Download .exe Windows, tutorial, Play Store?

Maybe Android needs a bit of inspiration to better exploit the space offered by the large screens of tablets (or even computers, considering the existence of emulators like Andy, Bluestacks or AmiDuOS). Perhaps the first step is to learn something about desktop operating systems such as Windows, Linux or Mac …

Phoenix OS is an example that this sounds good. This customized Android system, available as a ROM for a couple of Android tablets and as an “executable” for the PC, leaves aside the classic Android mobile interface and proposes the functionality of a PC, with a desktop and its taskbar, button launch and management of applications through windows. It comes with its own built-in web browser and even a file explorer with drag-and-drop support. Come on, something very similar to what we have seen in the popular Remix OS alternative.

Although Phoenix OS does not include the Play Store application store, the user can manually install the APKs of the applications and games they want (possibly they can install the Play Store using their respective APKs). It comes with a Chinese application store, but because of the language it is probably difficult for many to download or know what applications are offered there.

Run Phoenix OS

Phoenix OS is available as ROM for Nexus 9 and 10 tablets (can be easily installed with ADB and Fastboot software, via a couple of commands) and also as executable for the PC. In the latter case, the user must load Phoenix OS on an empty USB stick of at least 4GB capacity. Then you need to configure your PC to boot from this USB stick. The procedure in Windows would be something similar to the following:

* Connect an empty USB memory with at least 4GB capacity to the PC.
* Download the Phoenix OS ZIP file (x86) from the developer’s website (phoenixos.com/download_x86)
* Download the software «Burning Tool USBMaker» from the same page mentioned.
* Execute the USBMaker-XXXexe file and load or save the Phoenix OS (x86) system in the USB memory as shown in the image:

* At the end of the recording process, the USBMaker will display a finished notice.

* Finally, it will be necessary to configure the PC to boot from the USB memory. Commonly this is done from the PC’s boot mode, which is entered by pressing the «F10» or «Esc» key just after turning on the computer. Which key should be used depends on the brand of the main PC card. Only by configuring this will the PC be able to boot from the USB memory and run the Phoenix OS system.

If the PC has a UEFI boot, it will also be necessary to deactivate the “Secure Boot” system from the indicated boot mode. On Windows, this is checked by typing in the search box msinfo32. After pressing Enter, in “System Summary”, locate the “BIOS Mode” line and verify what type of boot it is. If this line does not appear or nothing is indicated, the computer probably does not have UEFI boot and there is no need to worry about it.

This Android executable can “live” without problems on your USB stick. You can run it on one or the other PC in the way indicated before and use your applications, record games, data, etc. (The data will be saved on the same USB memory, not on the PC). Of course, you should bear in mind that, apparently, this system can only run on PCs with 64-bit processors.

About Phoenix OS
Phoenix OS is a software based on the Android-x86.org project, from the Chinese company Beijin Outstanding Technology, established in December 2014 and formally known as Phoenix Studio, which is currently dedicated to the development of Android-related software.

More information: phoenixos.com