The title translates toHongmeng system will reportedly be incompatible with Android next year, industry experts say there is indeed such a plan internally, how should we view this? What impact will it bring if implemented?
Caixin News, November 20th - It has been reported recently that HarmonyOS NEXT, the developer preview version of Hongmeng OS, is currently not compatible with Android Huawei may launch an incompatible version of Hongmeng OS next year Insiders in the industry have stated to reporters, Huawei does indeed have this plan internally, which is to launch an incompatible version of Hongmeng OS next year However, there has not been any official notice issued internally, so the specific release date is not yet clear (Securities Times) Rumors are circulating online that Hongmeng OS will be incompatible with Android next year Insiders confirm this plan within the company
Spreading Selfish Interests Online
Why spread rumors and keep the benefits for oneself, while blaming others?
The Differentiated Marketing of Android and Honeymoon Systems
There are too many systems that are incompatible with Android, but the Lotus phone will definitely not use that thing. What the Lotus phone has always used is the disguised Android system, known as the Honeymoon OS.
From Light Honeymoon, Open Honeymoon, to Honeymoon NT… It has been four years since 2019, but the pollen still praises the Honeymoon system as smooth and easy to use, while also insulting netizens. But in the end, they still have to rely on Android apps. Even the pollen club does not have a Honeymoon version. They keep boasting, but their IQ is really low.
To criticize Android while using it is like biting the hand that feeds you.
The purpose of messing around with these Honeymoon systems or Honeymoon-like systems is only one - marketing and differentiation. They aim to prevent consumers from directly comparing horizontally, and to leave room for the likes of “no*a11se”. For example: Honeymoon + 8G > Android + 12G, Honeymoon + 4G > 5G, and so on.
Huawei’s Ecological Transition Issue
I have already answered many questions about HarmonyOS before.
But if we want to discuss this, let’s first turn the page on what was previously mentioned.
Can it be done? It can definitely be done.
Because Apple has already set an example - the ARM version of MacBook.
I have been using the M series Mac for work for a long time now, and I can say that it is very user-friendly.
All the commonly used software is available, such as IDE, Office, Navicat, Tencent Video, WeChat, QQ, VS Code, etc.
I have witnessed the process of these applications transitioning from needing translation through Rosetta to native support.
It can be said that if I don’t play games, run large models, or use some professional design software, then the ARM Mac perfectly meets my needs. It has low power consumption, beautiful appearance, excellent battery life, and extremely high energy efficiency.
The most important thing is that even when running four or five IDEs, dozens of web pages, and dozens of documents, it still operates smoothly and has outstanding battery life. This is indeed the advantage of ARM.
But what if I occasionally want to play some nostalgic games? What about AAA titles?
What if my work requires support from specialized software?
So, I have a Windows computer with a GTX 4090 at home.
Therefore, you can see that the market share of Mac has always been the same every year, not small, but it is difficult to achieve breakthrough growth.
Now, let’s get back to Huawei.
Huawei currently has a new device market share of over 20% in China, and a stock device market share of over 15%.
If Huawei decides to make an ecological transition, then referring to Mac, as long as it adapts to the top 100 apps, there shouldn’t be much of a problem.
With such a large market share, major manufacturers cannot be overlooked. In fact, adapting to HarmonyOS may even help attract new customers.
The adaptation of public apps, such as Sue e Xing and Smart Nanjing, will also be resolved through specific means.
But it is difficult to achieve perfect adaptation for apps outside of the top 100.
Apps mainly popular in overseas markets are also challenging.
For example, if I buy a Netgear router and happen to use a Huawei phone, if Huawei updates to a system that is incompatible with Android, and my router software is not immediately adapted, does that mean the router becomes useless? I would have to change my phone or router.
This problem is difficult to solve.
Based on my personal judgment, if Huawei decides to transition its ecosystem, there is a high probability that they will emulate Apple and develop a Rosetta compiler or integrate a small AOSP runtime to run native Android apps.
Compatibility Conversion Requirements between HarmonyOS and Android APK files
The term “incompatibility” here refers to HarmonyOS no longer being able to directly open and install native Android APK files.
However, I hope that Android APK files can be converted to a certain extent to be able to open and install on HarmonyOS. This conversion can be done at the code level or through encapsulated interfaces/containers. The operation should be simple, and the amount of work should be minimal.
Based on this compatibility conversion relationship, it does not prevent “iOS, HarmonyOS, and Android from being three independent systems in the future.” Moreover, at the present stage or for a long period of time, only visible independence that can achieve such compatibility has commercial significance.
HarmonyOS has now become or is approaching becoming the third largest independent operating system in practice. I hope that Huawei will not follow certain opinions or desires that do not understand the business and achieve so-called complete independence and complete incompatibility. The timing is not right, and it is meaningless.
Some people may not understand, so let’s give a small example.
The three giants of industrial software, Siemens' UG, Dassault’s CATIA, and PTC’s Creo, have high barriers. However, each industrial software claims to be compatible with other tools. Aren’t they independent of each other? They are definitely independent, but it doesn’t prevent them from being mutually compatible.
HarmonyOS: Leading the Way with Unstoppable Force
HarmonyOS, derived from Android, can it really remain incompatible with Android in the end? Initially, I thought that being “far ahead” was just talk, but Huawei is proving it through its actions, indeed leading the way. This year, Huawei’s calls for smartphones are answered by countless manufacturers; their call for car sales is also answered by countless manufacturers; they say they’re developing artificial intelligence and the response is overwhelming; now, with their system, the response is still overwhelming. They are truly leading the way in all aspects.
According to official data from Huawei, the number of devices upgraded to HarmonyOS 4 has reached 60 million, and the number of HarmonyOS users should soon surpass 100 million. Currently, multiple large internet companies are offering high salaries to recruit HarmonyOS developers. According to incomplete statistics, the average recruitment salary for HarmonyOS-related positions is 17,537 yuan per month, and Meituan, for the position of HarmonyOS infrastructure engineer, offers a monthly salary as high as 60,000 yuan.
Expectations for the future of the industry are starting to heat up, and the A-share market for Huawei concepts is following suit. The Huawei HarmonyOS concept is leading the way in the A-share market, with the sector index rising nearly 4% and reaching a five-month high, approaching its all-time high.
According to data from Counterpoint, by the end of 2022, HarmonyOS has become the third-largest operating system in the world, with a market share of 8% in China. HarmonyOS has driven a wave of new employment demand and broken the monopoly of Apple’s iOS and Android on the Chinese operating system market.
As the third-largest system outside of iOS and Android, many companies and developers in various fields such as finance, travel, and social media have announced their participation in the HarmonyOS ecosystem. And just now, I tried installing an Android APK file, but it showed a message saying “Cannot open this file.”
HarmonyOS was first launched in 2019 when Huawei was sanctioned by the United States, leaving them with no choice but to release HarmonyOS as a temporary solution.
In the future, the three-way competition between iOS, Android, and HarmonyOS will accelerate.
There was once a rumor that half of China’s top compiler talents are working at Huawei. Of course, this information may not be accurate, but from the current situation, it is true that there are indeed many talents involved in operating system and compiler development at Huawei.
Looking at the current momentum and the overall environment, the rise of HarmonyOS is highly probable, and its leading position is unstoppable.
Huawei’s slow ecological development
If it’s incompatible, then it’s incompatible.
Any ecosystem starts from scratch, you need a first step to move forward.
It would be great if Huawei could slowly improve its ecosystem, it takes a few years.
But you’re already far ahead without even starting, boasting about other systems, it’s a bit disgusting.
Every time this issue is brought up, there are always people telling you to wait until next year, it’s coming soon, don’t worry.
We’ve been hearing this bragging for four years now.
Forget it, I dare not say it. It’s all because domestic software companies don’t support it, it’s not Huawei’s fault.
Oh, blame it on foreigners who must have Google services. So what if we don’t have it, it’s not like it’s unusable.
Is Android fragmented?
The Android programmer scratched their hairline at the back of their head and thought to themselves, “Why is it always about Android? Isn’t Android already fragmented enough? Can’t we focus on Apple instead?”
HarmonyOS: Breaking the Android vs. iOS Battle?
Will breaking the Android and iOS dominance with the emergence of a third major platform, HarmonyOS, end up like Windows Phone (wp)? But if it succeeds, it will undoubtedly surpass wp.
What should the Public Opinion Department do?
All matters are left to the Public Opinion Department to handle,
The government does not make any statements,
It can either advance or retreat.