Android apps to run on iPad with Alien Dalvik 2.0

Android apps will now be able to run on Apple's iPad and a host of other non-Android devices, courtesy of new software from the crew at Myriad Group.

Announced yesterday, Myriad's Alien Dalvik 2.0 will support Android apps on tablets, e-books, TVs, and even cars.

Initially unveiled for the MeeGo OS earlier this year, the software allows most Android Package--also known as APK--files to run on a myriad of devices with little or no tweaking, according to the company. Users can simply trigger the APK file to install and then launch the app on their chosen device.

"From a user perspective, Alien Dalvik 2.0 is completely transparent and installed without user disruption," Myriad Group said in a statement. "Users simply enjoy the same rich Android ecosystem they have become accustomed to via mobile on other key screens, such as playing Angry Birds on HDTV."

Through its new software, Myriad is looking to push Android forward as a single standard, benefiting both users and developers. Mobile app designers would be able to create "once and use many times" apps that can run on a variety of platforms and screens with essentially no modifications required.

"We have seen incredible momentum in Android adoption, but we are just scratching the surface," Myriad CEO Simon Wilkinson said in a statement. "Digital screens such as Internet-enabled TVs and in-vehicle displays, along with other consumer devices like tablets and e-books are proliferating at an astounding rate. Consumers are driving multimedia evolution and are demanding more converged multi-screen services."

Myriad plans to pull back the curtains on Alien Dalvik 2.0 at next week's CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2011 conference by showing Android apps running on an iPad for the first time. The company dubs itself a global leader in mobile technology, having shipped more than 3.8 billion mobile apps, including browsers, social networking software, and middleware, for a range of mobile phones.