How the computer runs Android software

According to statistics, the Google Play store has more than 15 million applications, of course, including a number of high quality hot applications. This can be done with the help of Google's Android Runtime for Chrome (ARC) official tool. If you don't know the tool or how to use it, take a look!

　　What is the Android Runtime for Chrome?

In simple terms, arc is a software package that lets users run Android apps in a Web browser.

The ARC was originally launched by Google in an effort to bring popular Android apps to the Chrome OS platform last summer. While many popular services already have Android apps, some of them don't have full-featured web apps, and arc is a potential solution to the problem.

Earlier this month, Google upgraded the arc to allow users to run Android apps in the OS X, Linux, and Windows Chrome browsers.

In a way, using arc is a bit like running a Java application in a browser. This virtual environment allows users to run specific categories of applications across multiple platforms. In fact, Java is the programming language chosen for Android application development.

ARC is still in beta, so users may experience bugs while in use, and some applications may not work properly. Although this version is primarily provided to developers for application testing, it may be tempting for ordinary users with adventurous spirit to try for themselves.

　　How to get the Android Runtime for Chrome

To run arc, you only need to install the latest version of the Chrome browser on your computer. If you are using Chromebook, Google's recommendation is to use the latest stable version of the system. Once you are ready, you will be able to obtain and install the Arc Welder Extender via the Chrome online app Store.

　　Run the application

Once you've installed the arc welder, you can run Android apps on your computer. But if you're not a developer, getting the application's APK file is a little tricky because you can't download apk directly from the Google Play store to your computer. Of course, you can download from a wide variety of Third-party app stores, but there may be a security risk in this way.

Alternatively, an alternative approach is to extract the application from the phone and copy it to the computer. In this way, you only need to use the APK extractor to apply. Google Play has many of these types of apps, and many of them are free.

After you have prepared the APK file, you need to start the arc welder from the application selection interface in the Chrome browser. The tool will require you to select the folder path to use to store the file when it is turned on. Once you've finished selecting it, you can start running the application.

The steps to start the application are very simple, you need to click Add your apk, then select APK file, and click Open. ARC Welder will ask you to open the application (horizontal or vertical screen mode, cell phone or flat mode, etc.), after the selection is completed, click the Run Application button.

　　Operating conditions

TechRadar uses a Twitter client application to test and gets a pretty good run. The application is relatively fluent on the 2012 MacBook Air, except that the text displays a lighter version of the page and sometimes becomes difficult to read. In the application of control, the mouse is not a problem to use.

However, in the use of the process, the application does appear a small problem, and forced to close. But as mentioned above, arc is still in the beta phase, and it is inevitable that this problem will occur at runtime.

　　Future goals

In a way, arc is a bit out of place in a world where native mobile apps have become normal and web apps fill most of the compatibility gaps. However, not every developer has the will to develop a web version of the application. For Chromebook users, having an extra way of running an application is clearly something they are happy to see. However, ARC should not have a significant impact on the application market in a short time.