AMD designs its own Android app store for... Windows
Apparently, AMD has that knack for fusing things. The latest stuff that the CPU manufacturer is going to fuse together seems to be Android... and Windows. How come? Well, the company has just launched its own Android app store for Windows PCs!
Obviously, AMD isn't mass-porting Android apps to Windows, but has rather partnered with BlueStacks. For those not familiar with the BlueStacks software, it's a Windows program which simulates an Android environment, allowing the user to execute various Android apps. However, BlueStacks is optimized to work with only a few dozen apps right now. Users can still download any app they like and try their luck, but OK results aren't guaranteed.
Thankfully, AMD isn't simply offering a rebranded version of the BlueStacks player. (By the way, the app is called AMD AppZone). AMD says that the program has been customized to work better with its Radeon GPUs and APUs (Accelerated Processing Units). This should produce better performance and visuals for the apps supported by BlueStacks.
The new AppZone store lets you discover and buy apps straight from the program itself, as it's also integrated with Google Play, Amazon's Appstore, 1Mobile Market and GetJar.
AMD has disclosed plans to pre-load AppZone on AMD-powered computers, but it's not yet clear when this might start happening. At the end of the day, we don't really think this is where the CPU maker should focus its efforts, but still, bringing the different ecosystems closer together can only be a good thing.
For those who would love to check the new app store out, here's the official download link.
source: AMD via Reghardware
Obviously, AMD isn't mass-porting Android apps to Windows, but has rather partnered with BlueStacks. For those not familiar with the BlueStacks software, it's a Windows program which simulates an Android environment, allowing the user to execute various Android apps. However, BlueStacks is optimized to work with only a few dozen apps right now. Users can still download any app they like and try their luck, but OK results aren't guaranteed.
The new AppZone store lets you discover and buy apps straight from the program itself, as it's also integrated with Google Play, Amazon's Appstore, 1Mobile Market and GetJar.
source: AMD via Reghardware
AMD AppZone Brings Graphics-Accelerated Windows and Android Apps to PCs Worldwide
Collaboration with BlueStacks Enables Consumers to Experience Popular Android Apps on a Broad Range of Microsoft Windows 7- and Windows 8-based devices
SUNNYVALE, Calif. —9/27/2012
AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the launch of AMD AppZone, an online showcase for applications and games accelerated by AMD Radeon™ graphics processing units (GPUs) and AMD accelerated processing units (APUs). In addition to featuring some of the most recognizable PC games and productivity apps, consumers can now download and seamlessly run popular Android™ apps on AMD-based PCs running Windows® thanks to a collaboration with BlueStacks to enable the AMD AppZone Player.
Powered by BlueStacks’ award-winning technology, the AMD AppZone Player brings thousands of Android apps to the millions of AMD-powered tablets, notebooks, all-in-one and desktop PCs worldwide. In addition, consumers can automatically sync their AppZone apps with Android-based devices via BlueStacks Cloud Connect, a cloud-based service that enables a Windows-based PC to become an extension of an Android mobile device and vice versa1.
“BlueStacks’ cross-platform innovation bridges the Android and x86 application ecosystems, providing new opportunities for developers and better experiences for users,” said Manju Hegde, corporate vice president, Heterogeneous Applications and Developer Solutions at AMD. “By collaborating with BlueStacks, we are enabling software developers to more easily tap into the full capabilities of AMD’s products, and providing millions of consumers with great experiences as they can now run Android apps on AMD-powered devices.”
“As the engine behind the AMD AppZone Player, we are providing a potent combination of award-winning software optimized for AMD’s industry-leading hardware. Consumers can now enjoy their favorite mobile apps on the larger, more immersive screen of their PC,” said Rosen Sharma, CEO of BlueStacks. “With BlueStacks technology, app developers can rest assured their Android apps will run directly on Windows without any code change. We’ve made it easy for all.”
Starting today, the AMD AppZone Player and featured apps like Sleeping Dogs, Adobe® Photoshop® CS6, and CyberLink PowerDirector 11 are available for download at www.amd.com/appzone or via the VISION Engine Control Center, which will be updated regularly to bring new titles like the highly anticipated Medal of Honor™ Warfighter2. Users can download featured apps directly from within the AMD AppZone Player or search for apps across the built-in app store. In addition, AMD and BlueStacks are currently working with leading OEMs to preload the AppZone Player on upcoming AMD-powered devices.
BlueStacks is an AMD Ventures-backed software company that enables Android apps to run on notebooks, desktops, all-in-one PCs, slates and tablets. BlueStacks was founded in 2009 by Rosen Sharma, is privately held and headquartered in Silicon Valley with global offices in India, Taiwan and Japan. For more information visit http://www.bluestacks.com/, or join their more than 1,000,000 Facebook fans at www.facebook.com/bluestacksinc.
Supporting Resources
Download free apps from AMD AppZone at www.amd.com/appzone
Follow AMD updates on Twitter at @AMDSoftware
Follow BlueStacks on Twitter at @bluestacksinc
Learn more about AMD Accelerated Processing Units (APUs)
About AMD
AMD (NYSE: AMD) is a semiconductor design innovator leading the next era of vivid digital experiences with its groundbreaking AMD Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) that power a wide range of computing devices. AMD's server computing products are focused on driving industry-leading Cloud computing and virtualization environments. AMD's superior graphics technologies are found in a variety of solutions ranging from game consoles, PCs to supercomputers. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.
Collaboration with BlueStacks Enables Consumers to Experience Popular Android Apps on a Broad Range of Microsoft Windows 7- and Windows 8-based devices
SUNNYVALE, Calif. —9/27/2012
AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the launch of AMD AppZone, an online showcase for applications and games accelerated by AMD Radeon™ graphics processing units (GPUs) and AMD accelerated processing units (APUs). In addition to featuring some of the most recognizable PC games and productivity apps, consumers can now download and seamlessly run popular Android™ apps on AMD-based PCs running Windows® thanks to a collaboration with BlueStacks to enable the AMD AppZone Player.
Powered by BlueStacks’ award-winning technology, the AMD AppZone Player brings thousands of Android apps to the millions of AMD-powered tablets, notebooks, all-in-one and desktop PCs worldwide. In addition, consumers can automatically sync their AppZone apps with Android-based devices via BlueStacks Cloud Connect, a cloud-based service that enables a Windows-based PC to become an extension of an Android mobile device and vice versa1.
“BlueStacks’ cross-platform innovation bridges the Android and x86 application ecosystems, providing new opportunities for developers and better experiences for users,” said Manju Hegde, corporate vice president, Heterogeneous Applications and Developer Solutions at AMD. “By collaborating with BlueStacks, we are enabling software developers to more easily tap into the full capabilities of AMD’s products, and providing millions of consumers with great experiences as they can now run Android apps on AMD-powered devices.”
“As the engine behind the AMD AppZone Player, we are providing a potent combination of award-winning software optimized for AMD’s industry-leading hardware. Consumers can now enjoy their favorite mobile apps on the larger, more immersive screen of their PC,” said Rosen Sharma, CEO of BlueStacks. “With BlueStacks technology, app developers can rest assured their Android apps will run directly on Windows without any code change. We’ve made it easy for all.”
Starting today, the AMD AppZone Player and featured apps like Sleeping Dogs, Adobe® Photoshop® CS6, and CyberLink PowerDirector 11 are available for download at www.amd.com/appzone or via the VISION Engine Control Center, which will be updated regularly to bring new titles like the highly anticipated Medal of Honor™ Warfighter2. Users can download featured apps directly from within the AMD AppZone Player or search for apps across the built-in app store. In addition, AMD and BlueStacks are currently working with leading OEMs to preload the AppZone Player on upcoming AMD-powered devices.
BlueStacks is an AMD Ventures-backed software company that enables Android apps to run on notebooks, desktops, all-in-one PCs, slates and tablets. BlueStacks was founded in 2009 by Rosen Sharma, is privately held and headquartered in Silicon Valley with global offices in India, Taiwan and Japan. For more information visit http://www.bluestacks.com/, or join their more than 1,000,000 Facebook fans at www.facebook.com/bluestacksinc.
Supporting Resources
Download free apps from AMD AppZone at www.amd.com/appzone
Follow AMD updates on Twitter at @AMDSoftware
Follow BlueStacks on Twitter at @bluestacksinc
Learn more about AMD Accelerated Processing Units (APUs)
About AMD
AMD (NYSE: AMD) is a semiconductor design innovator leading the next era of vivid digital experiences with its groundbreaking AMD Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) that power a wide range of computing devices. AMD's server computing products are focused on driving industry-leading Cloud computing and virtualization environments. AMD's superior graphics technologies are found in a variety of solutions ranging from game consoles, PCs to supercomputers. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.
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