The Chinese tech giant Huawei made headlines in August 2019. They announced their unified operating system: HarmonyOS, also known as HongMeng OS in Chinese. This move came as a response to US restrictions that led Huawei to develop its own platform for its devices.
Initially targeted at IoT devices like smart home equipment and TVs, HarmonyOS has since expanded its reach to smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, marking a significant evolution in Huawei’s software ecosystem.
This article discusses the history, market share, unique features, and everything you need to know about this.
Understanding HarmonyOS In Detail
History of HarmonyOS
HarmonyOS, also known as HongMeng OS in Chinese, emerged as a strategic response to challenges faced by Huawei in the global tech ecosystem.
Its journey traces back to 2012 when Huawei’s executives, led by founder Ren Zhengfei, initiated discussions on reducing the company’s reliance on Android, the dominant operating system for smartphones and other devices at that time.
The turning point for it came in August 2019 when Huawei officially unveiled it as a unified operating system. This move was prompted by US restrictions that limited Huawei’s access to Google services, necessitating the development of an alternative platform to power Huawei devices.
What is HarmonyOS?
HarmonyOS represents Huawei’s vision of a versatile and adaptable operating system designed to seamlessly integrate across a wide range of devices, from smartphones and tablets to IoT (Internet of Things) devices and smart home equipment. Unlike traditional monolithic kernel systems, it adopts a microkernel architecture, offering modularity, lightweight performance, and flexibility.
The microkernel design of this operating system enables it to focus on essential operations while delegating non-essential tasks to the OS, resulting in improved efficiency and adaptability across diverse device categories. This approach aligns with Huawei’s goal of creating a unified ecosystem where a single operating system can power various devices, promoting seamless connectivity and user experience.
Market Share and Growth
Since its introduction, it has witnessed notable growth in market share and adoption. As of recent reports, this operating system has surpassed significant milestones, with over 800 million devices running the operating system, including smartphones, IoT devices, and third-party consumer products.
In China, it has emerged as the third-largest smartphone platform, capturing a substantial market share within a relatively short period. The platform’s rapid growth can be attributed to Huawei’s strategic efforts, software upgrades, and strong support in the Chinese market.
Devices Running HarmonyOS
This operating system has expanded its footprint across a diverse array of devices, showcasing its versatility and compatibility. Initially launched on smart TVs and IoT devices, it has extended its presence to smartphones, tablets, wearables, and upcoming ventures into automotive systems, speakers, and more.
The introduction of HarmonyOS 2.0 marked a significant milestone, bringing the operating system to flagship devices like the Huawei Mate 40 Series, Mate X2, Watch 3 Series, and MatePad Pro. Huawei’s vision of a unified ecosystem is evident in its approach to harmonizing software experiences across different device categories, enhancing user convenience and developer efficiency.
Compatibility and App Ecosystem
A crucial aspect of this operating system is its compatibility with Android apps and the development of a strong app ecosystem. While it doesn’t support Google services due to US restrictions, Huawei has developed Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) as a comprehensive alternative. HMS includes the AppGallery app store, Huawei ID, Huawei Assistant, and other services, offering a seamless experience for users and developers within the HarmonyOS ecosystem.
Developers can use tools like the Ark Compiler to adapt Android apps for this operating system, ensuring compatibility and expanding the range of available applications. Huawei’s emphasis on security, privacy, and app optimization further enhances the user experience on HarmonyOS-powered devices.
Unique Features of HarmonyOS
Let’s see the top 5 cool things about Harmony OS that make it different:
1. HUAWEI App Gallery: Instead of Google Play, Harmony OS has its own App Gallery with lots of apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Amazon Shopping. You might miss some Google apps like Gmail, but there are many options to explore.
2. Celia Voice Assistant: Since Harmony OS doesn’t have Google Assistant, it has its own voice assistant called Celia. It can do all the usual stuff like setting reminders, alarms, reading notifications, and searching the web, but it’s exclusive to HUAWEI phones.
3. Universal Support: Harmony OS is designed to work on different devices like watches, tablets, and TVs, similar to what Windows 8 tried to do. It’s a big deal to have one system work well across many devices.
4. Widgets: Widgets are trendy, and Harmony OS has them too. You can easily turn app icons into widgets by swiping, making your home screen more customizable and convenient.
5. Improved Security: Harmony OS takes security seriously. It has strict rules for connecting to other devices and manages permissions tightly. You can even use Pure Mode to ensure that only rigorously tested apps are available in the App Gallery.
Future Prospects and Challenges
As it continues to evolve and expand its reach, it faces both opportunities and challenges in the competitive tech landscape. Huawei’s strategic focus on IoT integration, software innovation, and ecosystem development positions it as a contender for broader market adoption beyond smartphones.
However, challenges such as global market dynamics, regulatory constraints, and competition from established operating systems pose ongoing hurdles for HarmonyOS. Huawei’s resilience, technological prowess, and strategic partnerships will play a crucial role in navigating these challenges and driving it towards sustained growth and relevance.
Final Thought
HarmonyOS is a big step for Huawei to have its own software and a connected system. It started because of US limits on Google, but now it’s growing fast on many devices and in different places. People in China especially like it, showing Huawei’s smart planning and what customers want. Even though it’s not perfect with all apps and faces tough competition, Huawei keeps focusing on new ideas, safety, and making users happy.
The future of HarmonyOS depends on how it keeps growing, gets more apps, partners with developers, and becomes popular outside China. It’s interesting to see if it can become a major player alongside Android and iOS, adding to the tech world’s story of new ideas and competition.
