I have compiled yet another Android x86 system (KitKat 4.4.4), which can run live (from CD) or be installed on almost all laptops (and some Desktop computers). For example Acer (Aspire), HP, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, Thinkpad, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Ausus laptops. The Android system is distributed in the form of an ISO file as the rest of my Linux distributions. I.e. you must (as usual) burn the ISO file to a CD if you want to run the system live on your computer or install it to hard drive. Read about how to burn ISO files. Or skip that. Just use ImgBurn. Nothing can go wrong.
Replacement for Windows, Mac or even Linux Desktop systems?
Some belive what I just said. The Android-x86 Project (Run Android on your PC) is about porting the Android Open Source Project to x86 platform. The Android-x86 Project’s latest release is Android-x86 4.4-r2 from 2015-01-01. The ISO file can be downloaded for free from SourceForge.net or Softpedia. My Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 v3 build from 2015-03-21 will cost you 8 $. It has three advantages over the my free Lollipop 5.0.2 version: Aptoide App Manager (Google Play Store is used as App Manager in my first version of Android-x86 KitKat from 150301) is pre-installed, a newer kernel (3.18.8) is used and you can run the system in VirtualBox. Read more about my KitKat 4.4.4 version 3 or DOWNLOAD it instantly…
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Kernel
Kernel 3.18.8-exton-android-x86 is used.
Installing new apps
Aptoide App Manager is pre-installed (among many other apps) so you can just go ahead and make your choices. Aptoide works even better than Google Play Store, which is used as App Manager in my first version of Android-x86 KitKat from 150301.
Other important pre-installed apps in version 150321
Facebook, IMDb, Spotify, WPS Office, Instagram, Tvitter, Yr.no, Rotation Control Lite, 1Mix Radio, Secure Web and Wallpaper Store.
Install the system to hard drive
Say for example that you have a laptop with Windows 8.1 installed as the only operating system. If you just create one extra partition of about 5 GB you can install Android KitKat on this extra partition and then “dual-boot”. I.e. you can turn on your computer (called “booting it up”) and decide whether you want to start Windows or Android KitKat. Grub will be installed as boot handler/loader during the installation of Android KitKat. Note: The installation will take only about one minute. And the installation to hard drive is so simple that a 10 year old child can do it.
More about Grub and “dual-boot/multi-boot”
If you already have have one or more Linux systems installed on your computer you should skip installing Grub during the installation of Android KitKat. If you use Grub2 (which Ubuntu and most other Linux systems use as boot loader) you should instead add these lines to /boot/grub/grub.cfg or /etc/grub.d/40_custom
menuentry ‘Android-x86 4.4.4 KitKat 150321 (sda8)’ {
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’hd0,msdos8′
linux /android-2015-03-21/kernel quiet root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.hardware=android_x86 SRC=/android-2015-03-21
initrd /android-2015-03-21/initrd.img
}
If you use Grub Legacy (which is very unusual today even though Android KitKat uses it) you should add thease lines to /boot/grub/menu.lst
title Android-x86 4.4.4 KitKat 150321 (sda8)
root (hd0,7)
kernel /android-2015-03-21/kernel quiet root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.hardware=android_x86 SRC=/android-2015-03-21
initrd /android-2015-03-21/initrd.img
USB installation
Read my instruction. It is for AndEX (Android) Lollipop, but the same instruction works for all of my KitKat versions.
NOTE ABOUT BIOS CHANGES
You’ll have to make changes in BIOS (boot order) so that your computer will start up from the CD or USB stick before the hard drive. On a new computer you may also have to change from UEFI Boot to Legacy Boot. On my new HP Pavilion Desktop computer it looks like this.
VirtualBox
You can also (of course) run/test the system in VirtualBox. I.e. run it directly from the ISO file and even install it to a hard drive created in VirtualBox.
About Google Keyboard
If you get a message that Google Keyboard has crashed you shall go to Settings >> Language & Input and disable Google Keyboard. The keyboard will work as normal after that.
What’s the point?
Well, if you like your Android phone and all the apps you have installed on it I’m sure you will also like to run apps from your laptop. Bigger screen and better sound etc.
Screenshots
The Desktop pic 1
The Desktop pic 2
The Desktop pic 3
All pre-installed apps
Aptoide App Manager is used
Shows how easy it is to change Desktop wallpaper
Poweroff
Reviews
Softpedia’s review of AndEX (Android-x86) Lollipop 5.0.2
Softpedias review of Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 Exton build 1 and 2 150307
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NOTE
This version has been replaced by version 5 150504 with kernel 4.0.0-exton-android-x86 and GAPPS
