bourbiza mohamed
Abstract
- Huawei’s HarmonyOS will quickly drop assist for all Android libraries, which means customers will not be capable to sideload or set up Android APKs on Huawei telephones working the upcoming HarmonyOS Subsequent.
- Main Chinese language tech corporations are hiring HarmonyOS app builders forward of the HarmonyOS Subsequent developer preview, signaling a transfer in the direction of native apps for Huawei’s telephones.
- Whereas HarmonyOS is already working on over 700 million gadgets in China, the implications of dropping Android app assist on Huawei’s worldwide telephones stay unclear.
The US sanctions knocked the wind out of Huawei’s smartphone enterprise. Because of the ban, the Chinese language firm couldn’t use US expertise in its telephones, which additionally minimize off its entry to Android. To make sure its survival and as part of its technique to diversify away from US tech, Huawei introduced HarmonyOS in August 2019, its cross-platform Android substitute. Regardless of the corporate claiming in any other case, the OS was primarily based on Android and supported Android apps. 4 years later, Huawei seems able to ditch Android app assist in its OS.
HarmonyOS telephones bought in China have by no means shipped with entry to Google Play Companies and the Play Retailer. However for the reason that underlying OS was primarily based on Android, you would sideload common Android apps from third-party app shops with ease. With HarmonyOS Subsequent — the upcoming main launch of Huawei’s working system, the Chinese language firm will drop assist for all Android libraries. This successfully means it will not be potential to sideload or set up Android APKs on Huawei telephones working HarmonyOS Subsequent.
A South China Morning Publish report claims that main Chinese language tech corporations like JD.com, Netease, and Meituan are hiring HarmonyOS app builders to construct native apps for Huawei’s telephones. This transfer comes forward of the HarmonyOS Subsequent developer preview launching in Q1 2024. A Pandaily report additional confirms this and claims HarmonyOS Subsequent will solely assist the “HAP” set up bundle.
Whereas Huawei formally introduced HarmonyOS Subsequent earlier this 12 months, little is understood concerning the modifications it would convey moreover dropping Android app assist. The OS itself might proceed to make use of AOSP as its base however skip together with assist for Android app libraries.
Even then, the implications of this transfer on Huawei’s telephones bought internationally are unclear. Whereas such telephones additionally miss out on Play Retailer assist, you would sideload common Android apps on them. With out the required app libraries, although, this would possibly not be potential. Given the corporate’s minuscule worldwide market share, it is seemingly not too anxious about this.
HarmonyOS powers greater than smartphones — it is usually discovered on Huawei’s different gadgets, together with tablets, smartwatches, and IoT merchandise. It’s seemingly already working on over 700 million gadgets in China, with 2.2 million app builders creating apps for the platform.
Huawei’s transfer to drop Android app assist in HarmonyOS comes simply because it has made a robust comeback within the Chinese language smartphone market following the discharge of the Mate 60 collection in China. Within the quarter ending September, the corporate reported a 37% YoY enhance in smartphone gross sales due to its new telephones regardless of the general market shrinking.
Curiously, Xiaomi additionally lately unveiled its new OS and MIUI substitute, HyperOS. Like HarmonyOS, the corporate claims HyperOS will energy all its gadgets from completely different segments and provide deep integration. Nevertheless, that OS remains to be primarily based on Android and helps sideloading of APKs.
