HarmonyOS: Huawei presents its Android alternative
Huawei presented HarmonyOS at its developer conference. The operating system is intended to replace Android on smartphones and also run on other devices.
After the USA blacklisted Huawei in May 2019 and only allowed Google to collaborate on Android for a transitional period, the Chinese company made no secret of the fact that it was working on its own operating system. However, it remained unclear how far the development had progressed and for which devices the software was suitable - until now.
Not just for smartphones
HarmonyOS has a modular structure and consists of small individual parts, according to Huawei. The microkernels are designed to make the software particularly customisable. This means that new functions can be added easily and bugs can be fixed quickly. The software can also be used on many different devices. It will be used in smartphones, smart loudspeakers, wearables, computers and cars, among others, and form a common ecosystem on the various devices.
Huawei plans to use HarmonyOS on "smart products with screens" first. This should be the case in 2019. The focus is initially on China, where the operating system is called Hongmeng. The development of the software appears to be well advanced. Huawei is talking about being able to replace Android as soon as necessary. The Mate 30 Pro expected for autumn could be the first smartphone with HarmonyOS.
Huawei is releasing HarmonyOS as open source software. This means that developers can not only use and customise the code for their own products, but also put the operating system through its paces. In other words, the security and integrity of the software can be independently verified.
With the presentation of HarmonyOS, the company is showing its customers and investors that it is ready for a future without Android. Whether the operating system can prevail is still written in the stars. An important building block for this is the "HUAWEI ARK Compiler", which developers can use to customise their Android apps for HarmonyOS with little effort. Because without the right apps, even the best operating system remains without users.
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