Anyone running Android on a pc?

mediax · 08-07-2013, 08:29 AM

Does anyone have any experience of running Android on a pc?

The reason I ask is that I'd like to read some graphic novels (from Amazon). Normally I'd use my laptop, but graphic novels aren't available for Kindle4pc. They are available for Android-based readers, so I could register my phone as a reading device to purchase the books.

The downside of this is that I don't particularly fancy reading graphic novels on a 4 inch screen! I've read about Android running on pcs, so I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on (or better yet, experience of) using this kind of arrangement?

miki2 · 08-07-2013, 10:45 AM

Have you tried this ?

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/48...ogle-guide.htm

or this:

http://gizmodo.com/5979019/you-can-r...ght-on-your-pc

LcLk · 08-09-2013, 02:19 PM

I would go with the second link, BlueStacks is an easy to use application (emulator really) which is more than sufficient for reading graphic novels in terms of performance, though I'm not a fan of running games on it.
http://www.bluestacks.com/

Jessica Lares · 08-09-2013, 02:42 PM

You might try booting Android directly with a Live x86 image. You can stick it on a thumb drive.

They've been doing generic builds for awhile, which they hadn't in the past few years. I ran an early build of 4.3 and it worked pretty nice on my MacBook Pro.

As long as it's a x86 build, it should run on any Windows/Linux emulator though.

I have a VirtualBox setup right now. You can get VB free here: https://www.virtualbox.org

And then just run it as a Linux distro, with 512MB minimum of RAM. You can get by with a 1GB virtual drive too.

mediax · 08-10-2013, 06:02 AM

Thanks to all for your suggestions and advice.

I'll have a play and see how I get on.

I'll be very interested to see if an emulated version can be registered at Amazon for purchases - otherwise the next challenge will be getting the graphic novels I buy from my phone to my laptop (which, of course, is another story entirely).

Ian

Jessica Lares · 08-10-2013, 09:37 AM

Shouldn't be an issue considering every time you have to re-install the apps, it registers it as a "new" device. I only have one iPad, but the Amazon sees the 10 reinstalls as "iPad 1", "iPad 2", "iPad 3", etc.

mediax · 08-10-2013, 03:01 PM

Bluestacks worked brilliantly for installing Android, installing and running the Kindle app. It synched nicely and I was reading books on my 'phone' in no time.

Sadly, this story doesn't have a happy ending. I downloaded a sample of From Hell (the graphic novel that has set me this challenge) with no problem, but when I click to read the book I get a 'Loading ...' message that disappears after a few seconds. And that's all.

As I say, it works beautifully for ebooks (including, most annooyingly, the From Hell companion which includes illustrations from the original!), but it looks like graphic novels might just be a step too far.

I'm very impressed with how well Bluestacks works and I can see myself using it even if I can't read graphic novels using it. That said, if anyone's got any ideas I'd love to hear them.

frahse · 08-11-2013, 05:21 PM

This is an interesting topic that exposed a few holes in my knowledge. I was glad to see it.

Are there emulators that will play iOS apps on a Windows PC?.

rdfry · 08-12-2013, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frahse

This is an interesting topic that exposed a few holes in my knowledge. I was glad to see it.

Are there emulators that will play iOS apps on a Windows PC?.

I doubt it, Apple would sue.

miki2 · 08-12-2013, 08:40 PM

I have seen something called "iPadian" which is supposed to be an iPad simulator for windows; I have no idea if it really works or not; sorry.
Good luck.

Jessica Lares · 08-12-2013, 11:03 PM

There is nothing that plays iPad games. There is a simulator that comes with XCode, but it's a SIMULATOR, not an EMULATOR.

frahse · 08-14-2013, 10:59 AM

Thank you all.

Another item on the list of things to try.

08-07-2013, 08:29 AM	#1
mediax Readaholic Posts: 255 Karma: 1058454 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Swindon, UK Device: Sony PRS-T2 (previously 505 and 650)	Anyone running Android on a pc? Does anyone have any experience of running Android on a pc? The reason I ask is that I'd like to read some graphic novels (from Amazon). Normally I'd use my laptop, but graphic novels aren't available for Kindle4pc. They are available for Android-based readers, so I could register my phone as a reading device to purchase the books. The downside of this is that I don't particularly fancy reading graphic novels on a 4 inch screen! I've read about Android running on pcs, so I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on (or better yet, experience of) using this kind of arrangement?

08-07-2013, 10:45 AM	#2
miki2 Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 1271879 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7", Nexus 7 (2013),	Have you tried this ? http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/48...ogle-guide.htm or this: http://gizmodo.com/5979019/you-can-r...ght-on-your-pc Last edited by miki2; 08-07-2013 at 10:48 AM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Mini-Laptop running Android 2.2?	crich70	Android Devices	11	09-07-2012 08:05 PM
Running android on microsd for nook TABLET?	thewriterkid	Nook Color & Nook Tablet	1	12-12-2011 01:18 PM
Touch Nook running Android!	Endo Monkey	Barnes & Noble NOOK	0	07-15-2011 12:22 PM
My free Android app blog is up and running	Nate the great	Android Devices	4	07-08-2011 09:16 PM
Can't get Android Market on NC running Honeycomb 3.0	pmlawson	Nook Developer's Corner	6	04-15-2011 02:50 PM

08-09-2013, 02:19 PM	#3
LcLk Aperture Test Subject Posts: 17 Karma: 594640 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Ireland Device: Kobo Touch	I would go with the second link, BlueStacks is an easy to use application (emulator really) which is more than sufficient for reading graphic novels in terms of performance, though I'm not a fan of running games on it. http://www.bluestacks.com/

08-09-2013, 02:42 PM	#4
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	You might try booting Android directly with a Live x86 image. You can stick it on a thumb drive. They've been doing generic builds for awhile, which they hadn't in the past few years. I ran an early build of 4.3 and it worked pretty nice on my MacBook Pro. As long as it's a x86 build, it should run on any Windows/Linux emulator though. I have a VirtualBox setup right now. You can get VB free here: https://www.virtualbox.org And then just run it as a Linux distro, with 512MB minimum of RAM. You can get by with a 1GB virtual drive too.

08-10-2013, 06:02 AM	#5
mediax Readaholic Posts: 255 Karma: 1058454 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Swindon, UK Device: Sony PRS-T2 (previously 505 and 650)	Thanks to all for your suggestions and advice. I'll have a play and see how I get on. I'll be very interested to see if an emulated version can be registered at Amazon for purchases - otherwise the next challenge will be getting the graphic novels I buy from my phone to my laptop (which, of course, is another story entirely). Ian

08-10-2013, 09:37 AM	#6
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	Shouldn't be an issue considering every time you have to re-install the apps, it registers it as a "new" device. I only have one iPad, but the Amazon sees the 10 reinstalls as "iPad 1", "iPad 2", "iPad 3", etc.

08-10-2013, 03:01 PM	#7
mediax Readaholic Posts: 255 Karma: 1058454 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Swindon, UK Device: Sony PRS-T2 (previously 505 and 650)	Bluestacks worked brilliantly for installing Android, installing and running the Kindle app. It synched nicely and I was reading books on my 'phone' in no time. Sadly, this story doesn't have a happy ending. I downloaded a sample of From Hell (the graphic novel that has set me this challenge) with no problem, but when I click to read the book I get a 'Loading ...' message that disappears after a few seconds. And that's all. As I say, it works beautifully for ebooks (including, most annooyingly, the From Hell companion which includes illustrations from the original!), but it looks like graphic novels might just be a step too far. I'm very impressed with how well Bluestacks works and I can see myself using it even if I can't read graphic novels using it. That said, if anyone's got any ideas I'd love to hear them.

08-11-2013, 05:21 PM	#8
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,315 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	This is an interesting topic that exposed a few holes in my knowledge. I was glad to see it. Are there emulators that will play iOS apps on a Windows PC?.

08-12-2013, 08:40 PM	#10
miki2 Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 1271879 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7", Nexus 7 (2013),	I have seen something called "iPadian" which is supposed to be an iPad simulator for windows; I have no idea if it really works or not; sorry. Good luck.

08-12-2013, 11:03 PM	#11
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	There is nothing that plays iPad games. There is a simulator that comes with XCode, but it's a SIMULATOR, not an EMULATOR.

08-14-2013, 10:59 AM	#12
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,315 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	Thank you all. Another item on the list of things to try.

Advert

Advert