Do you have experience with the Windows Open GApps Android functionality of automatic generation of up-to-date Google Apps packages? opengapps.org

[Arlen Holder]

Do you have experience with the Windows GApps Android functionality of
automatic generation of up-to-date Google Apps packages?
o If so, can you advise the rest of us how we might make use of GApps?
<https://i.postimg.cc/QdP2wcgX/as09.jpg>

Here's a potentially intriguing quote from the GApps web site itself:
"The Open GApps packages merely provide a convenient way
to sideload APKs to your device."

It's always good to have _another_ way to load Android from Windows
o (I already have a bunch of ways, but am always looking for new ways.)

ACTUAL PROBLEM SET:
1. I was experimenting with a free Windows Genymotion Android emulator.
o Tutorial Installing Android Studio 4.1.1 on Windows 10 (AMD CPU)
<https://groups.google.com/g/comp.mobile.android/c/g3ymz5CPsIk>

2. Soon, a bug in the Windows Genymotion Desktop 3.1.2 came up.
"Open GApps archive is corrupted"
<https://i.postimg.cc/QdP2wcgX/as09.jpg>
Hence, no Google Apps (e.g., Google Play) could be installed.
Bummer. Luckily, Genymotion has great bug documentation, bar none.
o Installing Open GApps fail with error Open GApps archive is corrupted
<https://support.genymotion.com/hc/en-us/articles/360015897698>
<https://docs.genymotion.com/desktop/3.1/03_Virtual_devices/033_Emulating_sensors_and_features.html#alternative-method-from-the-opengapps-website>

3. The main workaround was to use this "GApps" open-source project.
<https://opengapps.org/#aboutsection>

I had never before even heard of this "GApps" open source Google Apps site.
o Do you ever use the GApps site on Android or Windows?

Note: I already never use Google Play on my "real" phone, nor F-Droid, as
the Aurora Project makes _both_ obsolete in very many wonderful free ways.
o <https://auroraoss.com/downloads.php>

This is, supposedly, the "highlights" of the OpenGapps.org web site:
o All platforms and all Android versions are supported
o DPI-optimized support for all Google packages (unlike other GApps)
o Frequently updated Google Apps:
The pre-built OpenGApps.org packages are updated every (European) night
(if there are any updated Google Apps available)
o Strong compression
allowing for relatively small downloads of even the most complete packages
o Automatic backup:
It is not necessary to re-flash Google Apps when you flash a ROM update.
Most ROMs support this (addon.d) function
o The installer checks your device┬ capabilities, like the system
partition size. It will notify you, before making any changes,
if it finds any problems
o Several package variations, from a Google Super Package
(includes all applications that ever shipped on a Google device),
to a Stock package that equals the set of applications found on the most
current and complete Nexus, to smaller, minimalist packages and an AROMA
package that allows graphical selection of what to install
o A special for Stock ROM installation mode that allows to update
the Google Apps on Stock ROMs that conform to the original Google Nexus
filesystem structure
o All package installations can be customized to your individual
preferences using our exclusive Advanced Features and Options

In summary, this concept of "GApps" is brand new to me, out of the blue.

Do you have experience with the Windows GApps Android functionality of
automatic generation of up-to-date Google Apps packages?
o If so, can you advise the rest of us how we might make use of GApps?
--
Posted, as always, so that we can learn from what you can impart to us.

[Arlen Holder]

UPDATE:
<https://docs.genymotion.com/saas/latest/04_Basic_Steps.html#installing-open-gapps>

There are so many ways to install APKs on Android, even with the emulator
on Windows, that I solved the original problem by sharing my entire Windows
hard disk drive with the Android emulator, and then I simply tapped on the
APKs to install them from Windows onto the emulated Android device.
o <https://i.postimg.cc/XqBY6xT8/emulated02.jpg>

This is the NewPipe freeware YouTube clone on steroids app, for example:
o <https://i.postimg.cc/056zRLBY/emulate01.jpg>

For example, on Windows, you can use NewPipe instead of youtube-dl.exe:
o <https://i.postimg.cc/1zsvNCRj/emulate03.jpg>

Plus, Genymotion has a beta Windows desktop 3.2.0 which contains a fix to
the GApps error, so I could just as well have used that as a workaround:
o <https://www.genymotion.com/download-beta/>

Nonetheless, the _original_ question remains even as the original problem
has been resolved, in that the question here is for information about
GApps, which seems potentially useful as a Google replacement source.

While experimenting, I found more information about this elusive GApps
repository, over here, in the Genymotion documentation for installing apps:
o Installing Open GApps (in Genymotion Android emulators on Windows)
<https://docs.genymotion.com/saas/latest/04_Basic_Steps.html#installing-open-gapps>

"The application you are developing or testing may require an interaction
with Google Play Services (e.g.: in-app purchasing, advertising, etc.).
However, for Intellectual Property reasons, Google Apps (Gmail, Drive,
Calendar...) and Google Play services are not included in Genymotion
virtual devices by default. You need to install them via Open GApps."

In summary, if you have useful experience with the opengapps.org
Windows Open GApps Android functionality, please let us all know how we
might take advantage of this seemingly obscure potentially useful tool.
--
Posted, as always, out of the goodness of my heart to learn & be helpful.