Windows 10 needs to be compatible with Android apps

The recent emergence of macOS 11 and the M1 chip has once again made many people exclaim at Apple's ability to integrate its ecosystem. macOS 11 is compatible with applications on the iOS platform, which allows the ecosystems of Apple's desktop and mobile platforms to communicate and integrate with each other, and at one stroke improves macOS's ability in life and entertainment.

macOS 11 can run iOS apps

　　But in fact, Apple is not the only one that wants to connect the mobile platform and the desktop platform. Apple cannot even be called a pioneer. Before Apple, Microsoft has made many attempts, such as developing WM and WP mobile platforms, developing .NET cross-platform development technology, and promoting multi-platform universal applications such as UWP. However, Microsoft's efforts do not seem to have received much response in the market. WP has been declared dead, and UWP applications have always been difficult to become mainstream. Microsoft's influence in the consumer market is now confined to the desktop platform of Windows 10.

　　However, Microsoft wants to break through after all. Recently, there was a worrying news: Microsoft is seriously considering making Windows 10 compatible with Android apps in 2021!

Recently, Windows 10 has made interface optimizations for Android apps that cast screens from mobile phones. This may be a preparation for Windows 10 native compatible apps.

　　Apple's macOS is compatible with its own iOS apps, which is something we can imagine; Microsoft's Windows 10 can run UWP apps that are compatible with multiple platforms, which is also not difficult to understand; but now Windows 10 is planning to be compatible with Google's Android apps, what is the plan? In order to make Windows 10 have both desktop and mobile platform ecosystems, is it really necessary for Microsoft to do so? Today, let's talk about this topic together.

　　What is the matter with Windows 10 compatibility with Android apps?

　　First of all, we need to confirm that the news that Windows 10 will be compatible with Android apps has a reliable source. According to Windows Central, the project is called Latte within Microsoft, and it will allow application developers to bring their Android apps to Windows 10 with almost no code modification. Windows 10 will have a built-in Android subsystem to achieve compatibility with Android apps.

　　From a technical point of view, it is feasible for Windows 10 to be compatible with Android apps. If you have paid attention to the WP/Windows 10M system before, you should know that Microsoft has implemented an Android emulator (Project Astoria) in Windows 10M, which can run Android apps on WP phones. However, due to efficiency and other reasons, the corresponding version has not been officially pushed to users. But this also shows that Microsoft has actually completed compatibility with Android apps in the Windows system a long time ago. With the advancement of hardware, performance and battery life issues will also be greatly improved.

Microsoft has previously launched a plan to make Android apps compatible on the WP/Windows 10M mobile platform.

Windows 10M at that time could install and run Android apps through certain means.

　　In fact, Microsoft is not the only company that intends to use Android to provide blood transfusion for its ecosystem. Android itself is very suitable for third-party matching. Although it comes from Google, Android itself is divided into the open source AOSP (Android Open Source Project) Android open source project and the closed source GMS (Google Mobile Service). As long as the corresponding open source agreement is followed, anyone can use AOSP to create an Android compatibility layer, such as the Sailfish system and the recent Hongmeng system, which are compatible with Android apps.

　　Therefore, from both a technical and a business perspective, there is indeed no problem with Windows 10 being compatible with Android apps - AOSP allows Microsoft to do so, and Microsoft has indeed implemented similar features in Windows 10M. However, does this mean that Android apps will have a perfect experience in Windows 10? I'm afraid not.

　　As mentioned earlier, the Android system is divided into two parts: the open source AOSP and the closed source GMS. Microsoft can use the open source AOSP, but under Google's operation, more and more Android apps need GMS to run.

　　GMS, represented by Google Play Services, controls the key APIs of many apps. If you are not compatible with GMS, you cannot pass the CTS compatibility certification.

　　Globally, Google has allowed more and more Android apps to access the GMS ecosystem by controlling the distribution channel of the Google Play Store. For example, if an app wants to implement push notifications, it will use Google's GCM/FCM push notifications; if an app wants to implement navigation and positioning, it will access Google Maps; if a game wants to connect online, it will access Google Play Games... Without GMS, many apps will have incomplete functions, or even fail to work properly. This is why Huawei will face major challenges in the global market after being banned from using GMS.

　　However, Latte, a Windows 10 project compatible with Android apps, cannot use GMS services, and there is no hope of compatibility with GMS in the future - Google has never authorized non-Android systems to use GMS. For this, Microsoft needs to find another way to replace GMS by building its own API.

　　What is the purpose of Windows 10 being compatible with Android apps?

　　Microsoft's making Windows 10 compatible with Android apps seems to be an act of "aiding the enemy" in the eyes of many friends - is it too generous to make its own system the soil for the Android ecosystem? Microsoft is naturally not doing charity. In fact, Microsoft's operation of the ecosystem has been centered on "cross-platform" and "selling services" in recent years. Windows 10's compatibility with Android apps is also a product of this idea.

　　If you often pay attention to Microsoft's products, it is not difficult to find that Microsoft has almost become the "best developer" of major platforms. Microsoft has developed a large number of high-quality software applications on iOS, Android and even the most directly competing platform macOS. Microsoft has spared no effort to release its flagship software such as Office and OneDrive to other platforms, even more than its own WP platform.

This is the Android app released by Microsoft in the Play Store when WP/Windows 10M was declared dead, and it is more concerned about it than its own platform

　　Microsoft's purpose in doing this is obvious - to make its products cover as many platforms as possible, and then complete the transformation from "product" to "service". Through many products, no matter what platform you use, you can access the entire set of services provided by Microsoft. Whether using Android or iOS, you can edit documents through Office, send emails through Outlook sync accounts, and manage data through OneDrive. At this time, it doesn't matter what platform you use.

　　Windows 10 is compatible with Android apps, which can also play a similar role, but it is different. At this time, it is no longer Microsoft apps that serve the platform, but Windows 10 as a platform that serves apps. Although the development of Android apps is led by Google, as long as they can run in Windows 10 and users are willing to use Android apps in Windows 10, users will inevitably come into contact with Microsoft services built into Windows 10. From this perspective, Windows 10 is equivalent to a terminal that integrates Microsoft services and is compatible with more types of application software, which naturally increases the attractiveness of Microsoft services. Currently, Windows 10 has "My Phone" built in, which can run Android apps by connecting to an Android phone, making Windows 10 a service terminal for Android phones. In the future, Windows 10 will be able to run Android apps natively, but it will only save the step of having to connect to an Android phone.