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Joe Scotch January 1st 18 09:11 PM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
What free Android emulator do *YOU* use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?

In another thread, we found that nobody has ported a useful Android
open-source tool to Windows, where Andy Burns
suggested that Android emulation on Windows might work.
Is there an ad-free YouTube clone for Windows like NewPipe is for Android?
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!to...re/fLmXv99riaY

As many of us are ancient octogenarians, we've already tried almost every
emulator that ever existed by now - so - I simply ask one question here of
the people who *ALREADY* use Android emulation on Windows.

If you don't already use Android emulation, you probably won't be able to
answer the question I don't think.

However ...

If you do use Android emulation on Windows, what free emulator do you
recommend for running an F-Droid open-source tool such as New Pipe is?
https://f-droid.org/packages/org.schabi.newpipe/

(I will post the results of a RTFM in a followup but the question is not
what free emulators "exist" nor which are in the "top 10" lists - but which
free emulator *you* use that you like - and why).

The topic is:
What free Android emulator do *YOU* use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?

Joe Scotch January 1st 18 09:17 PM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
/nIn , Joe Scotch wrote:

(I will post the results of a RTFM in a followup but the question is not
what free emulators "exist" nor which are in the "top 10" lists - but which
free emulator *you* use that you like - and why).

The topic is:
What free Android emulator do *YOU* use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?


This is just the result of a Google search, which shows, as always, that
there is no consensus as to what free emulator is best for running F-Droid
APKs such as New Pipe.

If nobody uses Android emulation on Windows, then this thread will be
(thankfully) short in that I will likely (almost blindly) choose one of the
emulators listed below.

A very quick skim seems to show Nox as a good starting point, where, as
always, the immense cost of freeware is in all the work finding the good
ones.

Top 7 Free Android Emulators for PC Windows 7/8/8.1/10 | Run Android apps
on Computer PC/Windows 7/8.1/10
http://techapple.net/2014/12/top-7-f...indows-78-110/

1. Nox App Player
http://digitalmid.com/nox_setup_v5.0.0.1_full.exe
2. BlueStacks
https://goo.gl/boz823
3. KO Player
http://down1.koplayer.com/Emulator/n...1052-co020.exe
4. Andyroid Andy OS
https://goo.gl/AktCGi
5. Droid4X
http://droid4x.com
6. Windroy - The Android emulator with a Windows Kernel!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B72...it?usp=sharing
7. GenyMotion
https://www.genymotion.com

8 Best Android Emulators for Windows 10 to Run Android Games & Apps
http://windowsreport.com/best-androi...rs-windows-10/

1. Andy
http://www.andyroid.net/test/getandy...tner=winreport
2. Droid4X
http://www.droid4x.com/
3. BlueStacks
http://www.bluestacks.com/
4. AMIDuOS
http://www.amiduos.com/
5. Windroy
http://windroy.en.softonic.com/
6. Genymotion
https://www.genymotion.com/#!/
7. Nox
http://en.bignox.com/
8. Xamarin Android Player
https://xamarin-android-player.s3.am...ayer%20x64.exe

7 Best Android Emulators for Windows You Can Use
https://beebom.com/best-android-emulators-windows/

1. Remix OS Player
http://cn.jide.com/remixos-player#download
2. MEmu
http://www.memuplay.com/
3. Nox Player
https://www.bignox.com/#p1
4. BlueStacks
http://www.bluestacks.com/#gref
5. AMIDuOS
http://www.amiduos.com/ (30-day trial)
6. LeapDroid
https://leapdroid.en.softonic.com/
7. Genymotion
https://www.genymotion.com/
8. AndyOS (the author couldn't get this to work on his machine)
http://www.andyroid.net/
9. KoPlayer (the author couldn't get this to work on his machine)
http://www.koplayer.com/
10. Droid4X (the author couldn't get this to work on his machine)
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Mobile-.../Droid4X.shtml
11. Android Studio (official Android emulator bundled with the dev env)
https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html

12+- Best Android Emulators For Windows PC & Mac 2018
http://www.androidcrush.com/best-and...or-pc-windows/

1. Nox App Player
https://www.bignox.com/
2. Remix OS Player
http://cn.jide.com/remixos-player#download
3. BlueStacks
http://www.bluestacks.com/
4. GenyMotion
https://www.genymotion.com/
5. MEmu
http://www.memuplay.com/download.php...p&from=home_en
6. Andyroid
http://filehippo.com/download_andy/
7. Ko Player
http://www.koplayer.com/
8. Youwave
https://youwave.com/download/
9. VirtualBox with Android ISO
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
http://www.android-x86.org/download
10. Android Studio+IBk-s Emulator
https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html
11. Xamarin Android Player
https://developer.xamarin.com/releas...ndroid-player/
12. LeapDroid
(no longer available)

As always, all my threads are opened to advance our immense combined tribal
knowledge.

In summary, the topic of this thread is:
What free Android emulator do *YOU* use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?

Ralph Fox January 1st 18 10:03 PM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
On Mon, 1 Jan 2018 20:17:47 -0000 (UTC), Joe Scotch wrote:

If nobody uses Android emulation on Windows, then this thread will be
(thankfully) short in that I will likely (almost blindly) choose one of the
emulators listed below.



I run Android-x86 inside VMware Player on Windows.

Android-x86 http://www.android-x86.org/ or https://www.osboxes.org/android-x86/

I used the ISOs from android-x86.org, rather than the VM image from osboxes.org.


I am not using any APKs from F-Droid, so I can't advise on F-Droid compatibility.
Other APKs have worked fine.


--
Kind regards
Ralph

Simple Simon met a pieman, going to the fair;
Says Simple Simon to the pieman, "Let me taste your ware."
Says the pieman to Simple Simon, "Show me first your penny";
Says Simple Simon to the pieman, "Indeed I have not any."

Joe Scotch January 1st 18 10:29 PM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
/nIn , Ralph Fox
wrote:

I run Android-x86 inside VMware Player on Windows.

Android-x86 http://www.android-x86.org/ or https://www.osboxes.org/android-x86/

I used the ISOs from android-x86.org, rather than the VM image from osboxes.org.


I am not using any APKs from F-Droid, so I can't advise on F-Droid compatibility.
Other APKs have worked fine.


Thanks for this suggestion, borne of your experience, which I appreciate.

I don't think the APK source matters all that much - but I listed it
because that F-Droid New Pipe APK is what's going to be the testcase.

Since I am running VirtualBox already, I would likely use the Android ISO
you suggest with VirtualBox (because that would be more efficient for me).
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
http://www.android-x86.org/download

The web "android-x86.org" web page is confusing because it lists two
different links for the latest 32-bit and 64-bit ISO but each page seems to
have similarly 32-bit and 64-bit links so it's hard to tell which one to
use for a 64-bit Windows 10 test machine.

android-x86.org 32-bit link (but it has 64-bit ISOs):
https://www.fosshub.com/Android-x86....x86-6.0-r3.iso
android-x86.org 64-bit link (but it has 32-bit ISOs):
https://www.fosshub.com/Android-x86...._64-6.0-r3.iso

Other than the confusing array of ISOs to choose from, this seems like a
nice way to run Android APKs on Windows.

Is this the basic process?

1. Install & configure a virtual machine on the host OS
2. Download & save the Android ISO as the guest OS
3. Boot the Android ISO guest OS inside that virtual machine
4. Run the desired Android software inside that guest OS

If it's that simple, then that is likely the best way to go.
But if it's that simple - why do so many Android emulators even exist?

VanguardLH[_2_] January 1st 18 11:21 PM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
Joe Scotch wrote:

What free Android emulator do *YOU* use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?


https://appzy9.com/download-f-droid-apk-android-ios-pc/

Me (as in "you" in which do "you" use)? Nope, don't use any Android
apps on my Windows desktop PC so I don't need an Android emulator. The
above is how that person got F-Droid working for them under Windows.

Bluestacks
https://www.bluestacks.com/
(free)

From the appzy9 site:
Is F-droid Safe To Use?
F-droid is the best app for download applications and also update the
pre installed apps.

Comical response. Never addresses the question. Like most software
authors and content providers, they idemnify themselves; see
https://f-droid.org/en/about/ ("use it at your own risk").

From https://f-droid.org/en/docs/:
It is a community-run free software project developed by a wide range
of contributors.

From https://f-droid.org/wiki/page/Known_Repositories and
https://forum.f-droid.org/t/known-repositories/721, there are a couple
of official F-droid repositories. They do set some flags on some apps
(https://f-droid.org/wiki/page/AntiFeatures). 1464 apps have one, or
more, flags on them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-Droid says "The
F-Droid repository contains a growing number of more than 2,300 apps",
so either only about 64% have been analyzed or only 64% qualify for
having flag(s) set on them or some percentage of some analyzed apps have
gotten flagged. Impossible to tell how many apps have been analyzed.

Joe Scotch January 1st 18 11:41 PM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
He who is Joe Scotch said on Mon, 1 Jan 2018 21:29:18 -0000 (UTC):

Is this the basic process?

1. Install & configure a virtual machine on the host OS
2. Download & save the Android ISO as the guest OS
3. Boot the Android ISO guest OS inside that virtual machine
4. Run the desired Android software inside that guest OS

If it's that simple, then that is likely the best way to go.
But if it's that simple - why do so many Android emulators even exist?


Here's what I tried first, but Windows 10 hung when I tried it.

1. Download, install & configure VirtualBox (mine was already configured).
a. Find the latest stable version:
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtu...EST-STABLE.TXT
(5.1.30)
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/5.1.30/
b. Download the latest stable ISO:
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtu...118389-Win.exe
c. Download the latest stable guest additions:
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtu...ons_5.1.30.iso

2. Download the latest Android X86 32-bit ISO file (usually less than 1GB)
https://www.fosshub.com/Android-x86....86-7.1-rc2.iso

3. Setting up the VirtualBox VM may be tricky - here's what I tried:
Name: Android32b
Type: Other
Version: Other/Unknown
Memory size: 64MB
Create a virtual hard disk now.
VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)
Dynamically allocated
Virtual hard disk size: 2.00GB
Start
Select startup disk: android-x86-7.1-rc2.iso (681.00MB)
Start
Selection choice:
Live CD - Run Android-X86 without installation == I chose this option
Live CD - VESA mode
Live CD - Debug mode
Installation - Install Android-X86 to harddisk

The Windows-10 64-bit machine hung.
I had to kill VirtualBox to get my Windows mouse back.

Everything else was fine on Windows when I killed VirtualBox.
So, the Android ISO didn't work on the first pass.

Joe Scotch January 1st 18 11:45 PM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
/nIn , VanguardLH wrote:

From https://f-droid.org/en/docs/:
It is a community-run free software project developed by a wide range
of contributors.


Just to clarify ...

My only concern at this point in time is *how* to run an Android APK on
Windows - which is a valid technical question.

Seems to me anyone who runs Windows who has an Android smart phone "might"
want to know how to run those apps on Windows - just because they may also
have an app they like that is only on Android.

In my case, as I said in the OP, the only Android app I care to run on
Windows is New Pipe because it has functionality that isn't known to be
available on Windows in a single executable.

https://f-droid.org/wiki/page/org.schabi.newpipe

Paul[_32_] January 2nd 18 12:54 AM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for runningF-Droid APKs?
 
Joe Scotch wrote:
He who is Joe Scotch said on Mon, 1 Jan 2018 21:29:18 -0000 (UTC):

Is this the basic process?

1. Install & configure a virtual machine on the host OS
2. Download & save the Android ISO as the guest OS
3. Boot the Android ISO guest OS inside that virtual machine
4. Run the desired Android software inside that guest OS

If it's that simple, then that is likely the best way to go.
But if it's that simple - why do so many Android emulators even exist?


Here's what I tried first, but Windows 10 hung when I tried it.

1. Download, install & configure VirtualBox (mine was already configured).
a. Find the latest stable version:
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtu...EST-STABLE.TXT
(5.1.30)
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/5.1.30/
b. Download the latest stable ISO:

http://download.virtualbox.org/virtu...118389-Win.exe

c. Download the latest stable guest additions:

http://download.virtualbox.org/virtu...ons_5.1.30.iso


2. Download the latest Android X86 32-bit ISO file (usually less than 1GB)
https://www.fosshub.com/Android-x86....86-7.1-rc2.iso

3. Setting up the VirtualBox VM may be tricky - here's what I tried:
Name: Android32b
Type: Other
Version: Other/Unknown
Memory size: 64MB
Create a virtual hard disk now.
VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)
Dynamically allocated
Virtual hard disk size: 2.00GB
Start
Select startup disk: android-x86-7.1-rc2.iso (681.00MB)
Start
Selection choice:
Live CD - Run Android-X86 without installation =I chose this option
Live CD - VESA mode
Live CD - Debug mode
Installation - Install Android-X86 to harddisk
The Windows-10 64-bit machine hung. I had to kill VirtualBox to
get my Windows mouse back.

Everything else was fine on Windows when I killed VirtualBox.
So, the Android ISO didn't work on the first pass.


"Memory size: 64MB" ===

How many smart phones do you know, that are this small ?

You might want to check what the typical size
setting is for that. I don't know what a good value
would be, but you'd better try another value.

Paul

Ken Blake[_5_] January 2nd 18 12:56 AM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
On Mon, 1 Jan 2018 22:45:55 -0000 (UTC), Joe Scotch
wrote:



Seems to me anyone who runs Windows who has an Android smart phone "might"
want to know how to run those apps on Windows - just because they may also
have an app they like that is only on Android.




Maybe some such people do, but not me.

Joe Scotch January 2nd 18 02:21 AM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
/nIn , Paul wrote:

"Memory size: 64MB" ===

How many smart phones do you know, that are this small ?

You might want to check what the typical size
setting is for that. I don't know what a good value
would be, but you'd better try another value.


Thanks for that advice.
Normally there are default settings already set for things like Ubuntu and
Windows guest operating systems.
So I simply took the defaults (but for "other").

I'm surprised Android wasn't listed - but what I'll do is seek a tutorial
for how to get that Android ISO running inside of VirtualBox.

The support forum for VirtualBox is pretty good so I'll look there first.

Joe Scotch January 2nd 18 04:33 AM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
/nIn , Ken Blake
wrote:

Maybe some such people do, but not me.


Ummm.... OK.

I have no desire to wear a dress and frilly panties either ... but I don't
muddle a technical thread just to tell the world I'm not interested in
doing so like you just did.

VanguardLH[_2_] January 2nd 18 04:40 AM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
Joe Scotch wrote:

Seems to me anyone who runs Windows who has an Android smart phone "might"
want to know how to run those apps on Windows - just because they may also
have an app they like that is only on Android.


Maybe for some Android games. All the apps on my Android phone either
have a far more robust counterpart on my desktop PC under Windows 7 or
the Android apps are not applicable for use on my desktop PC.

- A compass app makes no sense on a desktop PC that never moves atop a
desk that doesn't move in a house that doesn't move.
- An app to detail the cellular signal and tower is not applicable on a
desktop PC without cellular components.
- Although I could use wifi to connect a desktop PC to the wifi
router/cable modem, I prefer wired Ethernet connections for security
and simplicity and highest bandwidth, so I don't need an Android app
emulated on my PC telling me the wifi details. Some users do use wifi
between their desktop PCs and their wifi router but there are are
Windows programs for that rather than using an Android emulator to run
an Android app.
- There are Android apps for MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote, and
Outlook. I prefer the far more robust desktop versions of those
programs. If I wanted free equivalents, I'd use LibreOffice for the
office suite, emClient for e-mail/calendar/tasks/contacts (I trialed
Thunderbird for 6 months but discarded it), and OneNote (which is free
to everyone under every supported OS, including Android and Windows).
- My desktop PC is not going with me on drives so none of the navigation
apps are applicable on it: Google Maps, Here WeGo, Waze, Gas Guru,
ParKING. I don't need Android nav apps on my desktop PC where I can
use a web browser to access the more robust web interface to those
services.
For example, I cannot report in the Android Google Maps app via
feedback an error or correction in a proposed route by Google Maps
but I can using a web browser on my desktop PC.
- I don't need any of the Android apps for shopping (Walmart, Target,
Home Depot, Menards, Cub, eBay, Amazon, Newegg) since using the web
browser on a desktop PC gives me all the functions of their web sites
instead of some limited subset of features through their Android apps.
- While the Adobe Reader app is on my phone, I wouldn't bother using
an Android emulator to run that on my desktop PC since there is a
desktop PC version of that program. In addition, I use PDF-Xchange
Editor on my desktop PC.
- I don't need a Speedtest app on my desktop PC where the web browser is
a better interface to their site.
- I have the Droid Optimizer app on my phone but it inapplicable on any
OS other than Android. Under other [desktop] OSes, I can actually
exit a program to have it actually and immediately unload from system
memory, not linger around in limbo awaiting another app squeezing it
out of memory.
- I have an Amcrest app for an IP camera on the phone but the web
interface on a desktop PC provides far more features than does their
Android app.

I could run wifi dialers on my desktop PC to make and receive calls
using my desktop PC but I don't have the need. While I have Skype on
the phone, I don't bother with it on my desktop PC. Otherwise, I find
Android apps to be poor cousins of far more robust software I can use on
the desktop PC under Windows.

Sorry, I don't waste my time on inane games designed to addict boobs
with endorphin stimulation, like Candy Crush. Personally I cannot see
the draw to those stupid games; however, I also find slot machines at
the casinos and the whole environ there to be visually and audibly
irritating, not pleasure stimulating. Instead of luring me in, they
make me want to get out.

I see no point in installing an Android emulator to run [more slowly
than on native hardware] an Android app (NewPipe) to supplant using a
web browser on my desktop PC to use YouTube. Maybe there are Android
apps for which there is no Windows counterpart to run on a desktop PC
but I haven't run across any of those that interest me. If I'm using a
desktop PC, I want more robust features and functionality than found in
Android apps, or use Windows software designed for that OS rather than
trying to intercede an emulator for lesser functionality in an app coded
for a different OS.

Just what do you get in the NewPipe app for Android that isn't usable
through a richer desktop web browser running on a desktop PC to use the
Youtube site?

In my case, as I said in the OP, the only Android app I care to run on
Windows is New Pipe because it has functionality that isn't known to be
available on Windows in a single executable.

https://f-droid.org/wiki/page/org.schabi.newpipe


Bluestacks is one choice already mentioned by me in my prior reply
(snipped in the quoted content in your reply to my reply).

Another that comes to mind is the Android SDK that includes an emulator.
It's part of Android Studio used by developers to use their Windows
hosts to do Android programming plus it allows testing under different
Android scenarios. Since you aren't doing programming but just want to
run an Android app, it's likely an emulator bundled in a programming IDE
is overkill for your needs so I didn't suggest it before. See
https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html.

Another is to use an image of the Android OS ran as a guest OS inside of
a virtual machine. Fox already mentioned that solution.

Now it's up to *YOU* to decide which environ under which to run an
Android app that really has no use on a desktop PC. There is better
software for PCs designed to run natively on that hardware+OS platform
than to emulate Android apps on an alien platform. For your example of
NewPipe, I don't see it is better to emulate it on a PC versus software
meant to run under an OS on the PC.

John Doe[_8_] January 2nd 18 04:43 AM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
Ken Blake wrote:

Joe Scotch wrote:


Seems to me anyone who runs Windows who has an Android
smart phone "might" want to know how to run those apps on
Windows - just because they may also have an app they like
that is only on Android.


Maybe some such people do, but not me.


Not me. The only thing that matters is the ability to transfer
files between various devices and my PC.

The idea of looking for an Android app that works on Windows
sounds silly to me, considering the excess of Windows' apps that
has existed for decades.

John Doe[_8_] January 2nd 18 04:44 AM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
Joe Scotch wrote:

I have no desire to wear a dress and frilly panties


Something tells me you do.

Joe Scotch January 2nd 18 05:20 AM

What free Android emulator do YOU use on Windows for running F-Droid APKs?
 
/nIn , VanguardLH wrote:

Seems to me anyone who runs Windows who has an Android smart phone "might"
want to know how to run those apps on Windows - just because they may also
have an app they like that is only on Android.


Maybe for some Android games. All the apps on my Android phone either
have a far more robust counterpart on my desktop PC under Windows 7 or
the Android apps are not applicable for use on my desktop PC.


Thank you for your detailed post which adds to our group tribal knowledge.

It's a good question to ask if there is major value in any Android app that
isn't yet on a single app on Windows.

Clearly the New Pipe app is one of those major apps, since many people
search and watch YouTube without paying the $10 per month (or whatever the
current subscription cost is) for YouTube Red.

- A compass app makes no sense on a desktop PC that never moves atop a
desk that doesn't move in a house that doesn't move.


This is true, as are many of the very nice mapping apps on Android like
OSMAnd~ or MapFactor Navigator, although some of them (particularly the
topographic mapping apps) might be useful on Windows ... although I do very
well with Caltopo, which I highly recommend for Windows backcountry
mapping. https://caltopo.com/map.html

- An app to detail the cellular signal and tower is not applicable on a
desktop PC without cellular components.


This is a good point, so, I agree in that I don't think the cellular wi-fi
signal such as that which we get out of the Android, such as Network Cell
Info Lite, or Netmonitor, or GSM Signal Monitoring, or MIT Cell Tracker, or
Cell Spy Catcher, etc.

- Although I could use wifi to connect a desktop PC to the wifi
router/cable modem, I prefer wired Ethernet connections for security
and simplicity and highest bandwidth, so I don't need an Android app
emulated on my PC telling me the wifi details. Some users do use wifi
between their desktop PCs and their wifi router but there are are
Windows programs for that rather than using an Android emulator to run
an Android app.


The main Windows program for that, I think, is inSSIDer, but the Android
apps do a nice job also, such as Fritz! WLAN (my favorite).

- There are Android apps for MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote, and
Outlook. I prefer the far more robust desktop versions of those
programs. If I wanted free equivalents, I'd use LibreOffice for the
office suite, emClient for e-mail/calendar/tasks/contacts (I trialed
Thunderbird for 6 months but discarded it), and OneNote (which is free
to everyone under every supported OS, including Android and Windows).
- My desktop PC is not going with me on drives so none of the navigation
apps are applicable on it: Google Maps, Here WeGo, Waze, Gas Guru,
ParKING. I don't need Android nav apps on my desktop PC where I can
use a web browser to access the more robust web interface to those
services.


I agree with you that almost any "editor" on Android would be best using
the Windows version anyway.

- I don't need any of the Android apps for shopping (Walmart, Target,
Home Depot, Menards, Cub, eBay, Amazon, Newegg) since using the web
browser on a desktop PC gives me all the functions of their web sites
instead of some limited subset of features through their Android apps.


This is also true, where the desktop browser suffices for most stores.

- While the Adobe Reader app is on my phone, I wouldn't bother using
an Android emulator to run that on my desktop PC since there is a
desktop PC version of that program. In addition, I use PDF-Xchange
Editor on my desktop PC.


Yup. The PDF stuff is best on a desktop.

- I don't need a Speedtest app on my desktop PC where the web browser is
a better interface to their site.


Yup. Speedtest is easily done on a desktop.

Otherwise, I find
Android apps to be poor cousins of far more robust software I can use on
the desktop PC under Windows.


You make a good case that it's the rare Android app that does something
"better" than a Windows equivalent.

I think New Pipe is the only one I can think of although I think some of
the sand timers are pretty good on Android compared to Windows
counterparts.

I think the Android app drawer apps don't have a viable Windows
counterpart, but I can't imagine how they would work on Windows anyway.

The SMS and visual voicemail interfaces on Android might be nice on Windows
though, don't you think?

Sorry, I don't waste my time on inane games designed to addict boobs
with endorphin stimulation, like Candy Crush.


Every day I try to solve a dozen technical problems.
Who needs games. Not me either.
I don't even do crossword puzzles.
Just fixing my car is a crossword puzzle alone.

Personally I cannot see
the draw to those stupid games; however, I also find slot machines at
the casinos and the whole environ there to be visually and audibly
irritating, not pleasure stimulating. Instead of luring me in, they
make me want to get out.


When I see a secretary (admin) playing solitaire, it makes me wonder whose
life can be so boring that they play games with themselves?

I see no point in installing an Android emulator to run [more slowly
than on native hardware] an Android app (NewPipe) to supplant using a
web browser on my desktop PC to use YouTube.


The main draw of New Pipe is the lack of in-video ads, but the other draw
is the lack of needing to log in, and the next main draw is the ability to
download and extract, and a further draw is the ability to play on any
player, where that player would have additional features.

All this can be done on Windows - but with separate tools and actions.

So the main draw of New Pipe is an all-in-one GUI that does what YouTube
Red offers, for $10/month or whatever it costs.

Maybe there are Android
apps for which there is no Windows counterpart to run on a desktop PC
but I haven't run across any of those that interest me.


Do you use K9 Mail? Lots of people on Android do.
How about Snapseed or Deep Art Effects?

I find the photo-manipulation software on Android incredibly easy to use
compared to, say, The GIMP or Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, etc.

If I'm using a
desktop PC, I want more robust features and functionality than found in
Android apps, or use Windows software designed for that OS rather than
trying to intercede an emulator for lesser functionality in an app coded
for a different OS.


I think the WiFi debugging and photo manipulation freeware on Android are
quite useful where it would be nice to find similar counterparts on Windows
that are better than Irfanview, Paint.NET, ImageMagick, Pinta, Sketcher,
etc.

Just what do you get in the NewPipe app for Android that isn't usable
through a richer desktop web browser running on a desktop PC to use the
Youtube site?


I think we can surmise that New Pipe is worth about $10/month to many
people since it's essentially what YouTube Red is (or thereabouts).

In my case, as I said in the OP, the only Android app I care to run on
Windows is New Pipe because it has functionality that isn't known to be
available on Windows in a single executable.

https://f-droid.org/wiki/page/org.schabi.newpipe


Bluestacks is one choice already mentioned by me in my prior reply
(snipped in the quoted content in your reply to my reply).


I'm currently testing the Android ISO inside of a virtual machine.
That seems to be the most direct method - although I've been failing but
probably only because I didn't follow (or create) a tutorial yet.

I'm sure I'll get it running though as there is no technical reason Android
shouldn't run inside of Windows.

Another that comes to mind is the Android SDK that includes an emulator.
It's part of Android Studio used by developers to use their Windows
hosts to do Android programming plus it allows testing under different
Android scenarios. Since you aren't doing programming but just want to
run an Android app, it's likely an emulator bundled in a programming IDE
is overkill for your needs so I didn't suggest it before. See
https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html.


Yup. That was one of the suggestions I found when I searched.
My plan is simple (and always is simple).
1. I'll try VirtualBox with an Android ISO
2. If that fails, I'll try Nox (which was often recommended)
3. If that fails, I'll try another one on the list.


Another is to use an image of the Android OS ran as a guest OS inside of
a virtual machine. Fox already mentioned that solution.


Yes. What I like about this solution is that I already run a bevy of
operating systems inside of the virtual machine so this would be just one
more.

I like the simplicity and directness of this solution.
KISS is good.

Now it's up to *YOU* to decide which environ under which to run an
Android app that really has no use on a desktop PC. There is better
software for PCs designed to run natively on that hardware+OS platform
than to emulate Android apps on an alien platform. For your example of
NewPipe, I don't see it is better to emulate it on a PC versus software
meant to run under an OS on the PC.


You bring up a good point that the software we run on Android "mostly"
already exists (in better form) on Windows.

This is a long post so I'll post separately the list of Android APKs I have
stored on my phone (they're automatically created and stored and archived
to Windows) where I think mainly the photo manipulators and calculators and
sand timers and some of the wifi debuggers and police scanners may be
better than those on Windows (along with New Pipe) - but not much else
offhand.


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