Recently we took a quick look at the ViewSonic Windows/Android tablet, which turned out to be a Windows machine running a layer of software that allow Android applications to run. Now that software has gone mainstream. BlueStacks has unleashed an alpha version of the Android emulation platform that promises to bring the joy of Android to Windows desktops everywhere. Read on for the details …

Windows users who have been looking to enjoy the simplicity of Android apps can get at it now. In my ViewSonic tablet blog, I questioned whether people really wanted this style of “Android on Windows” integration, and thought it disingenuous that ViewSonic would label it as a “Windows/Android” tablet if it really wasn’t natively running Android. But with that subterfuge gone, the straight-up idea of running Android apps on Windows has the potential to be brilliant. Why? Not for Windows 7, but rather Windows 8.

BlueStacks promises to bring the same multi-touch love and support that Android users want to Windows devices. If developers for Android don’t have to switch gears to write Metro apps, but instead just need to release their Android apps and point users to the BlueStacks application, the world of Android applications on Windows 8 tablets is an easy experience to provide, with basically zero need to port code. I’m sure developers could even create a Metro-style tile for the BlueStacks/Android application, making the emulation nearly seamless. Will this shift the balance of those previously gearing up to develop Windows 8 metro applications?

The answer will come based purely on whether or not BlueStacks catches on. I’ll be running BlueStack through its paces as soon I dust off my Windows 7 machine. In the meantime, check out Myriad’s Alien Dalvik moves on the iPad, which similarly emulates Android apps on iOS. Could the future of Android be not just on devices, but in emulation?

Mac users don’t worry — you’re on deck for BlueStacks’ Android emulation support, but it’s not quite out yet.