Windows 11 can get native support for running Android apps thanks to a new Windows Subsystem for Android. But it’s not a Google-approved system, which means you might have to go through a few steps if you want to access the Google Play Store and all the apps there.
But it seems that Google is working on its own solution which can let you stream apps from Android phone not only to Windows PC but also to Chromebooks or Macs through a web app.
The folks at 9to5Google found two apps related to “multi-device services” in the recently released Android 13 developer preview for Pixel devices, and discovered that not only does it let you cast apps from your phone… but it does it without an old-school mirror screen.
Basically, the Pixel treats your web browser as a separate screen, meaning you can continue to use your phone for other things, while viewing notifications or interacting with apps on your computer. The apps actually run on your phone, but they’re visible in your computer’s web browser, which means you can use chat apps or any other app you want to use with a big screen, keyboard, and mouse.
It’s likely that Chromebook users will eventually get deeper integration into the operating system, without needing to open a web browser. This will allow you, for example, to see smartphone notifications on a Chromebook, then click the notification to open and interact with the associated app…something that would be difficult to implement with a web browser.
You can see more images as well as short videos showing the cross-device services in action on 9to5Google.
Pixel will be able to stream Android apps to your Chromebook/PC, here’s how it works [9to5Google]
Android 13 can let you stream Android apps to a Chromebook, for example, allowing you to chat with contacts using phone apps on a Windows, Mac, or Chrome OS device without installing a Chrome OS version. Here is a first version in action.
New Features Coming to Windows 11 Insider Preview Dev Channel [Windows Central]
Microsoft will be rolling out new features to Windows Insiders on the Windows 11 Dev Channel in the coming weeks, including support for app folders in the Start menu, taskbar tweaks, and app-enabled gestures. tablets to open start and quick settings by swiping up.
AMD Completes Acquisition of Xilinx [AMD]
As expected, AMD has completed its acquisition of FPGA manufacturer Xilinx in a $35 billion deal first announced in October 2020.
Mobile Linux news roundup (discussions on Plasma Mobile, postmarketOS and FOSDM) [Linux on Mobile]
FOSDEM 2022 took place earlier this month, and there was a whole trail advertising the open source developer conference focused on mobile devices. Most of the presentations are now live, and LINMOB has a great list of discussions worth checking out…as well as links to a bunch of other recent developments in the mobile Linux space.
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