The gaming world has leant heavily on the console as a primary medium of enjoying the latest and greatest titles, and with the recent emergence of mobile-based action, companies are now trying to bring the mass of quality apps back to the traditional console format. BlueStacks, the company behind the popular Android emulation app for Windows and Mac, recently announced its GamePop console aimed at competing with the likes of the OUYA by allowing players to enjoy Android-based titles on their TV, and to add to that, it looks as though support for iOS games will also be added to the GamePop’s repertoire.

BlueStacks has built its solid reputation on providing software which enables Android apps to run on a variety of different platforms besides Google’s. With the Windows beta version released last year to some 5 million+ downloads and the OS X beta arriving just six weeks ago, the BlueStacks team has now compiled a version adapted to the relatively-new Windows 8 platform, as well as optimization for the Microsoft Surface Pro. Details after the break.

BlueStacks’ mobile app player has long since allowed Windows users to run Android apps on their PCs, and with that service receiving positive reviews to date, it’s fair to say that it’s a big hit. Today though, Mac users too can now enjoy just about any Google Play app thanks to the latest beta of BlueStacks for Mac, and with such a wealth of content now available for those on Android, the update will be more than welcomed by many.

The chances are that if you are an owner of a desktop or notebook computer, powerful smartphone or tablet. then at some point you might have felt the need of accessing work based packages such as word processors, presentation creators and spread sheet applications. Generally speaking, a lot of us have software suites such as Apple’s iWork or Microsoft’s Office but if we require the freedom to work anywhere, from any machine, then it could be possible that we have checked out OnLive Desktop to accomplish this task.

The mobile app development business is a funny old game. Designing and developing quality apps takes an extremely unique skill set, something that often gets overlooked by a lot of people due to the fact that anyone with a computer can throw some code together and bundle it onto the relevant app stores for people to download without having a second thought about the experience. True developers on the other hand live and breathe through their creations with good code flowing like poetry, and when mixed together with flawless design, makes up for an amazing app.

A plethora of apps, programs and devices were showcased at this year’s CES – many of which are unlikely to ever see the light of day in the actual consumer market.

BlueStacks, the Android runtime development environment could be turned into a viable business after the company received $7.6m in Series A funding and has now signed a partnership with Citrix.

Ever wanted to try out an Android app but don’t have an actual Android device handy? An iOS user and often wondered how the other half lives? If the answer is yes, then BlueStacks is for you.