YouWave

YouWave runs Android apps on your Windows PC. A big, beefy piece of software that creates a virtual Android environment inside Windows, YouWave is hardly app-like itself, and the apps it runs don't always transition well from the little touchscreen to the big window. But YouWave runs your favorite Android apps on your PC, and that's more than enough for many users. YouWave isn't free, but you can try it free for 10 days.

Pros

One app for all: Many users rely more on Android apps than Windows programs for banking, time management, and other important functions. YouWave's ability to run those apps on your Windows PC lets you use one application for each function.

Payment options: YouWave is compatible with Google Wallet and PayPal transactions, though many apps are free.

Windows content: You can open Windows folders and files from inside YouWave's virtual environment.

Cons

Better performers available: Many popular apps started out as Windows programs, and others already offer Windows versions with the same functionality but better performance. Others (like games) offer Webware versions.

Display: The emulated Android environment YouWave displays inside Windows lacks the crispness and clarity of Android devices, especially when apps are blown up to Windows size. Navigation and other actions also suffer in the translation from touch to click.

Bottom Line

While specific software for Windows or Android will give the best performance, YouWave's ability to run thousands of Android apps inside Windows and use the same apps across platforms will appeal to many users.

Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of YouWave 3.20.