Run Android Apps On A PC With Remix OS: Play 'Candy Crush', 'Minecraft', 'Clash Of Clans' And More

Android has a strong selection of great games and apps, but playing "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" on a tiny screen isn't too much fun. Technology startup Jide thinks it has the solution, and it's totally free. On Tuesday, the company released Remix OS for PC, an operating system that can run exactly the same apps as found on Android devices.

Remix OS for PC is based on Android Lollipop, with some tinkering to make it work on computers with an x86 architecture. In simple terms, it means the software runs on regular Windows PCs or Apple Macs found in homes. Big hit games like "Minecraft" and "Five Nights At Freddy's" join "Candy Crush," "Clash of Clans" and "Game of War" on any home computer. The best part is, by signing into the same Google account on Remix OS as used on an Android phone, users only have to buy an app once to play on all devices.

The software will plow through anything thrown its way. Android phones have made great strides in performance, but they're still no match for a top-of-the-line PC. Using the AnTuTu benchmark, an Intel Core i7 quad core computer running Remix OS scored an impressive 214,218. By comparison, the Nexus 6 scored 71,588, making it roughly three times more powerful than a regular phone in the market.

Installing Remix OS doesn't mean sacrificing the computer's current operating system. The site claims the OS will play nice in a dual boot environment. This means when the computer is switched on, the user can choose between using Remix OS or the previous, existing operating system. Users can also run the software from a USB stick, taking all their apps with them in their pocket.

Unfortunately, the initial release is very rough around the edges. Jide recommends only developers use this initial version, but interested users can subscribe to the company mailing list for updates as the software matures.