Amazon Appstore

Microsoft is working to bring Android 13 to Windows 11, along with a few new features like picture-in-picture (PiP).

As spotted by Windows Latest, Microsoft’s GitHub page for the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) includes a roadmap detailing upcoming plans for the WSA. The roadmap lists Android 13, as well as the following features:

file transfer
shortcuts
picture-in-picture (PiP)
local network access by default

The WSA, for those unfamiliar with it, is the foundation for running Android apps from the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11. Unfortunately, it’s not clear what this change will mean for the WSA. Likely, it will enable support for the latest APIs and any Android 13-specific features, but we’ll need to wait and see.

As for the other listed features, PiP is a standout. That should enable media from Android apps to display over other parts of Windows, but it remains to be seen how Microsoft implements the feature. Shortcuts may enable easier access to certain things within apps.

Unfortunately, the roadmap only reveals what Microsoft is working on, not how these things will work in practice. We’ll have to wait to learn more.

In other Android on Windows news, Microsoft recently expanded support to Canada and other regions.

Source: Microsoft Via: Windows Latest

Microsoft unveiled the Windows 11 2022 Update on Tuesday, which is set to bring several new features to Windows 11 PCs. However, one announcement that flew a little under the radar was that Microsoft was expanding the Amazon Appstore to Canada and other countries.

“Today, we are excited to share that within the next few weeks, the Amazon Appstore will expand to 31 countries – including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and more,” reads a line from one of the many announcement blog posts released on Tuesday. Moreover, you can view the full list of countries where the Amazon Appstore Preview is available here.

The expansion means that Windows 11 users in Canada will soon be able to access Android apps and games on Windows 11 through the Microsoft Store.

As part of the change, Microsoft says it made it easier to discover Android apps and games by adding them to editorials and search results on the Microsoft Store. Plus, you’ll be able to share links to your favourite Android apps too.

Moreover, Microsoft improved the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), which powers Android apps on Windows 11. Thanks to the improvements, users should get two or three times faster graphics performance with hardware accelerations, DRM video support, improved input handling for touch, mouse, and keyboard, plus network and security improvements.

To make use of Android apps on Windows 11, you’ll need to download the Amazon Appstore Preview first (unless you’ve got the technical know-how to install Android apps without it). You can do that by opening the Microsoft Store and searching for ‘Amazon Appstore.’

However, there’s a good chance that it won’t be available just yet. As mentioned up top, the Amazon Appstore will be available in the “next few weeks.” Moreover, you’ll need the latest Windows update and the right PC hardware. You can check the former by heading to Settings > Windows Update and checking for the Windows 11 2022 Update, while the latter can be verified by checking the system requirements on the Amazon Appstore page (you’ll need at least 8GB of RAM and either an 8th Gen Intel Core i3, AMD Ryzen 3000, or Qualcomm Snapdragon 8c or better chip).

Header image credit: Microsoft

Source: Windows Experience Blog