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AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Microsoft gives up on its ambitious plan to bring Android apps to Windows

Although it hasn’t given up on its plan to bring more apps to Windows 10.

MICROSOFT HAS OFFICIALLY closed down “Project Astoria” – a software tool first announced in 2015 to help developers bring their Android apps to Windows 10 phones, tablets, and PCs.

It’s an abrupt setback to Microsoft’s effort to juice up its struggling mobile platform by building various “Windows Bridges”.

The idea was to make it easy for developers to bring their wares into the Microsoft Windows Store app market, helping alleviate its poor selection compared to the Android and iPhone app stores.

The other two Windows Bridges, Project Centennial (for old-school Windows software) and Project Islandwood (for bringing over iPhone apps), will proceed as planned, the company said in a blog post on Thursday .

Reading between the lines, it sounds like the lion’s share of developers interested in the Windows Bridges are at least partially working on iPhone apps already.

For those few Android-only developers, Microsoft recommends looking into Xamarin - the startup Microsoft bought yesterday for a reported $500 million, which lets developers write a bit of code once and run it anywhere.

News of Project Astoria’s shutdown doesn’t come as much of a surprise. In November, reports emerged that Project Astoria was on indefinite hiatus as its work-in-progress website was unexpectedly taken down.

Other bridges to cross

Basically, Microsoft says in that blog entry, the developers for whom Project Astoria was intended found it to be an unnecessary addition to the Project Islandwood tool for iPhone apps.

“We have carefully considered this feedback and decided that we would focus our efforts on the Windows Bridge for iOS and make it the single Bridge option for bringing mobile code to all Windows 10 devices, including Xbox and PCs,” Microsoft writes in that blog entry.

Microsoft The release of Windows 10 Mobile was originally supposed to be released in November but has been delayed. AP Photo / Richard Drew AP Photo / Richard Drew / Richard Drew

Right now, Microsoft writes, Islandwood is best-suited for bringing iPhone games to Windows 10, with stuff like robust graphics support.

The new focus, with the demise of Project Astoria, is to expand it and make it better for bringing all kinds of iPhone apps over.

Ultimately, the real story here is that while Microsoft may have given up on Project Astoria, it’s still working really hard to bring as many games, apps, and tools to the Windows Store as it possibly can, as it works to bolster Windows 10 and get more people to adopt the new operating system.

Read: This flaw lets attackers take over your PC through your wireless mouse >

Read: A new kind of WiFi could stop it from draining your phone’s battery >

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    Mute Peter King
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:31 PM

    What wrong with single people having to share accommodation with multiple people. I had to do that for years and I never got any rent supplement

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:37 PM

    I’m entitled… the refugees get treated better… the government… Irish water. ..

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    Mute Amanda Whelan
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:49 PM

    So true, but were’t we glad to be done with it – jayus i just could not live with multiple people ever again

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    Mute Al-Right
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:57 PM

    Sharing houses/apartments in fine in your student days, not so good when you’re trying to get a good nights sleep for an important meeting the next day and you’re listening to house-mates trampling around the place at 1am!

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    Mute Joanna
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:58 PM

    It’s not an easy option for everyone. A lot of places advertise for female only tenants for some reason too.

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    Mute Al-Right
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    Jan 26th 2016, 1:07 PM

    Plenty of lands around by the Dublin docks to build something like this: http://www.dezeen.com/2015/10/21/narchitects-my-micro-ny-modular-residential-tower-affordable-housing-new-york-usa-adapt-nyc/

    Which would suit workers in the IFSC, colleges and couples starting off…

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    Mute Papasmurf
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    Jan 26th 2016, 1:25 PM

    That’s true Joanna, and I have to wonder if it’s legal as it is after all, a business. I think that needs to be looked at.

    I also think the upside to this shortage is that it will force unemployed people to find jobs if they want to live in their own home towns or cities. Nothing gets a person out to find a job quicker than the prospect of homelessness or Leitrim. To Hell or to Leitrim so to speak.

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    Mute Zandranalily
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    Jan 26th 2016, 3:21 PM

    “Force unemployed people to get jobs” What jobs? I know people who have been sincerely trying to find work and can’t. This isn’t helped by the financial incentives offered to employers under some schemes to hire people under 25.

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    Mute Donnacha Guapito
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    Jan 26th 2016, 5:01 PM

    They didn’t specify that people weren’t sharing accommodation, just that people would be looking for accommodation as a single person. This is a problem across the board, even for those living in house shares.

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    Mute Nina Prendergast
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    Jan 26th 2016, 11:24 PM

    God, how i hate that word ‘I’m entitled!’ usually said by people on welfare

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    Mute Tom Kelly
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:33 PM

    Carrick-on-Shannon is a nice town. Good pubs, restaurants, cinema, shops, and plenty of parks.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:35 PM

    Any jobs Tom?

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    Mute Tom Kelly
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:42 PM

    Paul, that’s a tough question to answer because you might have to travel to Longford (30 min) or Sligo (40 min).

    Paul the reality is that people that live in Leitrim and surrounding counties do have employment. So you may not get the job you want but hey that’s life.

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    Mute Al-Right
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:55 PM

    Ha ha! Yea, train as a Computer programmer, work in Supermac’s! LOLZ!

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Jan 26th 2016, 1:44 PM

    Carrick is a good town, but make sure you live on a high location away from the Shannon flood zone.

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    Mute John Judd
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:43 PM

    Why should the state increase rental supplements ? If a single person cannot afford to live alone move into shared accommodation !

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jan 26th 2016, 4:28 PM

    Perhaps they want to feel like human beings.

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    Mute Billy T Murphy
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:42 PM

    We promote a social housing society. It’s wrong.

    62
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    Mute Gearóid Ó Briain
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:58 PM

    How? Social housing has been decimated in the last 5 years.

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    Mute Teddington
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    Jan 26th 2016, 1:44 PM

    That’s good news Gearóid, there will undoubtedly be short term pain for a lot of people but if it gets the message across that the state is not going to look after you for your whole life because you’ve decided not to work then it is a good thing in the long term. I simply cannot believe that there are over 100K people looking for social housing, it’s crazy that we as a society allow people to become so dependent on other peoples hard work.

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    Mute SickOfCorruption
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    Jan 26th 2016, 1:59 PM

    ….
    Bill, Ted.
    you forget that every effort has been made in the last decade to ensure the cost of buying or renting has skyrocketed. When two average industrial wages cannot house a couple… the system is broken. Victim blaming is wrong!

    2nd time trying to post

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    Mute Al-Right
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:54 PM

    The headline should read “Earning less than €40,000 a year and flying solo…………”

    Unless you want to live in a pre-’63 bedsit or in a dodgy area in Dublin then you’ll pay a minimum of €1200 a month for something of reasonable standard in Dublin… Add on broadband/tv, water bills etc and you’re up to about €1500 a month before you buy the basics such as food, clothing and travel….

    €40k a year minus your living expenses means you’ll be living on €375 per week, hardly f’ing rolling in it!

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    Mute Papasmurf
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    Jan 26th 2016, 1:35 PM

    My wife would earn 40k a year part-time and I’d earn 50k part time. We still find it difficult enough to make ends meet . I mean, we are not struggling. The bill are paid and paid on time. But we can;t afford holidays at the moment.

    Large car insurance hikes, huge car tax we both pay on our vehicles, and taking out private health insurance thi year for the first time has made any holiday this year a no go area.

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    Mute Clodagh Nic L
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    Jan 26th 2016, 3:00 PM

    Papa smurf I don’t know if you’re joking or not!:/ but if you’re not.. There are really people in worse off situations! Don’t get me wrong we all would like a nice house, cars, and holidays but some people are facing losing their home so not getting a holiday this year is not a major poverty case.. Apologies for being harsh but perspective needs to come into play here! Why not take a few days off and stay home with movies, good food, music etc and make a new holiday if you need to get away from the world for a few days!

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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:48 PM

    Is this a new version of Cromwells to hell or to connaught policy?

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    Mute jamesdoyle
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:35 PM

    ‘Anti-homeless’ bars placed at Tanaiste Joan Burton’s office leaves charity director ‘disgusted’ http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/antihomeless-bars-placed-at-tanaiste-joan-burtons-office-leaves-charity-director-disgusted-34396128.html meanwhile our I phone Joan wants to close the curtain to her windows on austerity and tells the nation about ‘recovery’

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    Mute Reg
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:47 PM

    What a stupid headline and article, it’s not her office. These are social welfare offices on Amien Street. Doubt if iPhone Joan as ever been near the place!

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    Mute Peter Buchanan
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:54 PM

    What needs to be done ? Jobs all round….no more freebies

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    Mute SickOfCorruption
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    Jan 26th 2016, 2:00 PM

    Hey sound guy, fingers crossed you don’t get made redundant

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    Mute Peter Buchanan
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    Jan 26th 2016, 2:13 PM

    get another job……

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    Mute TheCredibleHulk
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    Jan 26th 2016, 1:44 PM

    Most people including the Simon community are missing the point here

    The HAP payment is a supplement ie: something added, make up a deficiency or to add or strengthen a whole amount.

    Not to pay for the whole thing so our scrounger society don’t have to put their hands in their pockets again.

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    Mute Dervilla Keegan
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    Jan 26th 2016, 1:22 PM

    Here’s some info on Leitrim for those who haven’t been http://m.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/10-great-reasons-to-visit-leitrim-30739767.html

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    Mute Trish Ryan
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    Jan 26th 2016, 2:30 PM

    People who work and aren’t getting social are just as bad off, worse really as the government isn’t subsiding their rent.its a real struggle to pay rent and the new capping laws are silly.have spoken to many people lately who’s landlord has increased rent now, before the rental freeze kicks in.

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    Mute ed w
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    Jan 26th 2016, 2:05 PM

    No jobs in leitrim though that’s why rents are so low

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    Mute Eyepopper
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:57 PM

    Jaysus….

    “Single? Can’t afford the rent?

    Things can always get worse.

    Come live in Leitrim!”

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    Mute hightower69r
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:37 PM

    Where is Leitrim? Never heard of it. Is it in Ireland?

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    Mute W1K
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:39 PM

    It’s on planet 9.

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:41 PM

    Leitrim is a state of mind, not an actual place. It is the feeling between depression and hopelessness made corporeal. When people say I live in Leitrim or I’m going to Leitrim it is a cry for help. Take heed and give them an ear and a cup of tea.

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    Mute ted hagan
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    Jan 26th 2016, 2:26 PM

    I wouldn’t start from here.

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    Mute Bernie Linnane
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    Jan 26th 2016, 4:05 PM

    I take it from your post that you won’t be visiting us in Leitrim Patrick.
    This is excellent news.

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jan 26th 2016, 4:49 PM

    I’m only messing with ye.

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    Mute SMcB
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    Jan 26th 2016, 7:09 PM

    Grow up.

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    Mute Stef Joyce
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:41 PM

    And not far from the Border!

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    Mute The Dublin Cynic
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    Jan 26th 2016, 10:53 PM

    why isn’t there an incentive for startups or small business to move to Carrick or somewhere in Leitrim in a business park or similar. Some sort of tax break, grant or even government support.. No? thought not..

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    Mute John H Doherty
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    Jan 26th 2016, 12:54 PM

    What about helping single people to help themselves?

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