Microsoft suspends emulator for Android apps on Windows 10 Mobile

In April of this year, during a developer event, Microsoft announced an ambitious plan to convert apps from other platforms, such as Android and iOS, to Windows in an attempt to close the gap in the quantity (and quality) of apps available in the Windows store compared to the competition.

These projects, which were dubbed by Microsoft as bridges (bridges), are known as islandwood (for converting iOS apps) and Astoria (for Android).

The main difference between these projects is that while iOS apps need to be compiled to run on Windows, which requires a lot of intervention on the part of developers, Android apps are just emulated on the system, which requires no – or very little – changes to the source code of these apps.

However, sources within Microsoft revealed this week to the Windows Central website that the Astoria project would have been suspended indefinitely for “not having gone as planned” by the company. The decision is not surprising given that signs of trouble with Astoria have been surfacing for some time now.

For starters, the project was never completely open to developers: it was necessary to sign up to test the conversion tools, which weren't ready yet. The discussion forums made available by Microsoft for these developers to send questions, problems and suggestions have not had interactions by company employees since September and not even company executives have touched on the subject.

Finally, the last builds do 10 Windows Mobile that have been tested by users enrolled in the program Windows Insider had the emulator responsible for running the Android apps removed, as well as the final version that is installed on new Lumias 950 and 950 XL and will be released for current Windows Phones starting in December.

Microsoft does not officially confirm the stoppage – or cancellation – of the Astoria project, so it is difficult to pinpoint precisely what were the reasons that led to the suspension of the program. Windows Central sources indicate that technical difficulties in implementing the emulator (bugs, instability and a lot of slowness) and legal uncertainty (intellectual property infringement, piracy) would be the probable causes.

Despite the Astoria's apparent failure, smartphone users and even Windows 10 PCs have reason to remain optimistic: the second bridge, the Islandwood project for converting iOS apps, has shown encouraging results.

Game developer King, which was recently bought by Activision Blizzard, confirmed that the games in the saga Candy Crush available this year for Windows were converted from the iPhone versions and it is speculated that the popular Monument Valley and Crossy Road have also come to Windows 10 in this way.

In addition to games, a new official app from Facebook for Windows 10 computers discovered yesterday, but which will only be released next year, is also being converted from the iOS app.

Although Windows smartphones can no longer count on being able to run Android apps in the short term, there may still be a way out of the lack of apps on the platform.

Update: Microsoft confirmed to the website Re/Code that the bridge for converting Android apps "is not ready".

Sources: Windows Central, Microsoft News, Channel 9, Re / Code.