Windows Your Phone Apps Feature Could Be Expanding To More Phones
After giving up on its own attempts at creating its own mobile platform, Microsoft switched to integrating Windows better with Android and iOS. Not all phones or mobile platforms are created equal, of course, and Microsoft has struck a sweet deal with Samsung for even deeper integration that's exclusive to a select number of Galaxy phones. One of those features includes the ability to run an Android app from the phone in its own window, a feature that might soon be expanding to other phones or at least other Samsung phones.
In addition to a poor choice in naming, Windows' Your Phone has a confusing number of features that depend on what phone you have. The most basic is Link to Windows, which lets you seamlessly transfer files between an Android phone and a Windows device. Phone Screen, on the other hand, mirrors the entire phone's screen on the desktop, allowing you to interact with it while keeping your phone away.
And then there's Apps, which lets you run those Android apps in their own windows. Like the other three features, however, these are mostly exclusive to Samsung's phones. More recent premium flagships even get extra perks, like the ability to run multiple apps at once.
@ALumia_italia now reveals that the list of supported phones for Your Phone's "Apps" feature could be expanding. A screenshot reveals a Galaxy A52 having access to a list of Apps, ready for launching any time. The Galaxy A52 supports Phone Screen, also shown in the screenshot, but not Apps.
Enabling "Your Phone" Apps on unsupported Android devices ✅ pic.twitter.com/nExYKPNcA7
— Aggiornamenti Lumia (@ALumia_Italia) August 1, 2021
Just like the Your Phone itself, there is still some confusion over what this means. Microsoft might simply be expanding the compatibility list to more Galaxy phones, or Microsoft could finally be bringing the feature to phones outside of Samsung's line. The latter, however, requires that Microsoft open up Your Phone itself to other manufacturers' devices, and one can only hope that will be the case soon.