BlueStacks App Player

Despite the looks and capabilities of smart phones and tablets, their screens can't be compared with a 22 inch, wide-screen monitor. Unfortunately, mobile apps are not compatible with PCs, so you can't enjoy them on a large monitor. This is where BlueStacks App Player comes in. It enables you to run mobile apps on Windows PCs and Mac OS X platforms. You can play your favorite games, download new apps, send them to your mobile device and much more.

BlueStacks App Player is still in its Beta stage and you can use it for free, during this period. Its setup file is 8.73 MB and it takes about one or two minutes to install the core components. The software provides support for Windows XP, Vista, Win 7 and Win 8, as well as various Mac OS X versions.

The user interface resembles a mobile platform, due to its familiar layout and functionality. Instead of tapping with your finger, you must point and click with your mouse. Besides that, if you have a laptop, you can use its touchpad to play or browse, regardless of the pointer's position. When you need to type something, a virtual keyboard will show up on the screen, but you can use the real keyboard as well. Apps are displayed as large thumbnails and you can launch them immediately with a single click. The installed apps and the ones that are available for downloading are displayed on different pages, which can be accessed via navigation buttons, in the upper area of the interface.

While running an app or going through BlueStacks App Player's general settings, you can return to the main apps pages instantly, by clicking a Home button, located in the lower center of the screen, just like on a tablet or smart phone. Besides the Home button, you can also find buttons for navigating backwards, displaying additional options, in apps or other sections of the interface, accessing the general settings menu and switching between full screen and windowed mode.

New apps can be installed in two ways. You can browse through the Top Charts and click an app, to display options for installing it on your computer or directly on your mobile device, if it's plugged into your computer. Once you click the Install option, BlueStacks App Player will take you to the app's page, on Google Play. Alternatively, you can use the program's built-in search function, to locate specific apps. The results are displayed on a small window, within the main user interface. The found apps are displayed with options for installing them or sending them to your phone. Installed apps can be sent to a phone immediately, by clicking an option, on their thumbnails.

Apps can be sent in both directions. Besides sending them to your phone, you can also send apps and other contents from your phone to your computer, by using BlueStacks App Player's synchronization function. Furthermore, the program allows you to synchronize your data, between a computer and a phone, via the Cloud, so you don't have to connect your phone with a cable.