Microsoft improves the Windows subsystem for Android

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1647020090 android 1 1 1000x600.jpg
1647020090 android 1 1 1000x600.jpg

The Windows Subsystem for Android is, without a doubt, one of the most relevant novelties coming from the hand of Windows 11. With this component of the system, normally identified by its acronym in English, WSA, came the compatibility of the system with Android applications, allowing (with some limitations, yes) that they can be executed in Windows, more specifically in a virtualized environment within of the system.

And now, shortly after the arrival of the first “big” update of Windows 11, the 22H1, all the insiders of the Windows program, regardless of the channel they are on, have started receiving an update to the Windows Subsystem for Android. And it is an important update, since it brings some news expected by users, in addition to confirming that WSA continues to be a priority for Redmond.

In this new version of the Windows subsystem for Android, which insiders can obtain through the Microsoft Store (its version number is 2203.40000.1.0), which is a beta and therefore we recommend that it not be installed on production, it is finally enabled long-awaited support for playing H.264 video with hardware acceleration. Let’s remember that H.264 is one of the most used formats in video streaming services, which is why this support was expected by so many.

Microsoft improves the Windows subsystem for Android

It also goes a step further in integrating apps running on the Windows Subsystem for Android into the host system. And it is that, with this new version, the elements of any type (links, buttons, etc.) that point to an email address, it will open in the application configured in the operating system for mail management.

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Among other novelties, now also 4x MSAA antialiasing can be disabled, a useful function in some Android games, but until now it was forced in all cases. Microsoft is also working on the connectivity features of the Windows Subsystem for Android, and while this hasn’t translated into any visible changes yet, there should be changes in the “guts” of WSA, which is why Microsoft is asking insiders who provide as much feedback as possible if they encounter any connectivity problems in the apps.

We do not know when this new version of the Windows subsystem for Android will reach all Windows users, but since it has been released in all insider channels, including the preview channel (the most stable), we can interpret that it will be soon.