14 DAY TRIAL // A new version of Windows Phone Internals is now available for download, allowing owners of Microsoft and Nokia Lumia phones to unlock the bootloader of their devices and opening the door to further customizations.
Now at version 2.3, the app only supports Lumia phones and not other Windows Phone 8.1 or Windows 10 Mobile devices from third-party vendors, like the HP Elite X3 or the Alcatel IDOL 4S.
And while jailbreaking Lumia phones is a thing that many diehard fans want to do, such a solution brings back an overly-discussed topic that could more or less be supported by the release of the new version of Windows Phone Internals: Android on Lumia phones.
In a video detailing the changes made in Windows Phone Internals 2.3, developer Heathcliff explains that instead of trying to install Android ROMs on Lumia phones, it’s a lot easier to just “purchase an Android phone,” though he admits that a project in this regard is currently under development and he’ll support it if his help is needed.
Project Astoria on current Windows 10 Mobile builds
On the other hand, Heathcliff says he’s looking into bringing Project Astoria back, though it remains to be seen how long it’ll take to make this happen. Project Astoria, which Microsoft itself implemented at some point in Windows 10 Mobile builds, allows users to install Android apps on Windows phones using only the APKs.
The project was discontinued at some point by Microsoft, despite the Windows phone community being particularly excited by addressing the app gap with Android APKs.
“I have no idea if this is really possible, we’ll have to see,” the developer says.
In the meantime, you can download Windows Phone Internals 2.3 for your Lumia phone right now, and just don’t get your hopes too high on Android apps on Windows phone for the time being. Heathcliff will probably provide more info on this as he looks into ways to bring back Project Astoria, so we’ll know more in the coming months.
