Wine: Bringing Windows programs to Chromebook

Codeweavers is the name of the company that supports the open source shell Wine and helps to update it. Wine is a tool that allows you to run windows programs like Office or DirectX-Games on Linux or MacOS systems. The commercial version is called CrossOver and provides faster updates and an easy installer. For some time now, users have had the possibility to sing up for a beta program of Crossover for Android. Soem days ago, Codeweavers has released the first closed beta version and people can try it out.

With CrossOver for Android, you are able to start programs designed for Windows on Android tablets and Chromebooks. At the moment, only devices based on Intel architecture are supported, like e.g. the Chromebook Pixel. Devices with chips by ARM will be supported sometime next year.

Codeweaver promises the games from Steam's database will run in native speed on Android devices. The choice will, however, be limited by the missing graphics power of Chromebooks and tablets. The company states that you will be able to run all Windows and Android programs on one device. Theoretically, that may be correct but in real life, there are often problems with certain programs and apps. Furthermore you will have to deal with the limited power and storage of Chromebooks.

Quelle(n)