Google’s popular Android operating system is typically associated with RISC-powered ARM devices such as smartphones and tablets.
But AMD – which champions x86 architecture – wants to help shake up the OS status quo.
As such, AMD is investing an unspecified amount of cash in BlueStacks, a company that recently debuted a platform enabling Android apps to run fast and full-screen on Windows-based devices.
According to AMD exec Manju Hegde, the two corporations are actively collaborating to optimize BlueStacks for use with tablet and notebook PCs powered by x86 APUs – which will allow Windows users to access over 200,000 Android apps.
“Bluestacks is a visionary software company that is, seamlessly, making the emerging Android mobile apps market part of the broader computing ecosystem and enhancing such experiences on our APU platforms,” said Hegde.
“[We are] committed to support such game changing innovators through investment and other activity as we work together to usher in new experiences that allow consumers to enjoy the full capabilities of the [advanced] graphics and computing performance enabled by AMD.”
It should be noted that Intel is also collaborating with Google in an effort to optimize Android for its upcoming Medfield chip.
Both industry heavyweights are likely hedging their bets ahead of Windows 8, which could prove to be a game changer for both x86 and ARM-powered tablets.
