Windows apps can securely run on your Chromebook, thanks to Cameyo

Lenovo Chromebook C340 11 Hero (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

Cameyo is now a Chrome Enterprise Recommended solution, which means that it has been optimized for Chrome OS.
With Cameyo, it's possible to access full desktop applications, including legacy Windows apps, through a Chromebook or the web.
Google recently launched a tool to convert older Windows PCs into Chrome OS Flex devices.

Cameyo is a Virtual Application Delivery (VAD) platform that allows people to access Windows apps from devices running Chrome OS and through the web. Today, the company announced that Cameyo has been named a Chrome Enterprise Recommended solution, meaning it has been optimized for Chrome OS and that it meets a set of performance standards.

While some organizations rely on complete virtual desktop solutions, others prefer to provide access to specific apps. Cameyo allows people to access legacy Windows applications and internal web apps on the best Chromebooks and through a browser. In addition to providing a path to access Windows apps on non-Windows hardware, Cameyo also provides security benefits. The platform has built-in support for HTTPS, single sign-on, and separation of applications from a device's operating system.

"Cameyo is helping businesses with Chrome OS remove roadblocks to accessing Windows apps and enabling enterprises with secure access to all the business-critical apps they need in a cloud desktop," said Senior Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group Mark Bowker. "Cameyo being certified as a Chrome Enterprise Recommended partner establishes Chrome OS and Cameyo as a strong joint solution for organizations that want to deliver secure cloud desktops without the burden of managing Windows desktops."

For those unfamiliar with Cameyo, the company has a quick demo of the service:

The main benefit of Cameyo is that it allows people to access full desktop applications through a browser, including devices running Chrome OS or Chrome OS Flex. In related news, Google recently rolled out a tool for converting older Windows PCs to run Chrome OS Flex.

Sean Endicott brings nearly a decade of experience covering Microsoft and Windows news to Windows Central. He joined our team in 2017 as an app reviewer and now heads up our day-to-day news coverage. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at sean.endicott@futurenet.com (opens in new tab).

3 Comments

There is a gap in the industry of cheap computers. Newer versions of Windows are too heavy for cheap cheap computers. Microsoft's attempts of optimising Windows for less tech-savvy users has been failed. Because of releasing of buggy version of Windows (even with insider programme) it has garnered much hatred. If Chrome OS can provide windows app support. It definitely can a viable alternative to Windows, at least in cheaper hardware category.
That is why MS created the Windows 365 virtual PC in the Cloud.
Take anything that can run a web browser, and it can access a full-power Windows 11 system in the cloud. Very little bandwidth required. On the Enterprise side, there is the WVD (Windows Virtual Desktop) in Azure (same thing but much more granular control of profiles and apps for Enterprise IT departments.) This is where all of it is going (especially in Education and Enterprise systems) low power Terminals (be they ARM-based Chromebook-like or even Tablets) accessing full-function (even GPU access for CAD, etc.) Windows Desktops from anywhere on the Internet.
My company has already rolled out a large WVD infrastructure to support all our contractors and remote workers. The only sticking point now is that the GPU add-on is outrageously expensive/month for our Engineers, but we expect that to ease as MS rolls out more back-end hardware to support that in multiple of their regional data centers (right now it's only supported in a small sub-set of the US.)
It is especially great for maintaining highly granular access for 3rd party contractors who may have God-knows-what running on their own PCs, while controlling both security and IP-leakage.
MUCH cheaper than purchasing new desktops/laptops/workstations every 5 years, and MUCH MUCH cheaper to maintain and secure. This is the PC version of Game Pass Premium where instead of renting out a XBOX Series X to stream your games from "The Cloud", you are renting out a Windows 11 Virtual Machine to host your apps and data (that is automatically kept secure and up to date with patches.) It's the future (and also the Past, back when TimeShare systems were all the rage and things like Plato were used in Education. Ahh, 3750 Terminals. Those were the days.......)
@Khaaannn well said.