I have no problem admitting that I see absolutely no practical use in running Android on a desktop PC. Still, I have to give credit where credit is due – WindowsAndroid is just downright neat. In a nutshell, it's a not-so-creatively-named project from a company called Socketeq that aims to run Android natively within Windows. That means without emulation.

So, how is this possible? With hard work, determination, and a small bit of fairy dust – that's how. Seriously, though, it runs Android as a native application within Windows by using the Windows kernel instead of Linux. It all sounds quite technical, so I'll spare you the hairy details. Here's a look at the project in action:

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At the current time, WindowsAndroid is still based on Android 4.0.3, but work is being done to port newer versions. It allows for the full Android experience, including full support for GApps (which have to be flashed separately). It also supports a wide range of screen resolutions, and will give you the appropriate interface accordingly. For example, if you're running it in a window smaller than 1280x800, it will default to the phone interface; bump it up past that, and you'll get tablet-optimized Android.

Since it's Android 4.0+, it can take advantage of various input devices, like a mouse and keyboard for example. That's good, because most people don't have a touch-enabled monitor. And the experience just wouldn't be very good without a way to interact with it.

Alright, enough babble-talk – how can you give it a go yourself? We actually snagged the 66MB file and made a couple of mirrors for your downloading pleasure, which you can find at Android File Host and Mega. Of course, don't forget to grab a copy of GApps while you're at it – because it's not really Android without Google stuff.

For more information on the work being done on WindowsAndroid, take a look at this PDF or head over to Socketeq's website.

[via Reddit]