't have the same finesse. This is my concern with the current MS crew, there seems to be a bias towards the IOS/Android design language. I kinda feel like they are so used to it that anything different confuses or irritates them so they revert, therefore design, to what is comfortable and familiar without regard to needed changes. The idea of the hamburger icon being up top of the screen. It was a stretch on IOS/Android, and it will still be a stretch on WP yet they still feel that this is good solution. IDK...having function buttons on the bottom close to your fingers still makes more sense.
What is a google play service?
Easiest way to explain it is a built in set of instructions for code to follow when called. If a person is making an app that uses maps, the developer can call on the maps google play service and a lot of the work is already done. Think of it as a tool provided to keep things loking and working the same across different phones and apps on Android. That's about as close as I can get without getting technical, I hope it answers your question.
Not all apps need to call google play. Amazon has thousands of android apps that don't require play services. Maybe you can't get gmaps but bing or nokia maps can be called correct? Its just a map after all.
That is correct, and when the calls to the respective services are made in a program, the utility is supposed to flag it and offer a suggestion to call on a similar Microsoft equilivent. So when all is said and done, you should end up with an app that works the same, and follows the microsoft best practices and design guidelines.
Works for me.