During the Microsoft’s BUILD keynote, Terry Myerson revealed that the software giant will enable developers to easily port their Android apps to the Windows 10 ecosystem, and to make them available to customers via the Windows Store.
It will all be possible thanks to a new Android subsystem that Microsoft is building inside Windows 10 for phones, which will allow the operating system to better understand Java and C++ code that has already programed to work with Google’s operating system. In addition, developers will be able to add more functionality, such as Cortana, Action Center, and Live Tile integration.
Furthermore, the software maker is announcing another big move by letting iOS developers compile their Objective C code within Microsoft’s Visual Studio to transform their Apple apps into a full Windows 10 app.
Microsoft hopes that the new move will result in more universal apps to appear in the Windows Store. Through the Windows Store, users will be able to easily install and uninstall apps, as they are sandboxed code that won’t leave any leftovers after they are removed.
In the past we heard of Microsoft contemplating to let Android apps run in Windows, but the new strategy is different, instead is moving towards letting users install Android apps on Windows phones. The new strategy is only to lure developers into build apps for the Windows ecosystem by doing only a few changes in the code they already have written for other platforms and easily convert those apps into Windows 10 universal apps.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].