14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is working hard on closing the gap between phones and PCs, and the debut of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update represents a major step in this direction.
The software giant announced substantial updates for the Your Phone app, including a new feature called app mirroring that would essentially enable users to run Android apps on PCs.
Your Phone has been in beta testing as part of the Windows Insider program, and with the debut of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, it becomes available for users with just two features: access to the photo gallery and messaging.
Basically, by pairing your Android phone to a Windows 10 PC using Your Phone, you can simply drag and drop photos from the gallery to your desktop or to Office apps. The app also lets you send messages to your contacts by accessing the conversations on your PC.
Snapchat running on PCs
In a future update, which appears to be limited to Android, Your Phone app will allow Windows 10 adopters to use any Android app on their PCs. During the company’s October 2 event, Microsoft demonstrated Snapchat integration, showing a conversation that took place between a mobile user and someone chatting on a Surface device.
The app mirroring feature would technically enable all Android app to support running on Windows 10, at least on Android. On iPhone, Microsoft is working on features to let users continue browsing from where they left off on their phones, as functionality is limited due to Apple’s ecosystem.
For the time being, however, there are no timing specifics as to when the Your Phone app could get full support for Android apps, though Microsoft is already working on this and an announcement could be made in the coming months.
Also, it’s not known if users on iPhones can get the same support for running apps on PCs, but there’s a chance that won’t be possible and it’d remain an Android-exclusive feature.
Sometimes you can’t stop for a text. Now you don’t have to. Get Your Phone app and text right from your PC. Available now in the #Windows10 October 2018 Update. #MicrosoftEvent pic.twitter.com/JCXP3cJ3Zl — Windows (@Windows) October 2, 2018Via The Verge