Huawei Sets To
Last year, the US-led Donald Trump government placed a ban on Huawei that restricted it from dealing with US tech companies. The ban meant the Chinese company could no longer install the official Android OS except the open source (AOSP).
The company was also blocked from installing core Android apps from Internet giant Google. These apps include Gmail, YouTube, Play Store, etc, and apps from the US such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more.
Also Read: Huawei HongMeng OS Is Reportedly "60% Faster" Than Google's Android
To protect its phone business from dying, Huawei released the Harmony OS as an alternative to the Android OS.
The Harmony OS uses a microkernel architecture that allows OS to run on a wide range of devices like smartwatches, TVs, smart home devices, PCs, Smartphones, speakers, and more, while also having security than Android that is based on Linux. Now it seems Huawei is gearing up to start using the Harmony OS next year on its gadgets.
According to Dr. Wang Chenglu, the president of the software department at Huawei Consumer Business Group, the open-source platform will be available to developers around December 18, with mobile phone users open to upgrading the OS in January and February 2021.
After a few months of verification, the upgrade will be fully released.
Dr. Chenglu went on to reveal that all the employees at Huawei are working towards building a new ecosystem around the Harmony idea and so far everything was going as planned. He added that more than 90% of the models currently running on the market can be upgraded.
HarmonyOS Roadmap
HarmonyOS 1.0 in 2019: In-house development for key modeuls based on open source framework will debut with HONOR Vision Smart TV, and will be launched tomorrow, August 10.
HarmonyOS 2.0 in 2020: In-house development for kernel and app framework will support PCs, smartwatches, smart bands and head units.
HarmonyOS 3.0 in 2021: Optimization in software-hardware synergy and support speakers and headsets.
HarmonyOS in 2022: Support VR glasses and other products.
Source: Weibo (in Chinese) via MyFixGuide