Have you ever used an Android app and wondered how cool it would be to use it on your desktop? If you have, then you’re going to love the latest Google app – ARC Welder – that will allow you to make the most of your apps directly on your desktop.
Google has long been trying to make Android apps usable natively in Chrome. For a short while this was possible by using Chrome and Google’s App Runtime for Chrome (ARC), but unfortunately it was only possible to use a few apps (Sight Words, Vine, Evernote and Duolingo). The method also required you to be either a Chrome OS user or know how to hack the system.
But the new ARC Welder lets you work with any Android app directly through the Chrome browser.
How to use ARC Welder
The great thing about the system is how easy it is to set it up. You just need to download the ARC Welder Chrome app, from the Chrome shop. Run the program and select either the zip file or APK of your chosen application.
Once you’ve uploaded your app to ARC Welder, you can select to run the app in portrait or landscape mode, as well as choose to go with either table or phone mode. You can then launch the app and run it on your desktop. In most instances, it works best in the tablet mode. You can also report any bugs you encounter while you are using the app. This will greatly enhance the future experience of running that and other similar apps.
The cool thing about the app is that you can use it in Chrome in any platform. It works on Windows, Linux, OS X and, obviously, the Chrome OS – all you need is the browser and the ARC Welder app.
Does it really run every app?
In theory, the system does run all Android apps, but, of course, not every app runs as smoothly as the others. When trialing a few shopping apps at VoucherBin, some of them functioned well and so did some of the top Android game apps.
You also need to keep in mind that the app was develop for developers to use, so the intention wasn’t to allow people necessarily to play their favorite games on their browser. As the app is still in Beta phase, Google Play services aren’t fully supported yet, which naturally limits your choice. But nonetheless, if you are looking for a cool chance to tinker with your Android apps, then ARC Welder is a handy little app to do that.
The app could also signal a future release of Android apps on the Chrome operating system. Since Chromebooks have been successful in providing a cheap alternative way to access the Web, getting your Android apps to work on the platform would greatly enhance the usability and functionality of these devices. So, if you are looking for a good deal on a Chrome OS and Android phones or tablets, checkout VoucherBin UK Stores for the latest offers and head down to Chrome Web store for ARC Welder.