Emulator allows some GooglePlay apps to run on OSX

Cross-platform developer BlueStacks staged a mock "wedding" between Android and OS X at the Google IO conference, announcing the launch of a pre-alpha version of it's Android emulator for Intel Macs. The partnership is intended to bring Android-developed software to OS X, hopefully expanding the audience for Android apps. The "hoodie-casual" ceremony was held at 5:30 PM outside of the Google IO venue, the Moscone Center West and featured printed invitations, a "wedding" cake and chairs marked for either the "groom's" (Android) side or the "bride's" (OS X) side.

"People are spending a lot of time on their smartphones and want the same experience on all devices" said BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma. "Also, Android is struggling because of a lack of tablet applications. Developers now have an incentive to build hi-­res apps to work on the resolutions like Retina displays on the new [MacBook Pro], for example."

The Mac early launch includes 17 Android applications that run on OS X, and the homepage promises more application developers are being added monthly, but none have been announced. Applications available at start are Air Control lite, Alchemy, Basketball Shot, Drag Racing, Elastic World, Facebook, Glow Hockey, Guns'n'Glory, Paper Toss, Pulse, Robo Defense, Seesmic, Twitter, Whatsapp, and Zebra Paint.

MacNN downloaded the pre-alpha preview package for a brief hands-on and found the included applications to be functional, if a bit clunky. Framerates on the games were poor on a 2010 Mac Pro, and controls lagged behind actions slightly on action titles. Advertisements were present, but not entirely legible, and often cut off.

Neither pricing for the service, nor an official non-alpha release date has been announced. A version for Windows is available, and the company claims that it is compatible with more than 450,000 Android titles.

[Event photos via All Things D]

Glowhockey, running in player. Note cut-off ad.

By Electronista Staff

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