Students Create Software To Run iOS Apps On Android Devices | TechTree.com

Students Create Software To Run iOS Apps On Android Devices

For those who want the best of both worlds, Columbia University's 'Cider' software could hold the answer.

 

The debate as to which mobile operating system – Android or iOS – is best has been a longstanding one. Up until now you had to have two devices to really gain access to features that are exclusive to each, but students at Columbia University want to change that.

 

Great progress has been made in the development of a compatibility layer called Cider that allows iOS apps to run on Android without using any sort of emulator or virtual machine. The software created by students is still at an infant stage, but can run iOS apps, though they haven't really got down to optimising performance just yet.

 

Right now Cider is a proof of concept showing that it can be a cross-platform solution for people that want the best of both worlds. The incredibly smart software works by tricking iOS apps into running on Android's kernel by adapting code on the fly.

 

The students have released a video showcasing a Nexus 7 tablet running some native iOS apps like iTunes, Stacks, Weather and iBooks. Though the performance isn't anywhere close to the mark as of yet, as mentioned earlier Cider is still a mere proof of concept.

 

However, as noted by loadthegame.com, at the time of the video's release the team hadn't managed to get the GPS to function with the iOS apps, but shortly afterward announced that they had actually made it work. It will undoubtedly take some time before Cider is useable by everyone, but that time might not be that far away.


TAGS: Software, Cider, Android, iOS, Apps

 
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