Google Chrome now lets you run Android apps on Windows and Mac

Google over the weekend announced ARC Welder, a Google Chrome extension that allows users to run Android apps on Windows PCs and Macs. ARC Welder is currently in beta form, and is predominantly designed for developers testing their own applications, but access to it hasn't been restricted.

Users will require APK files for applications they wish to run; these can be obtained from the Google Play Store using a service such as APK Downloader. After loading the APK into ARC Welder, users can choose whether to load the application in landscape or portrait orientation, and in tablet or smartphone form factor.

Not all Android applications are compatible with ARC Welder, with some struggling to recognise mouse input. Apps requiring access to cameras or specific Google Play services will crash almost immediately. 

The ARC Welder extension can be downloaded here.