What is the HarmonyOS system? Most people may have misunderstood.

HarmonyOS OS, 20 19 first appeared in the world, and it has been almost two years now. But so far, it is still difficult for most people to say clearly what the "HarmonyOS system" is.

On the evening of June 2nd, Huawei held a press conference to officially release a new generation of HarmonyOS operating system, HarmonyOS System 2, and a variety of products equipped with this system, and announced that "100" mobile phones will start to upgrade their operating systems in HarmonyOS system. In other words, the mobile phone equipped with HarmonyOS operating system has become a formal market-oriented product.

Since the birth of HarmonyOS system, "domestic" and "the third largest operating system" are all labels attached to it. So, what is the HarmonyOS operating system on the mobile phone? Compared with Android and iOS, what are its characteristics? Will other mobile phone manufacturers support carrying?

Here comes the mobile phone of HarmonyOS System:

From universal cards to smooth circulation, new functions have emerged.

At this conference, Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei's consumer business, Wang, president of the consumer business software department, and president of the mobile phone product line appeared successively.

Wang Cheng's employment sentence summarizes the changes brought by HarmonyOS system operating system (hereinafter referred to as "HarmonyOS system") to the current mobile phone system:

"In the era of smart phones, consumers have the opportunity to assemble software according to their own needs. Then, the HarmonyOS system has made another leap compared with today's operating system, allowing consumers to assemble different hardware according to their own needs. "

The Red Star Capital Bureau noticed that after the smart phone is equipped with HarmonyOS system, the obvious changes that consumers can feel are mainly reflected in three functions, namely, smooth connection traffic, multi-camera mode and universal card.

To explain these three functions clearly, we must first make it clear that the HarmonyOS system is based on the Internet of Things.

Screenshot from the meeting

For HarmonyOS system, the official definition given by Huawei is "distributed operating system for all scenarios". HarmonyOS system can integrate physically separated devices into a "super terminal" through distributed technology.

For example, many people now have smart home devices at home. Through specific apps and systems, we can control the opening and closing of lights and curtains. However, because different vendors are often not interconnected, users may need to use multiple apps or even multiple operating systems.

What HarmonyOS system should do is to break this dilemma. As Wang said, "HarmonyOS system is the unified language of different devices."

Now let's go back and see what's new in HarmonyOS's mobile phone:

HarmonyOS system that most people don't understand:

What's the difference between Android and iOS?

When we interpret HarmonyOS's operating system (hereinafter referred to as "HarmonyOS system"), it will inevitably be compared with giants such as Android and iOS.

StatCounter data shows that from April 2020 to April this year, Google Android accounted for 72.2%, Apple iOS accounted for 26.99%, and others were insufficient 1%.

Android and iOS almost monopolize the global market. In this context, how can HarmonyOS break through?

"Huawei will never be an Android or an iOS again. It is worthless to make the same operating system for smart terminals. " Wang said to him.

Compared with Android and iOS, the biggest feature of HarmonyOS system is that it is not only a mobile phone operating system, but also an operating system with everything connected. As long as mobile phones, televisions, tablets, cars and other terminals are equipped with HarmonyOS system, the software can be adapted among different platforms, and independent development is no longer needed.

Xiang Ligang, a communication expert, called HarmonyOS system "the next generation operating system" when interviewed by Red Star Capital Bureau.

"Our previous operating system-the computer used a computer operating system and the mobile phone used a mobile phone; Now, we hope to get through the operating system of computers, mobile phones and even cars. The traditional system architecture is not working, and there must be a new architecture. " Xiang Ligang told Red Star Capital Bureau.

According to Weibo @ Huawei Terminal Company

According to the current release, HarmonyOS system is more like the system launched in the era of anchoring the Internet of Things.

The Economic Information Daily quoted GSMA data to predict that in 2025, the number of global Internet of Things devices will reach 25.2 billion. During the forecast period, the market size will almost quadruple.

HarmonyOS, as the first operating system based on the Internet of Things era, can be said to occupy the "favorable time" and "favorable location". As for "harmony between people", Huawei should strive to build a complete industrial ecological chain for HarmonyOS system.

300 million 16% line of life and death:

How to build the ecological chain of operating system?

"It is not difficult to do operating system technology, and ecology is the core. The breadth, depth and complexity of ecology far exceed all individual technologies. " Wang once said:

Xiang Ligang also told Red Star Capital Bureau that the biggest problem of HarmonyOS system at present lies in the ecological chain. "The HarmonyOS system needs more applications to support it, so that users can use different applications in it, and the experience will not be affected."

The Red Star Capital Bureau learned that Huawei's ecological chain construction mainly has two directions: north and south. Among them, south refers to equipment manufacturers, such as home appliance brands such as Jiuyang and Midea; Northbound refers to application developers.

According to media reports, in March this year, there were about 20 million developers for Android, 24 million for iOS and millions for HarmonyOS. However, some users who have experienced the HarmonyOS system in advance told the Red Star Capital Bureau that some Android applications are compatible with the HarmonyOS system and are currently being used normally.

According to Huawei annual report

To what extent should the ecological chain develop so that the HarmonyOS system can survive?

Yang, vice president of Huawei's consumer business AI and Intelligent Full Scene Division, gave a number-16%.

"For the underlying platforms such as operating systems, software usage and market share are the core factors for their survival and success, and 16% market share is a line of life and death." Yang said to him.

In order to cross the life-and-death line of 16% market share, Huawei needs to achieve the goal of 5438+0 in 2026: the number of devices equipped with HarmonyOS system should reach 300 million. Among them, self-owned equipment accounts for 200 million, and the number of eco-partner equipment is 654.38+0 billion.

According to Yu Chengdong, at present, the sales volume of Huawei's full-scene intelligent connected devices exceeds 654.38+billion units, including more than 700 million mobile phones on the Internet. About 90% of Huawei's existing and sold mobile phones can be upgraded to HarmonyOS system.

There are about 700 million mobile phones among the 654.38 billion units, that is to say, most of HarmonyOS's hopes are still pinned on mobile phone products.

Are users willing to upgrade their existing system to the immature HarmonyOS system?

Will other mobile phone brands carry it?

Even glory seems unwilling to "risk" easily.

The Red Star Capital Bureau found that at present, domestic mainstream mobile phone manufacturers have not made it clear that their mobile phones will be equipped with HarmonyOS system. As for Lian Gang's "son-in-law" glory who left Huawei, it seems that she dare not "take risks" easily.

"Glory is a completely independent mobile phone brand and will choose different operating systems according to the development of the industry." Zhao Ming, CEO of Glory, said that Android is still the first choice for Glory at present, but HarmonyOS system will not be ruled out in the future.

It is worth mentioning that in Huawei's previous shipments, the mobile phone under the glory brand is an indispensable part.

The Red Star Capital Bureau found that according to statistics, mobile phone users in China change their mobile phones every two years.

According to Huawei's 20 19 annual report, the shipment of smartphones in that year exceeded 240 million units (including glory); According to IDC data, in 2020, Huawei shipped 6.5438+89 million units (including glory).

In other words, there are about 429 million Huawei mobile phones being used by users, and at least one of every two Huawei mobile phone users must upgrade to the HarmonyOS system, so as to realize the goal of carrying 200 million Huawei-owned devices with the HarmonyOS system.

Now even Glory has not won the HarmonyOS system immediately, and Huawei seems to be a little far from the line of life and death of 16%.

In addition to glory, Meizu, another mobile phone manufacturer, also stood up to support HarmonyOS system. However, Meizu is not using mobile phone products to carry HarmonyOS system, but smart home business line.

Why is this happening?

"On the one hand, these mobile phone manufacturers have cooperated very well with Android itself; On the other hand, these mobile phone manufacturers may regard Huawei as a competitor more. " Xiang Ligang told Red Star Capital Bureau that if all party and government officials use mobile phones equipped with domestic operating systems, some mobile phone manufacturers are unwilling to give up this market and may be equipped with HarmonyOS system.

If Huawei not only produces mobile phones, but also promotes HarmonyOS system, it will be difficult for other mobile phone manufacturers to get support on the mobile phone, just like athletes and referees at the same time.

Huawei's "1+8+N" and "countryside surrounding cities";

There is still a long way to go.

Generally speaking, the system is mainly divided into two operating modes: one is Apple's mode, which pays equal attention to software and hardware and is not open to third parties; The other is Android mode, which will be open to third parties to cooperate.

Looking at it now, Huawei took the latter route.

As early as September 2020, after HarmonyOS System 2.0 was officially unveiled, it was not Huawei's mobile phone, but household appliances of brands such as Jiuyang and Midea.

As for the loading sequence of Huawei's system in HarmonyOS, some insiders described it as "countryside surrounding cities" or, more accurately, "smart home products surrounding mobile phones".

In a sense, this is in line with Huawei's "1+8+N" strategy. Among them, "1" refers to mobile phones, and "8" refers to tablet computers, PCs and cars. , and "n" refers to the pan-Internet of Things (IoT) device.

The HarmonyOS system starting from "n" has gradually entered the field of "1+8".

However, the Red Star Capital Bureau noticed that there was a voice in the digital circle that HarmonyOS's system was not subversive. At present, apples, millet, etc. I am also trying to do the Internet of Things, and I can connect other products in my family through my mobile phone.

"Like Apple, there is also the interconnection of home smart products. The difference between the two is that Huawei can use other brands of hardware only by using its own hardware, and the concept of' Internet of Everything' is clearly marked. " Some technology industry observers told the Red Star Capital Bureau.

There are no other mobile phone manufacturers to lend a helping hand, and the ecological chain is not yet perfect. I'm afraid the HarmonyOS system still has a long way to go.

(1) User experience says so.

The Red Star Capital Bureau understands that for Huawei mobile phone users, the public beta version of HarmonyOS system has been opened to users before, and mobile phones can receive the installation package of the new system after registration and screening through official channels.

Fang Zhi (pseudonym) is a user of Huawei mate40. He told the Red Star Capital Bureau that it had been more than 20 days since he received the push of the new system installation package in early May this year.

"Overall, it is very good and smooth." Fang Zhi told Red Star Capital Bureau that although HarmonyOS system was installed on his mobile phone, he still used an application program adapted to Android system, which was compatible with HarmonyOS system.

Fang Xiang revealed to the Red Star Capital Bureau that there is an APP icon slide-up function (referring to the universal card) in the HarmonyOS system, which is a new function and has a very good experience. Users can customize according to their own preferences, so that different service cards appear after the app slides.

"Compared with Android, the biggest advantage of HarmonyOS system is the Internet of Everything, which can connect many home appliances through mobile phone operation. However, I don't have many such accessories, and I don't have any deep experience for the time being. " Only when you know.

In addition, Fang Zhi also told the Red Star Capital Bureau that in the current testing stage, users can give feedback to feedback assistants after discovering some small bugs. A lot of feedback problems will be fixed soon.

(2) The developer said so.

In addition to the user experience, developers are also the people who have the most contact with the operating system of HarmonyOS.

The Red Star Capital Bureau found that many developers expressed their views on the HarmonyOS system in the official website of HarmonyOS System School (a third-party platform for sharing information and technology of HarmonyOS system).

Wei Dongshan, a pre-competition tutor of HarmonyOS System Developers Innovation Competition, said that in 2020, he first came into contact with the source code of HarmonyOS system. "(I) know not only to replace Android, but also to surpass Android."

Wei Dongshan said that the HarmonyOS system is the first tangible operating system produced for the Internet of Things. "From a technical point of view, although there are many excellent Internet of Things operating systems at home and abroad, they are all limited to a single electronic product. HarmonyOS system connects one electronic product with another. "

Zhang, another instructor of the developer innovation competition, said that from the developer's point of view, it is by no means another version of Android, but a brand-new operating system for the whole scene.

"HarmonyOS system supports one-time development and multi-terminal deployment, which is as simple as developing a single-terminal APP, greatly simplifying the workload of developers. If you switch to Android to achieve the same distributed function, not only will the workload be much larger, but the performance and user experience will be poor. " Zhang said to him.

Editor Ren Zhijiang Editor Deng

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