Huawei prepares to separate from Android with HarmonyOS Subsequent • The Register
Huawei final week detailed a serious launch of its HarmonyOS that may see the Chinese language big break with the Linux ecosystem.
HarmonyOS was launched in 2019 – initially as an OS for IoT units, however later tailored to run on smartphones and different {hardware}. Huawei advised the OS might run on its wearables, pill computer systems, smartphones, and good TVs, and provide a unified expertise throughout all.
That is lots just like the kind of factor Google can ship with Android, with which HarmonyOS was appropriate.
However between the geopolitical difficulties of cross-border tech transfers, and a want to construct the absolute best providing, by way of 2023 Huawei indicated that it might construct a model of HarmonyOS that broke with the Android ecosystem – even when that meant ache for builders and customers.
Final week, Huawei launched that Android-free providing: HarmonyOS Subsequent. And it claimed it is also created the kernel to energy it – which means Huawei has divorced itself from each Android and Linux. Execs claimed the kernel outperforms Linux on some metrics, together with reminiscence effectivity.
Customers had been teased with a trailer video that confirmed off what seems to be like a UI that has borrowed lots from iOS and mainstream Android cuts from the likes of Samsung and Oppo.
Huawei has promised HarmonyOS Subsequent will debut for customers in This fall of 2024, and that by then it can have educated hundreds of thousands of builders and secured hundreds of native apps to run on the OS. A model for builders has been promised for imminent launch.
In periods for builders, Huawei detailed the innards of the OS and the way it will ship with all the fundamental apps and providers customers will count on – stuff like maps, picture administration, and a calculator – and the developer instruments it is created.
Huawei has additionally developed an “open” model of HarmonyOS Subsequent – presumably within the hope that third events would possibly think about the OS to energy their very own units.
The developer push and attainable OEM adoption of HarmonyOS Subsequent are as vital because the software program itself. If Huawei can develop an ecosystem of third-party gamers, it might create a viable different to the Android/iOS duopoly.
Huawei’s revived smartphone vary has been hailed as a patriotic different for Chinese language consumers. But even a few hundred million Huawei units operating HarmonyOS Subsequent wouldn’t be a big problem to Apple and Google outdoors China.
Nor would different Chinese language handset-makers adopting the OS essentially make a distinction. Recall that Microsoft signed up the likes of HTC, LG, and Samsung to construct Home windows Cellphone handsets, however could not crack the market. Solely Samsung stays a drive within the handset market – and it is all-in on Android.
Huawei has one big benefit: China’s authorities is on its aspect and has already let it’s recognized that it might relatively authorities employees do not use iOS for official enterprise. Had been China’s governments to sign a desire for HarmonyOS, the platform might grow to be a de facto customary behind the Nice Firewall. ®