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Apology accepted. 😇
The standalone version shares the same boosters with the browser version. Just checked once again and friends seem to be the same too. The latter are saved on the server together with progress and gold bars. Just lives are not shared.
If you opt to play through an emulator, you will start with no boosters, as it's basically a new device/installation, and boosters cannot be transferred between devices, nor kept upon reinstallation (unless you have an iOS device and back up the game but this isn't the case). Your levels, gold bars and friends can be retrieved through your Facebook or King account.
The benefit of the mobile version (through an emulator) is you can get video ads, provided they work on your account in the first place. If your account doesn't have ads, then it makes no difference to you and you can just use the standalone version, since it doesn't require other software (Internet browser or mobile emulator) to work.
The game has been ruined and the administrators are too stubborn/stupid/out of touch with players to admit it and go back to the playable version. I've played every morning for years. Yesterday and today and, I guess, for the foreseeable future, no more Candy Crush.
I want to be polite but the truth shows that the designers are idiots that's what it speaks for.
Otherwise you wouldn't even consider making such changes to this game.
And if only they would ask for feedback before introducing such (idiotic) change.
I hate this game now that I have enjoyed playing it for years.