Highlights
- HarmonyOS NEXT will not support Android apps
- Huawei aims for a “completely independent” platform
- AI for Harmony and improved Xiaoyi introduced
- HarmonyOS NEXT promises a 30% performance boost
Huawei has now revealed that it will turn all of its chips toward HarmonyOS NEXT.
That makes this platform a lot interesting since there will be no support for Android apps on this operating system.
Huawei’s Harmony OS Next is not compatible with Android APK files.
Finally, a worthy contender to both Android and iOS.
Source – Whylab (Weibo) https://t.co/foQF92Wizo pic.twitter.com/TSBAf4QaHs— Nithin Prasad (@_the_tech_guy) June 22, 2024
Now, that is quite a bold strategy, given the fact that it now totally decouples Huawei from the entire Android ecosystem.
A little background
Since those were banned in 2020 and it all went topsy-turvy into what Huawei did business with, they have been on a mission to make HarmonyOS work.
It started out as just an Android clone, but it’s evolved since then.
With HarmonyOS NEXT, they’re taking the biggest leap yet.
What the update is lacking and what can therefore be called its biggest shocker is the Android app support.
Yes, that’s correct; Huawei is completely divorcing Android apps.
They’ve been making claims that this new platform is “completely independent” and doesn’t use any Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code.
But it’s not just about what they’ve taken away.
Huawei’s added some pretty interesting features:
- AI for Harmony: Huawei’s version of artificial intelligence that, through them, can generate images, repair sound—apparently useful in some cases for people who have speech disorders—and can even describe images to visually impaired people.
- Improved Xiaoyi: Fans of Huawei’s virtual assistant, Xiaoyi, meet an improvement – a smarter one. You may even ditch the wake word; drag and drop using the content and navigation bar – it will figure what to do with it.
- Star Shield Security: Huawei is not joking around with security: stringent app vetting, multi-device data encryption, and even hardware-level encryption for single files.
Huawei’s claiming some impressive numbers as well- a 30% improvement in performance with a 20% drop in power consumption.
If that holds up in real-world use, it could be a game-changer.
When Can We Get Our Hands on It?
Well, not just yet.
HarmonyOS NEXT is still in development.
There’s a limited beta test happening in China right now, but the full release isn’t scheduled until Q4 2024.
That’s quite a wait, but it gives developers time to get their apps ready for the new platform.
What Does This Mean for Users?
It is a huge gamble on the part of Huawei—that an ecosystem would be so compelling that people would want to forget Android apps.
It’ll be really interesting to see how it all plays out.
Will developers jump on board?
Will users be willing to give up their favorite Android apps?
But one thing’s for sure—courage is not something that Huawei is lacking.
All their cards are placed on their vision for the future of mobile operating systems.
Whether this strategy will pan out or not, you got to salute the courage.
FAQs
What is HarmonyOS NEXT?
HarmonyOS NEXT is Huawei’s latest operating system, designed to be completely independent from Android, with no support for Android apps.
Why is Huawei removing Android app support in HarmonyOS NEXT?
Huawei aims to create a unique, independent platform that does not rely on Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code, offering its own ecosystem and features.
What new features does HarmonyOS NEXT offer?
HarmonyOS NEXT includes AI for Harmony, improved Xiaoyi virtual assistant, and Star Shield Security, which provides enhanced security measures.
When will HarmonyOS NEXT be available?
HarmonyOS NEXT is currently in limited beta testing in China, with a full release expected in Q4 2024.
Also Read: Huawei Clarifies Global Market Support Amid New HarmonyOS Update
Also Read: Huawei’s HarmonyOS empowering new ecosystem of devices: Easier to use and smarter than ever
Also Read: Huawei rolls out a range of HarmonyOS 2-powered products
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