Huawei Hongmeng (before Kirin OS)

2019

Graphic and program differences of HongMeng from Android

On July 10, 2019 it became known that the first differences of the updated Huawei OS are declassified from Android. mobile OS Huawei Beta testers shared the impressions of HongMeng. A system is in a stage of active testing and can be released in the fall of 2019.

It agrees information published on the GizmoChina portal, beta testers indicated the main differences of HongMeng from Google Android with which it should compete. In spite of the fact that both HongMeng, and Android for the Huawei smartphones are complemented with a graphic cover of EMUI, it is impossible to tell that systems are similar at each other as like as two peas. All information provided by testers is published in a text form and not supported with screenshots.

The first that was evident to testers - it is abundance of animation. The loading screen is redrawn, in particular, plus Huawei refused former icons of the applications which are used in EMUI 9, in advantage unique. The second difference of HongMeng from Android are much ampler opportunities of setup under each user that allows all who interact with the gadget, as much as possible to customize it under itself. It concerns as a visual component, so the list of installed applications.

Changes concerned also the screen of blocking and the home screen. Now both of them can be complemented with a large number of widgets.

The first users of HongMeng noted that a system in spite of the fact that it is for the present the beta, works quicker and more steadily in comparison with a final bild of Android 9. The similar statement was made on July 8, 2019 also by the CEO of Huawei Wren of Zhengfei (Ren Zhengfei). According to him, HongMeng works for 60% quicker than Android.

Also it became known of completely mode of reminders in settings and the processed panel of notifications. In this panel and in passing on the main screen Huawei will place search string of the increased sizes for the accelerated access to the search system and reduction of time for finding of the necessary information. Separate point in the list of changes testers entered a corporate standard ringtone – the innovation little significant for users will allow smartphones to be selected based on HongMeng from the lump of gadgets running iOS and Android.

Development of HongMeng is still far from end, and its many functions remain unavailable even for testing. Besides, a number of applications locate smaller quantity of opportunities in comparison with their analogs under Android. Concerns, it is, in particular, the corporate interface of the camera.

The corporate Huawei OS created since 2012 and also known as Kirin OS will be established not only on smartphones and tablets Chinese vendor. According to the head of Huawei, it will find the application in desktop PC and notebooks and at the same time in servers and telecommunication the equipment.

It is possible that HongMeng will go beyond an ecosystem of Huawei at all – desire to adjoin system testing was declared by large Chinese producers smartphones Xiaomi including Oppo. The companies do not want to appear under close attention of the president USA Donald Trump by order of which in May, 2019 Google revoked the license for Android from Huawei. This incident also became the reason of accumulation of rates of development of HongMeng.^[1]

Announcement of Hongmeng OS

On May 20, 2019 Huawei submitted own operating system right after the companies prohibited to use Android with Google services.

The platform received the name Hongmeng. This name is born by one of characters of the ancient Chinese treatise "Zhuang-tszy" written in the 3rd century BC Hong Meng is an embodiment of primitive chaos from which, according to representations of the Chinese mythology, there was a world.

Huawei submitted the OS after prohibition to use Android

Hongmeng is based on Linux and will be used as the universal operating system as cross-platform, including phones and notebooks. Huawei did not begin to disclose details about the OS.

According to the Huawei Central, Hongmeng edition  will be used as the universal operating system as cross-platform, including phones and notebooks.

According to the portal, Huawei develops Hongmeng since 2012. It quite corresponds the statement of company executives who, according to them, expected the possible conflict with the U.S. Government and managed to be trained for break in relations with the American companies.

Hongmeng should succeed Android which use was forbidden to Huawei in connection with sanctions from the U.S. Government. More precisely, the company will not be able to install in the new devices the official version of Android with Google services.

According to the edition Nikkei, Huawei expected restrictions for business with suppliers and in six months prior to sanctions addressed partners for building of stocks of component parts for the year ahead.

The exact list of components which were reserved by Huawei is unknown, but the source speaks about products which are not relating to the main component parts like chips. In particular, it is certain passive components and optics for cameras.^[2]

Huawei was recognized in creation of own OS for smartphones and the PC

In March, 2019 Huawei announced creation of own operating systems which can replace Windows and Android in devices of the company. However the Chinese producer intends to use the software platforms only as a last resort.

As told CNBC TV channel in Huawei on Friday, March 15, 2019, the company has mobile and computer OS which are created on that a case if USA prohibits to use the software of the American companies Microsoft and Google. Smartphones As Huawei tablets and notebooks — on Windows work at Android, and.^[3]

Huawei developed alternatives of Windows and Android, but will use them as a last resort

According to the representative of Huawei, reserve OS will be involved only at emergence of "extreme circumstances", and "they are created for continued operation of core business at the worst option of succession of events".

We do not plan and, frankly speaking, we do not want to use them. We completely support operating systems of our partners. We and our clients love them — reported in the company.

Earlier in March, 2019 the head of consumer division of Huawei Richard Yu (Richard Yu) in an interview to the German edition Die Welt also said that the company created own OS as "backup plan", but "prefers to work with ecosystems of Google and Microsoft".

Huawei is afraid of repetition of a situation with other Chinese technology company — ZTE. In 2018 it for several months lost an opportunity to buy hardware components and software from the American companies under the resolution of U.S. authorities which accused ZTE of violation of a sanctions regime against Iran and North Korea.

The director of research of Counterpoint Research Neil Shah says that nearly a half of sales of the Huawei smartphones is the share of China, and other 50% depend on mobile Google services which are blocked in the People's Republic of China.

The lack of access to Android and Google Play can affect a little other half of business in the near-term and medium term — the expert considers.

He noted that the Google Play is blocked in China, but Huawei can start own app stores. In a case with Android prohibition, according to Neil Shah, it will be more difficult to offer an alternative: the company will need time to prove that its operating system uses so good services and the user opportunities, as Android. Besides, more than 80% of the world market of smartphones are the share of Android.

Against the background of aggravation of trade relations between China and the USA Huawei aims to weaken the dependence on the American and other foreign technologies. So, more and more Huawei smartphones are equipped with corporate Kirin processors, but notebooks still are based on chips of Intel and other components of the American production.

Huawei is a program firmware of EMUI which is based on Android and is used in mobile devices of the company

According to the South China Morning Post edition  with reference to the informed source, Huawei began to create the operating system in 2012 after the American authorities made investigation concerning activity of Huawei and ZTE. The Chinese companies were suspected then of close ties with the government of Celestial Empire.

Development of corporate mobile OS in November, 2018 on the page in Weibo social network was mentioned by the vice president of Huawei for mobile products  Bruce Lee. Then he told that the project received the name Kirin OS in honor of the processors of the company of the same name. It did not begin to open any parts concerning a software platform, then.

Strangely enough, but not only Huawei can get rid of Android OS. Google does not exclude transition to  absolutely new product code-named Fuchsia OS too. A system is developed from scratch taking into account all errors found in Android and the concept of its distribution.

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