Rumors about Windows Compatibility, Are they true?

Recently, I've been hearing a few people say after conferences that Microsoft plans on getting other operating systems apps to run on windows. I'm wondering is this true or on the road map? I haven't found any reliable sources.

The things I've heard have been like:

they will have Android apps run on Windows Phone
they will have iOS Apps apps run on Windows Phone

And eventually MacOS apps on Windows (but, that it will be a while).

Is any of this true? it doesn't seem like they'd waste their time on that.

Deleted74295

Why wouldn't they? Windows Phone is currently irrelevant because of the app eco-system.

If the developers won't come to the phone...then bring the apps to the phone.

I personally much prefer the Windows hand-set style to IOS but the lack of apps I use routinely stops me going there.

And if they can bring the mac app store apps to Windows, that'll only make it even better for Windows users.

JaredBusch

@Breffni-Potter said:

Why wouldn't they? Windows Phone is currently irrelevant because of the app eco-system.

If the developers won't come to the phone...then bring the apps to the phone.

I personally much prefer the Windows hand-set style to IOS but the lack of apps I use routinely stops me going there.

And if they can bring the mac app store apps to Windows, that'll only make it even better for Windows users.

MS announced port tools. Not the ability to run apps directly. It was part of the Build conference announcements.

http://www.wired.com/2015/04/microsoft-unveils-tools-moving-android-ios-apps-onto-windows/

I found these as well. Looks like Microsoft will be putting part of android in to the windows phone to allow the apps to use both codes as well.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/29/windows-10-platform-to-bring-more-android-apps-to-windows-phone

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/29/us-microsoft-windows-idUSKBN0NK1UZ20150429

scottalanmiller

Microsoft has always supported UNIX on Windows. What other OS is missing?

dafyre

This will be umm.. interesting... I've been thinking about upgrading my phone since it is more of a PDA than phone (I generally don't have signal anywhere I go... despite the fact that I live in an area that supposedly has "excellent 4g coverage" according to Verizon's map...

I have been on the fence about getting a Windows Phone that I can drop the Win10 preview on... just to see if it is worth it. I have spent time with all of the major mobile platforms, except for Blackberry (which I see as irrelevant now) and Windows Phone (I had Windows Mobile / Windows CE a long, long time ago, but that hardly counts).

@dafyre said:

except for Blackberry (which I see as irrelevant now)

You weren't missing much. We have full on BEZ and everything in it's time.

I think they will switch over to using android at somepoint if they stay around.

dafyre

@thecreativeone91 said:

@dafyre said:

except for Blackberry (which I see as irrelevant now)

You weren't missing much. We have full on BEZ and everything in it's time.

I think they will switch over to using android at somepoint if they stay around.

Ha ha ha. Yeah. I knew like one person who had a BlackBerry and he used it heavily . I don't know if he had the Enterprise stuff with it or not, but it very rarely gave him any problems... but yeah, as you ay: everything in its time.

I'd be interested in hearing from somebody that actually switched from Android to Windows Phone and what they like / don't like about Windows Phone (8.1 or 10).

@dafyre said:

@thecreativeone91 said:

@dafyre said:

except for Blackberry (which I see as irrelevant now)

You weren't missing much. We have full on BEZ and everything in it's time.

I think they will switch over to using android at somepoint if they stay around.

Ha ha ha. Yeah. I knew like one person who had a BlackBerry and he used it heavily . I don't know if he had the Enterprise stuff with it or not, but it very rarely gave him any problems... but yeah, as you ay: everything in its time.

I'd be interested in hearing from somebody that actually switched from Android to Windows Phone and what they like / don't like about Windows Phone (8.1 or 10).

I've had iPhones, Androids and now windows phone. I like the windows phone the best. It's lack of apps could be annoying right now but, I'm sure that will change. I don't use many apps so it's no big deal. the Nokia Lumia devices have the best cameras on any phone out. I also like how it handles music, somehow for me it's less annoying than the disorganized mess that is android, yet not restrictive, like iOS nor does it need itunes.

dafyre

@thecreativeone91 said:

<snip>...not restrictive, like iOS nor does it need itunes.

I'm on my way to Verizon in about 15 minutes, lol.

I've really enjoyed Android. However, if I have a device that will allow me to run apps from multiple platforms... I would probbaly try that out. If it is that bad... then I could always switch back to Android later.

JaredBusch

@dafyre Windows is not going to run native apps from other platforms. I have no idea where people are getting that idea.

Those articles all state clearly that apps with native will be able to be converted

@JaredBusch said:

@dafyre Windows is not going to run native apps from other platforms. I have no idea where people are getting that idea.

Those articles all state clearly that apps with native will be able to be converted

But they can publish them directly to the app store with little changes and use the android subsystem that will be in Windows phone. meaning almost no app wouldn't put it in the store just for heck of it.

"Windows Phones will include an Android subsystem," said Microsoft's executive vice president of operating systems, Terry Myerson. "There, an app can be written that takes advantage of the Android code, but also the extensions you would write in the Windows platform to really delight the Windows user."

nadnerB

@dafyre said:

I'd be interested in hearing from somebody that actually switched from Android to Windows Phone and what they like / don't like about Windows Phone (8.1 or 10).

Well, It took me a while to get used to it.

I initially made the switch as I wanted to upgrade from my ~3y/o droid. I didn't have the to shell out for a decent droid so I, at Mrs nadnerB's suggestion, looked into WP8.

The initial switch was a little difficult as the tile interface was midway between android's widgets and iOS' icons.
Email is fantastic, text messaging is pretty good (much better than the Android 2.x that I moved from).
I really like the phone call interface prior to a call (dial/answer) and mid call.
Internet Explorer is pretty stable, not so good for ML (not really tried other sites) as moving the cursor around to edit/copy text is pretty dodgy. This is my sole complaint.

Many people use UC Browser, this is just a skin for IE as is Maxthon and I suspect all the other browsers in the store are the same. UC browser is pretty but, in my experience, significantly less stable than IE.

I really, really like the Cortana app and it's integration into the phone. I can only get the Alpha release but that's still very good. Feels more Beta than Alpha. (It's a region thing).

The lack of apps is bordering on cliché but for a reason. I would expect to see significant improvement post Windows 10 release. I am hesitant to run Windows 10 preview as I don't want to put up with the potential bugs on my older phone.

The NFC works well but unfortunately, Android to WP & vice versa doesn't.

WP8.1 is a grand offering being hurt by the available 3rd party apps and it's lack of market share.
If I had the money, I'd be upgrading my Lumia 620 to a 640 LTE or a 735 (basically the same phone hardware wise) but I think it would be best to hold off until Windows 10 is released.

If I'm going to replace my 620, then I'm quite keen to have a phone with Continuum capabilities.

I may be making a temporary switch back to Android due to a nice bit of hardware being available for 10% of the original purchase price (<7months old) but I'm a bit uncertain if I will like Android again.

@nadnerB said:

Many people use UC Browser, this is just a skin for IE as is Maxthon and I suspect all the other browsers in the store are the same. UC browser is pretty but, in my experience, significantly less stable than IE.

This is the same on iPhone's. Safari is the only browser. Android is the only mobile OS that allows true thirdparty browsers. I think windows 10 may allow them on the windows phones though.

nadnerB

@thecreativeone91 said:

@nadnerB said:

Many people use UC Browser, this is just a skin for IE as is Maxthon and I suspect all the other browsers in the store are the same. UC browser is pretty but, in my experience, significantly less stable than IE.

This is the same on iPhone's. Safari is the only browser. Android is the only mobile OS that allows true thirdparty browsers. I think windows 10 may allow them on the windows phones though.

I hope so. IE is much better than the stock Android 4.x default browser but it's no Firefox or Chrome.

scottalanmiller

@JaredBusch said:

@dafyre Windows is not going to run native apps from other platforms. I have no idea where people are getting that idea.

Those articles all state clearly that apps with native will be able to be converted

I was wondering where that idea came from.

Dashrender

I highly advise against running WP10 at this point unless you just like pain (and apparently I do, because I still am).

I have to reboot my phone nearly daily for one reason or another.

Outlook crashes constantly - though, when it's working it's pretty good. Though I wish the nav buttons for Outlook were at the bottom instead of the top. On the Lumia 635 (small'ish phone) being at the top is no big deal, I can still reach it one handed with my thumb, but on a larger phone, no way, it will require two handed operation - and that will be frustrating!

I like the Podcast player - when it works. Like Outlook, it likes to crash often. Though to be fair, it seems to have the most problems when I'm starting/resuming a podcast when I'm in my driveway at home or work, the phone can still see the wireless networks at those locations, but barely. In this situation half the time I can't get the app to do anything.

FYI, don't uninstall the Podcast app to try to fix it. You can't redownload it from the MS store like normal (at this time). You have to hard reset the phone to get it back, learned this the hard way.

With the latest build something funky is really going on - the phone has started locking up completely and I have to pull the battery to get it to start over. Even long holding the power button won't power it down, instead I see the half covered screen that you are supposed to pull down to indicate that you want to shutdown, but it just hangs there too.

When I first started using Speech to Text it was great, then it suddenly stopped working. Even over a pushed out upgrade/update it didn't get fixed. I had to hard reset the phone to get it back.

I'm half tempted to roll back to WP8.1, but really I just want them to release the 640 XL so I can get that phone.

Yeah. That's why I'm still on WP 8.1 not WP10. I tried it for a few hours, and well I couldn't even stand the GUI issues.

Dashrender

The only GUI issue I have these days is that I can't pin the Podcast app to the main screen, otherwise the GUI works great.

garak0410

@Dashrender said:

The only GUI issue I have these days is that I can't pin the Podcast app to the main screen, otherwise the GUI works great.

The Podcast app in 8.1.1 for me is quirky, since going to Denim...it plays but doesn't stay running and it has problems playing 1.5x and 2x so I can skip commercials...