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Topic: Windows

ASUS to preinstall Bluestacks on PCs: Android on Windows

Summary: ASUS will be offering the ability to run Android apps on its Windows PCs due to a deal with Bluestacks. This has implications for Windows 8 as it allows Android apps to run out of the box.

James Kendrick

By for Mobile News |

PC-maker ASUS has signed a deal with Bluestacks to include its Android app player on ASUS PCs as reported by AllThingsD. Bluestacks makes it possible to run top Android apps on the Windows desktop. This deal has major implications for ASUS, Bluestacks, and even Microsoft with Windows 8 on the horizon.

The deal gives ASUS customers six months of free access to Android apps on their new Windows PCs.

The key to the success of any mobile platform and device is the availability of a wide assortment of popular apps. This is a hurdle that Windows 8 will face when it launches later this year, and ASUS may have the right formula with Bluestacks.

See related: Bluestacks Android app player for Windows (review) | Windows 8 Release Preview: Microsoft gets its apps together | Windows 8 from every angle: A closer look at the Release Preview | Windows 8 Release Preview: What's in and what's out | Windows 8 Release Preview vs. Windows 7: Benchmarked

The inclusion of Bluestacks on ASUS PCs running Windows 8 will give it the ability to run major Android apps right in Windows. This will be an advantage over other OEMs releasing Windows 8 systems, both laptops and tablets, that will rely solely on new Windows Metro apps to appear. This is a good deal for ASUS and Bluestacks, and Microsoft must be happy with it too.

Plume app (Android) running on Windows 7

When I gave Bluestacks a test spin when the alpha version first came out I was impressed with how well it ran Android apps under Windows. The entire process, from app download to installation, was smooth and largely pain-free. The apps I tested worked well on a Windows 7 laptop, and I can imagine how well they will run on a tablet running Windows 8.

The ASUS/ Bluestacks deal is not the first attempt to bring Android apps to another platform. RIM released the capability to run Android apps on its Playbook tablet, and it greatly enhanced the usefulness of that beleaguered tablet. Had it produced the Android player at the Playbook launch as originally promised, the tablet might have been much better received.

The ability to run Android apps on Windows 8 PCs may be a boon to the BYOD crowd looking to grab a tablet for the workplace. Being able to fill any Metro app gaps with existing Android apps will make that scenario much more palatable.

The cross-platform approach to getting apps in the box for Windows 8 is a smart move. The ASUS/ Bluestacks deal doesn't appear to be exclusive so don't be surprised to see other Windows 8 OEMs follow ASUS' move.

Topic: Windows

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11 comments
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  • This is good for Windows 8

    if lack of apps is a factor in the purchase, or non-purchase of a Windows 8 machine, then this removes any such issue as they can use the Android app until a Windows version becomes available, if they want to.

    Or go with the better version of the two.
    William Farrel
    Reply Vote

  • I'm curious about the usefulness of android on a PC

    James, could you give me an example of why people would want to run android apps on a full non-touchscreen non-mobile windows PC? I am an android fan, but I don't see any reason for it, other than the initial "this is cool" factor. I could see as a developer being interested, as the android emulator is slow, but that's about it. Android clearly is all about mobile small simple(er) touchscreen apps.
    deathjazz68
    Reply Vote

    • Tablets mainly

      I see this as mainly being a good choice for tablets, not conventional PCs for the reasons you have stated.
      JamesKendrick
      Reply Vote

  • ASUS to preinstall Bluestacks on PCs: Android on Windows

    No thanks, I don't want my Microsoft Windows 8 experience poisoned by linux.
    Loverock Davidson-
    Reply Vote

    • oh oh...

      I'm reporting you to Linus himself and he will not be happy with that comment. I hear he can kick serious butt!
      deathjazz68
      Reply Vote

      • I hear its his wife

        who can kick serious butt
        Loverock Davidson-
        Reply Vote

  • Finally, Kakao Talk on my PC!!!

    I was ecstatic several months ago when i started using MightyText. Then I discovered AirDroid, which gave me yet another option for standard SMS messages. But I live in Korea, so anything that will allow me to avoid using my thumbs to respond to Kakao Talk messages is not only a game changer...it's more like a major time-saver. Downloading now...can't wait to see how it works!
    abundantmind
    Reply Vote

    • In the case...

      You might want to try Youwave too. I tried them both and found I rather Youwave a lot more. Only problem is that it can't run apps that use Native ARM code; don't know if Bluestacks has this limitation.
      antigaprime
      Reply Vote

  • good for android too

    You didn't mention that it is good for android too, only saying its good for Asus, microsoft and bluestacks. Through the general popularity of windows, it adds further interest in developing android apps which benefits android users.

    So now MS might again benefit from android, along with the patent fees they already get. This is why I hate them, they only know brute force extraction of $$$ rather than being a good player in the open source world and benefiting from that over time.
    deathjazz68
    Reply Vote

  • Stop the presses!

    "It is worth noting that using Bluestacks requires having a physical Android device for getting apps."

    Cut from the article talking about bluestacks. So is a Windows8 device running Bluestacks considered a physical Android device?
    Net-Tech_z
    Reply Vote

  • Are not Android apps developed under a simulator most likely under Windows?

    NT
    JustDoIT
    Reply Vote
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