Introducing the First Android-x86 4.4.4 KitKat OS with Linux Kernel 4.0 and GAPPS

Running Android on your PC has never been easier

  Android-x86 4.4.4 KitKat Build 5

Arne Exton, the creator of numerous Linux distros, had the pleasure of informing Softpedia about the immediate availability of a new build of his custom Android-x86 project, based on Android KitKat 4.4.4 and designed to allow users to run Android on their computers.

According to Arne Exton, Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 Build 5 is a total rebuild and replaces all of his previous Android-x86 4.4.4 KitKat builds. The GAPPS package has been added in this release, which means that you have all of Google's apps, including Google Play Store, YouTube, Google+, Google Maps, and Google Play Services.

"What’s the point? Well, if you like your Android phones and all the apps you have installed on it, I’m sure you will also like to run apps from your laptop. Bigger screen, better sound, etc.," says Arne Exton in an email to Softpedia. "You can easily install the system to your hard drive and install new apps."

Implementation of Linux kernel 4.0

The most important part of this announcement is that Arne Exton managed to implement the stable Linux kernel 4.0 into an Android-x86 KitKat operating system. It includes Arne's special 4.0.0-exton-android-x86 kernel, based on the upstream Linux kernel 4.0.0.

At the moment of writing this article, the developers of the official Android-x86 project announced back in April that a new kernel branch is ready for testing, based on vanilla Linux kernel 4.0, but no ISO image is available for download. Therefore, we can only assume that Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 Build 5 is the first to use Linux 4.0 kernel.

Unfortunately, Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 Build 5 is not distributed for free. It costs $9 (€8) and can be purchased from Arne Exton's website, where you will find all the information you need to get started with using Android on your PC.