Alien Dalvik 2.0 brings Android apps to iOS devices
Since Android is an open source operating system, it isn’t impossible to make other operating systems compatible with applications developed for it, and Myriad has done just that. In fact even on Android phones, applications run on a virtual machine called Dalvik that interprets Android applications that have been compiled to bytecode.
Myriad’s Alien Dalvik technology allows Android applications to run on platforms they weren’t created for by creating a compatibility layer that makes the devices resources available to the Android application as it expects them.
Now their 2.0 release promises to have Android applications running on “tablets, TVs automobiles and more”, and most impressively on theiPad. This can effectively bridge the gap between different mobile platforms by making one alternative that is capable of working across devices. Another alternative is of course HTML5 /CSS3/JavaScript; open web technologies have been playing catch up with native technologies and for many applications they might be a better choice considering that such applications can bypass the limitations of the app stores.
For those wondering when they can get this technology on their non-Android phone and access the numerous Android applications out there, we’re sorry to say it does not work that way. Alien Dalvik is a technology that device manufacturers can choose to integrate with their device in order for it to take advantage of the Android ecosystem; it does not work in running individual applications on individual phones.
Simon Wilkinson, the CEO of Myriad Group had this to say, “We have seen incredible momentum in Android adoption, but we are just scratching the surface. Digital screens such as Internet- enabled TVs and in-vehicle displays, along with other consumer devices like tablets and e-books are proliferating at an astounding rate. Consumers are driving multimedia evolution and are demanding more converged multi-screen services. With Alien Dalvik 2.0, we are creating a more flexible, consistent user experience by mobilizing content such as live sports, recorded TV shows and on-demand movies, so users can enjoy content seamlessly from one device to the next.”
While Myriad is yet to showcase Alien Dalvik 2.0, which they will during this year’s CTIA Enterprise & Applications (October 11th-13th), you can check out the following video of the previous version in action: