There has been more and more light being shed on the news that Microsoft is considering bringing Android apps to Windows in 2021. The solution is called Project Latte, which aims to run Android apps on Windows 10 with little to no code changes, and which will reportedly be powered by Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). If you want to learn more about Project Latte on Windows 10 then keep reading.
Despite Windows still being the most popular OS it is has struggled to attract modern developers, unlike iOS and Android. Microsoft does not have a popular mobile platform it can harness to move apps to its OS with native features, which is why it is increasing support for Android [1].
Presently Windows users can run Android apps on their computer via the Your Phone App, which is limited to Samsung users and isn’t a native solution. This leads us to Project Latte, which is speculated to be added to Windows 10 in autumn 2021.
Microsoft aims to explore new ways of bringing Android apps to its OS. Its current developments are similar to Project Astoria, which aimed to port Android apps to Windows 10 Mobile [2].
Project Latte is going to deploy a WSL-like subsystem for Android meaning it will run like an emulator but similar to a native Windows app.
The solution has gained support for GUI Linux apps and GPU acceleration; however, Microsoft will need to provide its own Android subsystem for the apps to run on Windows. This being said there is a possibility that the project will not be implemented in the end, like its predecessor Project Astoria.
The question of how optimized Microsoft’s software solution will be is yet to be answered. Furthermore, Project Latte is reportedly lacking support for Google Play services, meaning apps that require any API provided by Play Services will need to be updated to ensure proper functionality on Windows 10.
Project Latte would provide users with an improved experience and upgrade the Windows platform. Microsoft supports multiple app platforms such as UWP, Win32, Linux and more, with the addition of Android apps it would truly become a universal operating system.
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[1] ZDNET. (2021). Microsoft's next step toward embracing Android: Adding app support? [online] ZDNet.com. Available at: https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-next-step-toward-embracing-android-adding-app-support/ [Accessed 29 Jan. 2021].
[2] Gallo, K. (2016). An Update on the Developer Opportunity and Windows 10. [online]. blogs.windows.com. Available at: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2016/02/25/an-update-on-the-developer-opportunity-and-windows-10/ [Accessed 29 Jan. 2021].
[3] Bowden, Z. (2020). Microsoft's 'Project Latte' aims to bring Android apps to Windows 10. [online]. windowscentral.com. Available at: https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-10-project-latte-android-apps [Accessed 29 Jan. 2021].
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Wiktoria lives to create, she is a marketing postgraduate who loves social media and content creation. Customer satisfaction and driving engagement is at the heart of her work. She has worked with different clients including fintechs, affiliate marketing agencies and NGOs for over 3 years to grow their brands, as well as provide them with original and creative content. Since joining Blue Frontier, Tori has focused on content creation and social media marketing.
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