84 PCWorld JANUARY 2022F E ATU R E ANDROID ON PC
Android apps are a subset of a subset of apps
available for the operating system.
Winner: Chrome OSFUNCTIONALITY
Launching an Android app on Windows 11
will open that app in a standard app window.
Android apps function like Windows UWP
apps from the Windows Store. They work in
Windows 11’s various interface features,
including tab previews and Windows Snaps.
Apps can be resized and most scale well,
though 3D games stick to a smartphone
orientation. This can lead to weird results
when using Windows 11 features designed for
resizable apps, such as Windows Snap, as the
Android app won’t resize to fit the available
space and instead will be surrounded by
transparent borders.
Chrome OS also opens Android apps in a
standard app window, and each app can be
used like any
other Chrome
OS app. Unlike
Windows 11,
Chrome OS
locks apps to
smartphone
orientation by
default and the
window can’t be
resized. Some
apps will let you
switch to ain to Chrome OS) and you can immediately
download apps. Google Play will prompt
you to re-download apps you’ve previously
downloaded to another Chromebook,
which comes in handy when you switch
between machines.
Chrome OS has another subtle but
significant advantage: The Google Play store
is the only store on the device and the only
method for installing new apps (aside from
side-loading). Installing and managing
Android apps is simple because the OS
doesn’t provide an alternative. The Amazon
Appstore on Windows 11 is only accessible by
first using the Microsoft Store and manages
apps separately.
This area offers another easy win for
Chrome OS. Users don’t have to choose
between using a desktop or mobile app and
don’t have to juggle different stores.
Windows users will struggle with the fact thatDownloading and managing apps in Chrome OS is very straightforward.mobilism.org