Phandroid
Native iOS apps can now run on Android
The huge gulf in available applications between Android and iOS has shrunk dramatically over the past several years, but there still exists a slight bias on the part of developers toward Apple’s smartphone platform. On top of this, iOS exclusive services like FaceTime and iMessage can leave many an Android user standing on the outside looking in when taking into account friends and family choosing an iPhone over a Google-based device. For those tired of feeling cutoff , for those sick of waiting for the latest app craze to be ported to Android, there is finally an answer.
Well…sort of.
Researchers at Columbia University’s Software Systems Laboratory have developed an “operating system compatibility architecture” that makes it possible to run native iOS apps on an Android device without modifying the code or performing an sort of optimization. Dubbed Cider, the interface layer is more than a simple virtual machine or emulator. Using compile-time code adaptation, Cider can translate — for lack of a better word — the foreign code of an iOS app in a manner that allows Android’s kernel to run the app natively. Diplomatic functions allow for foreign apps to interface with native software and hardware elements of an Android device.
As seen in the video demonstration above, Cider is far from perfect. While it indeed makes quick work of running iOS apps, performance and responsiveness are definitely hindered. It’s not a perfect solution, but as a proof of concept it is pretty compelling.
So what does Cider mean for the average Android (or iOS) user? At this point there is still work to be done and it could be quite some time before the system trickles out to the general public — if it ever does. Expect both Apple and Google to respond should Cider move beyond the realm of computer science experiment. In a marketplace largely driven by exclusive software and features, it’s almost a guarantee that Apple will not be happy with the idea of their native iOS apps running on a piece of Android hardware.
[via Columbia University Software Systems Laboratory]
Motorola Alert hits Google Play, could save your life in an emergency situation
While yesterday’s newly announced Moto E may have skimped out on a few hardware specs to help keep costs low, it’s the software where the phone truly shines. Featuring Motorola’s stand back and let Android do its thing approach, the phone features a mostly stock Android 4.4 KitKat experience only with the inclusion of a few key Motorola apps.
We’ve already told you guys about Motorola exclusive apps like Active Display or Touchless Control, but with the release of the Moto E, Motorola is introducing their latest application — Motorola Alert. The app’s package name probably describes it best: “com.motorola.bodyguard.”
Motorola Alert works by sending location-based alerts to a circle of friends/family of your choosing. This can be set to alert a parent when their child arrives safely at home, or when alert wife when her husband has left for/arrives at work. For more emergency situations, blasting your location in the event you’ve been kidnapped or suffered a snake bite out in the woods should help provide some peace of mind for its users. The will continue updating your friends and family with periodic status updates to help conserve battery.
The best part about the app is it’s unbundled from Motorola’s OS and completely free to download on Google Play. While we’d love to see this on other Android devices, the app remains a Motorola Moto E exclusive at the moment. Motorola says to expect compatibility with the Motorola Moto G and Motorola Moto X in the near future (as well as the Motorola Moto X+1 whenever that drops). Perhaps Google can introduce a similar app in the near future?
Download on Google Play: Motorola Alert
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