Run Android Apps in Mac OS X with BlueStacks
If you’ve ever wanted to run Android apps on your Mac, a new virtualization tool called BlueStacks makes it easier than ever before. The extremely simple to install solution includes 17 popular Android apps that can be run independently and without the need for running Android ICS in a virtual machine, removing the often clunky virtualized Android OS experience and instead launching directly into the apps.
The default installation is heavy on the games but includes other popular titles too. You’ll get Air Control Lite, Alchemy, Basketball Shot, Drag Racing, Elastic World, Facebook, Glow Hockey, Guns’n Glory, Paper Toss, Pulse news reader, Robo Defense, Seesmic, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Zebra Paint, all conveniently located in an “Android Apps” folder in the OS X Dock. Because they run as independent apps, you’ll also find them in LaunchPad.
Performance is very good and there are no noticeable issues or speed problems, and some of the games actually seem to run better in Mac OS X under the virtual layer than they do on some older Android phones – not surprising considering the desktop hardware is beefier.
This is a great free solution for anyone wanting to run Android apps on their Mac, and if you’ve been curious about the world of Android apps but didn’t want to get a smartphone, deal with virtualization, or buy the new Nexus 7, there is no easier way to check them out.
I cant get clash of clans
There doesn’t seem to be a blue stacks app player for a mac, nothing comes up when I click on it except questions about it, how to uninstall it, etc., but no app player.
Can we run Gps based apps on mac using Bluestack app.. ?
I hope they do do that, this would really make this app full worthwhile
Does anyone know how to install an app from the play store?
I believe you have to wait for BlueStacks to support the app, as of the current Alpha version there isn’t a direct Play connection.
There is no point in trying WhatsApp unless the developer finds a way to connect a sim card reader to the emulator….
Performance on my MacBook Pro 2010 with 8GB of upgraded RAM is not good at all. The games take about 5 minutes each to load up then I get an fps of about 10 making it pretty unplayable. It is also crashes frequently. Uninstalling now.
Imagine that, an ALPHA program has issues? Naw, apps are perfect and ready for market as soon as they are written.
My stock Macbook Air late 2010 seems absolutely fine with games, both running and loading… so perhaps in 2 months it’s come on a lot, unless it’s down to some specifics of the specifications, if you catch my drift.
The problem with virtualizing Android as a whole is the lack of touch screen support, otherwise it wouldn’t be too bad. I’d like to try a VM of Jelly Bean anyway.