BlueStacks App Player is a free program which allows users to run Android apps on their Windows PC.
The player essentially gives you a virtual Android tablet on your desktop. Sign in with your regular Google account (or create a new one), browse the Play Store as usual, and download or play whatever you like.
Well, almost - not everything works. But that's hardly surprising, when some apps won't even run on specific Android tablets, and overall BlueStacks claims 96% compatibility with apps in general, 86% with games.
All supported apps work with your PC's mouse, camera, webcam and microphone, and BlueStacks also supports multi-touch and has integrated sensors.
The free version downloads sponsored apps from time to time, but if that's a problem you can upgrade to BlueStacks Premium for $24/ year.
Version 4.0 brings a browser-like tabbed interface. Every time you launch an app, it opens in a new tab, making it easier to switch between them.
There's a Back button, too, just like a regular browser.
A new toolbar has options to take a screenshot, set your location, simulate a device shake, install an APK, transfer files from Windows, copy/ paste to and from the local clipboard, and more.
Storage capacity has been doubled to 32GB (16GB internal storage, 16GB SD card), although this only works with new installations - not upgrades.
And apparently there are "lots of improvements and bug fixes allowing many apps to run seamlessly".
Verdict:
An easy and feature-packed way to access Android apps on a PC.
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