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chromeos-apk

Run Android APKs on Chrome OS, OS X, Linux and Windows.

Now supports OS X, Linux and Windows

>See the [custrom ARChon runtime guide](archon.md) to run apps on other operating systems besides Chrome OS.

Video Demo

Quick Demo for Chrome OS

  • Download an official app, such as Evernote, from the Chrome Web Store.
  • Then download this open source game: 2048.APK Game by Uberspot and load it as an unpacked extension. Press "Launch", ignore warnings.

Setup for Chrome OS / App Conversion

Conversion Tool Tested on OS X, Windows and Ubuntu. You can also convert APKs manually.

npm install chromeos-apk -g

or

sudo npm install chromeos-apk -g

Usage

Run chromeos-apk [path to apk file]

Example phone app

chromeos-apk com.soundcloud.android.apk

Example tablet app

chromeos-apk com.soundcloud.android.apk --tablet

This will generate a directory for you, i.e com.soundcloud.android. Copy this directory to your Chromebook. On your Chromebook go to chrome://extensions, enable "Developer mode", and load the directory using the "Load unpacked extension" button.

Troubleshooting

Make sure Android applications are compatible with your Chromebook, first try to install an official application such as Vine: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/vine/plfjlfohfjjpmmifkbcmalnmcebkklkh

If you get a Failed to parse package name in the APK. error, then you will have to type it the proper package name for the application. You can find out the package name by looking at the URL of the app in the Play Store.

Note

This is a proof of concept. You can run up to 4 Android applications right now with the regular runtime. By default the chromeos-apk tool replaces the Vine app. Read the multiple apps manual to load more than one application at a time. To load unlimited number of apps read the ARChon runtime guide

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

Tested Apps

Read the manifest guide to tweak applications. Android Menu key is accessible using ctrl + ESC.

  • Flipboard, Flixster, Twitter - Works.
  • Pandora - Works [Screenshot]
  • Yahoo Screens, Weather and Mail work in Phone mode (might need to remove gcm from usePlayServices in manifest.json).
  • Soundcloud - Works, crashes when playing sound.
  • Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Spotify - Crashes (require native libraries).
  • Opera Mini - Works, issues with the back button.
  • Gyro Game - Works
  • Break Bricks Game - Works
  • Swing Copters - Crashes on Google Play Services.
  • WhatsApp - Crashes
  • IMDB - Works
  • Skype com.skype.raider - Works, requires you to enter the package name manually in the CLI, use com.skype.raider. Use an older version of APK 5.0.0.x to get this to work.
  • XBMC - Crash after initial load.
  • Microsoft Remote Desktop - App seems to work properly after crashing once.

Author

twitter/vladikoff
@vladikoff