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Test out Android apps on your computer before downloading them with this free Android emulator

Test out Android apps on your computer before downloading them with this free Android emulator

Vote: (614 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: YouWave Inc

Version: 3.31

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(614 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

YouWave Inc

3.31

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Virtual SD Card
  • Android UI Emulation
  • Test Apps for Android on PC

Cons

  • Minor Stability Problems
  • Not Fully Compatible

YouWave is a piece of software that lets you try out apps for the Android operating system on your PC via Android OS emulation. Using this software, you can play mobile games that were meant for Android directly on your PC. It also lets you try out social apps and other software for the Android before you actually install it on your physical Android device.

There are several other apps on the market that do the same thing YouWave does, including Andy OS and BlueStacks App Player. When you take advantage of one of these apps, you'll be able to preview both the functionality and aesthetic of any app through the desktop system before the software is transferred to the mobile device.

In the home version of YouWave, you'll get support for Android's Ice Cream Sandwich OS instead of the newest KitKat version. If you have an SD card reader hooked to your PC, the system can use that card to create a virtual SD card for the emulated Android device. The software also includes individual volume controls, dynamic rotations, and online multiplayer support.

When you first download and install YouWave, it will come with all the same apps as any other Android device. These include the settings, music, browser, and many others. You can download and install the Google Play app within the emulated software, and that will allow you to visit the store and install more apps. You can also install APKs to load new apps. While this process is certainly doable, it could be quite a bit easier. Other Android emulation apps make it a bit easier to download and install apps.

One of the biggest complaints about YouWave is the user interface. The control panel features a clunky, almost disorganized design, and the UI in general has an older aesthetic that many would find dull, boring, and outdated.

While there are a few issues with the overall stability of YouWave, the app works well enough to make it worth the download. External apps can be loaded onto the emulated phone, and they are usually simulated with exceptional quality. Of course, not every app runs well with the software, and apps designed for Android KitKat or any other system past Ice Cream Sandwich probably won't be compatible.

It's hard to say if the software is worth the effort it would take to download and install. At its core, YouWave is more than capable of performing that tasks it was designed to perform, but there are other free apps that perform the same functions with equal or greater quality. If you simply need to double or triple check a new app you've developed against several emulators, YouWave will provide a stable preview so you can be sure you've found all the bugs.

Pros

  • Virtual SD Card
  • Android UI Emulation
  • Test Apps for Android on PC

Cons

  • Minor Stability Problems
  • Not Fully Compatible