Android, Really?

In Win10's Your Phone app, Android performance was so disappointing.

On Win11, will I be able to download the android apps I use on my phone and access them via an ethernet connection independent on my phone being turned on? Anyone know how it will work?

The My Phone app in Windows 10 is just a way to access your phone from your computer, not a full on emulator. Windows 11 has full blown Android emulation.

Mystere said:

The My Phone app in Windows 10 is just a way to access your phone from your computer, not a full on emulator. Windows 11 has full blown Android emulation.

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Thx, Mystere. I soooooo hope it works. This will make such a big difference in workflow.

candleman said:

Thx, Mystere. I soooooo hope it works. This will make such a big difference in workflow.

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Android apps in the store will be powered by Amazon Play store which will use Intel bridge technology which hasn't; been released to public yet. Though the app store is in the store it is not able to get right now, so it is soon :)

Shawnlovehorses said:

Android apps in the store will be powered by Amazon Play store which will use Intel bridge technology which hasn't; been released to public yet. Though the app store is in the store it is not able to get right now, so it is soon :)

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Thanks for the info! Sounds like it's going to be a while then...

Shawnlovehorses said:

Well the store is already in the store, so it is should be soon but it will take a while to be tested in the insider program :) Don't worry it wont' take that long. What apps you need it for?

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Apps like a primary texting app, Marco Polo, Venmo, Clubhouse, Musicolet

candleman said:

Apps like a primary texting app, Marco Polo, Venmo, Clubhouse, Musicolet

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can't you do that on the your phone app?

Shawnlovehorses said:

can't you do that on the your phone app?

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Phone needs to be connected. I would like to have my phone elsewhere in the house but have access to the apps on my desktop

I'm confused now. I thought you didn't want to just connect to your phone, but wanted to have a full android on your PC? The thing is, you won't be able to make calls with that (or text) because it's not connected to a radio, and or SIM. You *might* be able to use wi-fi calling/texting but you'd have to do something to make your cell provider think it's the same phone.

So you can either connect to your phone, aka the My Phone app, or you can run a unique emulated android instance.

Mystere said:

I'm confused now. I thought you didn't want to just connect to your phone, but wanted to have a full android on your PC? The thing is, you won't be able to make calls with that (or text) because it's not connected to a radio, and or SIM. You *might* be able to use wi-fi calling/texting but you'd have to do something to make your cell provider think it's the same phone.

So you can either connect to your phone, aka the My Phone app, or you can run a unique emulated android instance.

Click to expand...

My goal is to not have to turn my phone on, or have it on and connected to my PC in order to use those apps --- as though I'm using my phone.

Currently, for an app like Signal or Telegram, there are desktop versions, so I have no problem.

Are you saying that in Win11, I'd still have to use the Your Phone app to text people as though I'm using my phone, which requires me to have my phone connected to my PC?

And the same with Marco Polo, Venmo, Clubhouse --- none of which have separate desktop versions?

candleman said:

Are you saying that in Win11, I'd still have to use the Your Phone app to text people as though I'm using my phone, which requires me to have my phone connected to my PC?

And the same with Marco Polo, Venmo, Clubhouse --- none of which have separate desktop versions?

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In order to text someone, it has to use your SIM card... And that needs a radio, or in some cases wi-fi calling (which is still tied to your SIM). This is why you can't have 2 phones that have the same phone number... essential that's what you're asking for.

Now, yes, it's possible to hack a sim to clone it, but you don't want to do that. And there's no good way to emulate that hacked sim on your pc.

There are other apps that allow remote control of your phone. The My Phone app isn't really remote control, it's more like an API that lets the desktop app do specific functions.

Try some of these: 7 ways to control your Android from a PC

I think the problem here is that you don't really understand how either phones work, or how android emulation works. So you don't really understand why you can't do this or that.

I am late to the party, but the OP tossed up a very interesting issue. I wonder if you can identify yourself with your Microsoft account to an Android app like WhatsApp and communicate with other WhatsApp users that way.

In other words, all you need is your desktop or laptop WITHOUT SIM card and an Ethernet or WiFi connection, to connect to the mobile universe. It should be technically possible, is it actually possible?

Mystere said:

The thing is, you won't be able to make calls with that (or text) because it's not connected to a radio, and or SIM. You *might* be able to use wi-fi calling/texting but you'd have to do something to make your cell provider think it's the same phone.

Click to expand...

I've dreamed about something I'll call FLOATING SIM. (This isn't a knock at Microsoft because this is really something the carriers should offer.)

What is a FLOATING SIM? It's a SIMULATED SIM program. It's easier to give examples of what it could do than explain --

1. Pick up anyone's phone with a fingerprint reader. The phone sends your thumbprint to a network and 'your' phone is suddenly in front of you. On the stranger's phone. Your phone numbers, apps, music -- it's all there. (But not local.) So you can call/text anyone that your phone can in case your phone was just stolen. Oh, and speaking of that --

2. -- you can wipe your phone and put a trace on it from someone else's phone.

3. Maybe you have more than one phone. You can bring your service to it with your thumbprint. Ladies might like a little phone for nightclubs but a big phone for work. Whichever one you're holding BECOMES your phone. If someone picks up your other phone it's dead to them with no service because they don't have your fingerprint. If you pick up your other phone -- the one you were just using dies. So you can only have on phone service but it can be on any phone. And perhaps --

4. -- on your PC too. Or PCs.

I'll speak on behalf of 2 of the OP's items...

I use Messages for Web

For Musicolet, I just cast it to Google Home Max...

Edwin said:

I use Messages for Web

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I can't live without it.

In fact, there is a way to use two devices with the same phone number: I do in fact have two SIMs tied to the same number, one in my phone and another in my car. This way I can make and receive calls while driving without touching my phone and also without any Bluetooth connection. I can leave the phone at home or turn it off altogether. Deutsche Telekom calls this service "Dual Sim" - for another 5 Euros you get a clone SIM with some sort of ordering priority - the call first gets routed to my phone and two seconds later to the car.

Of course, your carrier should offer you a similar option and then your PC has to have a SIM card port (which perhaps you can arrange with a USB dongle) and most importantly the radio to connect to the cellular network. On one hand, there is nothing impossible about that, iPads have that, Kindle has that, and I think I did see ads for laptops that have that, although right now I can't remember the brand. I have never heard of a desktop PC being connected to the cellular network, but I'm sure you can build one like that if you really want to. I don't see why would I do that, but hey, to each their own.

UK location

I was at a hospital appointment last week and there was no phone service showing on my phone (Samsung note 20), I did have a free WiFi signal available from the hospital, and the phone made calls and sent texts without any issue. This was automatic using the WiFi

Not sure if this is a feature of the Phone or my Provider (EE), which is more likely, but another patient sat next to me in the waiting area could not make a phone call so had to walk outside and find a signal ( the area is not great for signal )

I did offer to let the gent use my phone to make his call so was not just gloating

barman58 said:

UK location

I was at a hospital appointment last week and there was no phone service showing on my phone (Samsung note 20), I did have a free WiFi signal available from the hospital, and the phone made calls and sent texts without any issue. This was automatic using the WiFi

Not sure if this is a feature of the Phone or my Provider (EE), which is more likely, but another patient sat next to me in the waiting area could not make a phone call so had to walk outside and find a signal ( the area is not great for signal )

I did offer to let the gent use my phone to make his call so was not just gloatingS

Click to expand...

Many phones have a feature now called "wifi calling" which does exactly what you described. It is pretty much standard on all new Samsungs. I cannot say about other android phones or £Phones - oops meant i not £ lol.

I think all the main UK operators support "wifi calling" now.

This feature auto switches to using 3/4/5G or wifi depending on signal strength. You may have to switch it on as it is normally off by default.

It works great if no mobile signal. It is a slight PITA when signal is borderline and fluctuates as it flip flops and can lose connection. What I do then is put phone into Flight Mode which turns off the mobile radio, and then manually switch on wifi (and bluetooth if needed).


For clarity, you still get normal charges if routing calls over wifi. Do not confuse this with VOIP calling like Skype or Whatsapp. Think of it as a normal call just sending phone signal to router rather than a mobile mast.

Wifi calling works brilliantly where appropriate -- note as previous poster says - normal call charges apply -- it's standard calling.

I'm not sure though how encryption is handled via Wifi calling -- once the phone company has received the request I suppose it handles the encryption - but I'm not sure about the actual wifi bit from say public wifi hot spot to and from phone service provider. It's not easy to find reliable data on that aspect of it. I'm not paranoid about security if I'm using public wifi - just don't give out any sensitive data either by voice (in calls / texts) or when browsing the internet. Most free public wifi hotspots use a lot of plaintext so be careful when using these places.

Cheers
jimbo

In Germany most phone contracts come with a flat rate - I don't pay anything additional for calls unless I call abroad. Calls to EU and US landlines are covered by another small fee. Calls to cell phones abroad as well as calls to "third-world" countries may still be quite expensive. As already noted, WiFi calling does not affect the prices, however, this does use up your data (in case your data plan is not unlimited and nowadays most of them are not). Data roaming can also be expensive (outside of the EU that is).