Can You Download Android Apps For Surface Pro

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If you find the app selection on your Microsoft Surface Pro lacking, take heart. Your Windows 8 tablet can also run pretty much every Android app in existence — as long as you download and install BlueStacks, that is.

Mar 29, 2019 To run all Android apps on the surface pro, First, Download the Bluestacks app win8 optimized for Surface Pro using this link and install it on your tablet. Once installed, open the application and browse for your favorite application within the installed Bluestack and enjoy running Android applications on Windows tablet.

BlueStacks, of course, is the Android emulator software that runs on Mac and older versions of Windows. The company is today launching a version optimized for the Surface Pro's 10.6-inch 1,920 x 1,080 screen. It's a Windows 7 app (so it runs on the desktop), although BlueStacks says it's designed for Windows 8 tablets. As a classic Windows app, BlueStacks won't run on Windows RT devices (such as the Surface RT).

Windows 8 is a much more natural fit for the BlueStacks App Player. While the player sometimes has problems translating touch controls to mouse-and-keyboard setups, Android is a touch-first operating system, and so is Windows 8. The new App Player also includes a menu that becomes visible when a user calls up the Windows 8 Charms menu.

SEE ALSO: BlueStacks App Player Enters Beta, Brings Android Apps To Your PC Desktop

Jun 15, 2014 If you are coming from Android world or missing any key apps that is available on Android, you can now use that on your Surface Pro 3. Pocket Now today posted the above video showing how to run Android apps on Surface Pro 3. It makes use of Blue Stacks Android player which can run Android apps on Windows. Is there any way to run Android Apps on the Surface? On my pro 2 I was dual booting android. The experience was pretty good actually. But you can still download it here. If you want to boot into an Android OS instead of using emulators, you can always use. Nov 19, 2014  Image software leader Adobe's free app shows off both the excellent screen and camera of the Surface Pro 3. You can correct photos shot through the app. Jun 14, 2014  Application support isn't exactly a strong suit of Microsoft's Surface Pro 3. If you're missing some of your favorite apps in Windows 8.1, this trick can help you supplement by running Android.

'Let's be honest, without apps, the Surface is like a really shiny brick,' says BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma. 'Content brings hardware to life. With this release, buying a Surface Pro becomes exponentially more attractive. I bought one myself.'

Keep in mind, though, that BlueStacks is technically still in beta, and Android apps often aren't optimized to run on larger tablet screens. Also, since the apps weren't designed to run natively on Windows 8, they won't be able to take full advantage of the Surface Pro's hardware (such as the Core i5 processor) or share Windows 8 design elements.

Can you download android apps for surface pro download

Still, injecting Android's more than 700,000 apps to Windows 8's comparatively feeble 40,000 (or so) titles is a potentially great enhancement for many users.

Are you excited for BlueStacks on Windows 8? Let us know why or why not in the comments.

Update: If you're experiencing problems with BlueStacks on your Surface Pro, the company says a last-minute change by Microsoft has disrupted the touch controls for the App Player. BlueStacks says it's working to fix the problem. In addition, this post initially implied the BlueStacks App Player is a Windows 8 app, but it's actually a Windows 7 app with features optimized for Windows 8 touch controls.

Update 2: BlueStacks has released a repaired version of the app. If you already downloaded it, you can fix it with this patch.

BONUS: Microsoft Surface Pro Review

Mashable composite. Homepage image courtesy of BlueStacks

The Surface Pen and Surface Slim Pen are mighty tools that let you get more done on your Surface PC. To maximize the Surface Pen's ability, there are some essential apps you should check out. From note-taking to form-filling to coloring, here are the best apps to grab.

True paper feel: Bamboo Paper

Editor's pick

The first time you touch your Pen to the screen with Bamboo Paper open, you'll wonder just how they made it seem so much like real paper. Take notes using the six writing tools, add pictures to your pages, and write over them. And share your ideas with others using Bamboo Paper on other platforms.

Free at Microsoft

Infinite canvas: Leonardo

Staff favorite

Leonardo is still in its beta stage. But it has a full set of tools for amateurs and pros alike, including infinite canvas, tons of brushes, grids and perspective lines, and a user interface that's easy to navigate. Whether you're sketching, drawing, or painting, this app will accommodate your needs. While it remains in beta, the price is knocked down to $40, 50% off the full price, at least for now.

$80 at Microsoft

Pro drawing tools: Autodesk SketchBook

Can You Download Android Apps For Surface Pro Free

If you were holding out on Autodesk SketchBook because of the price, you can now get the full version — including some Pro tools — for free. This is one of the best drawing and sketching apps for pretty much anyone, with a wide selection of brushes, surfaces, tools, and features to choose from.

Free at Microsoft

Take control of PDFs: Drawboard PDF

Drawboard PDF is regarded as one of the best PDF apps available, thanks to an enormous selection of tools. It's a document builder that lets you merge multiple PDFs, has annotations that can be calibrated for scale, and a large number of grid and line templates. If you're often working with PDF files in a professional environment, Drawboard PDF should be near the top of your list.

$12 at Microsoft

Write music with ease: StaffPad

Musicians out there, take notice: StaffPad is an app designed for Surface that makes it incredibly easy to annotate music. As you handwrite your music, it's automatically and precisely converted into an engraved score. Once you finish writing, let StaffPad play back your creation with its full orchestra of instruments.

$70 at Microsoft

Multipurpose inking: Sketchable

Sketchable is a free (with paid upgrades) drawing, sketching, and painting app that has been designed with the Surface Pen in mind. Not only can you use Sketchable for notes or to work on existing images and artwork, use it to create an entirely new work of art thanks to its wide array of tools. If you have even a bit of creativity in you, this app will be hard to put down.

Free at Microsoft

Get organized: Index Cards

Can You Download Android Apps For Surface Pro 3

There's just something about a stack of index cards that makes you feel like you've got your life in order. Both sides of cards can be marked up with your pen, and a zoom function lets you jam quite a bit of information onto each card. Cards and stacks of cards can be shared with others, and there's no limit to the number of cards you can create.

Free at Microsoft

Digital whiteboard: CollaBoard

For those of you who commonly involved in team projects, CollaBoard is an app that works with your Surface device and the Microsoft Hub. It's best described as a digital whiteboard that multiple users can contribute to, all in real-time. With Skype for Business integration and compatibility with PDF, images, videos, and more, the whiteboard can become the central pivot point of your larger project.

Free at Microsoft

Digital notebook: OneNote

Microsoft's own free note-taking app syncs across all your devices, but it shines when you add the Surface Pen. Take notes on blank or grid backgrounds, highlight text, or draw pictures using various tools, then easily sync with OneDrive to keep your notes with you wherever you go.

Free at MicrosoftAndroid app for surface pro

Read and edit PDFs: Xodo

This fantastic PDF reader and editor is completely free, which is frankly surprising considering what you're getting here. Just open a PDF file, and you're given free rein over what you can do. Write all over it, highlight the important bits, and save it as a new file. This is especially useful for quickly filling out those annoying forms that you usually have to type information into.

Free at Microsoft

Install Android Apps

Can You Download Android Apps For Surface Pro

If we're making some suggestions

Thanks to most of the above apps having at least some sort of free version, you can give them a try with your pen essentially risk-free to see if they'll come in handy. Wondering exactly where to start? Bamboo Paper is a lightweight app that delivers a true paper feel while writing. Not only is it great for notetaking and journaling — you can add your own photos to a page — it can also be used to sketch or draw thanks to a custom color palette and a collection of tools beyond just a pen.

Can You Download Android Apps For Surface Pro Download

Need something more suited for artistic ambition? I've been using Leonardo, which is now available straight from the Microsoft Store, for some time and I appreciate the simple UI that scales to any size display and the overall collection of tools. Whether you want to sketch something rough or go for a full work of art, you shouldn't have any problems. The infinite canvas is ideal for letting your artwork flow, and while it's still in its beta stage you can save $40 off off the full $80 price.

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