Developer beta for Huawei's Google-free HarmonyOS is here – but you may need to Google Translate the docs
- Reference: 1608291010
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/12/18/huawei_harmonyos_beta/
- Source link:
The software (which started life as an IoT operating system with a commercial debut on a smart TV, hence the 2.0) is supposed to serve as Huawei's insurance policy against losing access to the Google-made Android mobile OS, which powers its entire mobile portfolio.
Huawei opted to use the operating system across four phones and one tablet, the P40, P40 Pro, Mate30, Mate30 Pro, and MatePad Pro. The embattled Chinese mobile giant – which has seen its sales share retreat across its international markets, as well as in Mainland China – has promised to extend availability to other devices in its portfolio in the coming months.
HarmonyOS shouldn't prove too jarring as it uses the same EMUI 11 interface as Huawei's Android-based devices. Meanwhile, on the developer front, the HarmonyOS Arc compiler plays nice with all the usual mobile development programming languages, including Java, JavaScript, Kotlin, C and C++, with the option to define app layouts using XML.
Huawei [1]formally introduced HarmonyOS in mid-2019 , initially aiming the platform at embedded devices, but with the capability to encompass broader general computing platforms like phones, tablets, and laptops. At the time, Huawei insisted it was committed to the Android platform long-term, despite the [2]US sanctions that were imposed just months before, which prevent it from licensing [3]Google's proprietary apps .
In the months since, the US government has increased its pressure on Huawei, taking efforts to curtail its supply chain. Within that context, it makes sense that Huawei would try to limit its dependence on foreign technologies. In September, it [4]formally announced it would port HarmonyOS to its mobile devices , with the inaugural devices available to consumers in 2021.
Huawei claims it has already attracted more than 120 mainstream app developers to HarmonyOS. These developers, which mostly serve the Mainland Chinese market, include China UnionPay, Youku Video, and JD.com. It also says 100,000-plus developers have "joined the HarmonyOS ecosystem", although it's not clear how many of those are committed to building for the platform, and how many signed up out of curiosity.
Those with compatible devices who are eager to give HarmonyOS a spin can [5]apply to access the beta here , with the software delivered as an OTA update. Note that much of the documentation – as well as the sign-up page itself – is in Chinese. Ironically, Google Translate is your friend. ®
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[1] https://www.theregister.com/2019/08/09/huawei_harmonyos/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2019/05/15/president_trump_huawei_emergency_ban/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2020/02/26/huawei_google_embargo_exemption_plea/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2020/09/10/go_huawei_android_chinese_telco/
[5] https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/cn/activity/301607581257578636
[6] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Absolutely.
I don't know what Huawei's plans are for HarmonyOS, but if they licence it freely to other manufacturers then it might gain traction.
OTOH, with AOSP also available, HarmonyOS may well end up as just another minor OS of interest with a tiny market share compared to Android (See Fire OS, Tizen, Sailfish OS etc.)
Thank you. As an American I believe it is to China's favorite to develop their own OS, regardless of which thanks to the global attention. I can't reassure it's Trump's fault, as I really do believe it was inevitable (he most certainly sped it along), but once China has something then Android, iOS, Windows Mobile (too soon?) will no longer be able to sleep in their thrones.
Turning from the topic a bit, in hardware China is making in-roads on x86 "compatibility" for alternatives CPU's and are already selling "spec" x86 CPU hardware. Cloned or not, more and more Chinese designed and made hardware is out there. At some point, China will have it's own I.B.M., but I do wonder who will try to stop that being it now seems impossible to stop.
I look forward to a review comparing it with Android as to the amount of data sent to the mother-ships.
I won't miss Android
Let's be honest, the list of reasons why Android sucks is lengthy, and grows with every version. And that's true even if you ignore the whole "Google is Evil" thing.
I'm happy to see any serious challenger, and am sure that Huawei is a company that could pull it off.
This could go either way. It may well be a footnote in history. But it could end up that Trump fired the gun which holed Android and sank the global American tech hegemony.