NEWS  Computer  January 18, 2024  Reading time: 2 Minute(s)

Max (RS editor)

Huawei has officially launched HarmonyOS NEXT "Galaxy Edition" at the Harmony Ecology Conference, signaling a new era for the global tech giant and its enthusiastic user base. This latest version introduces cutting-edge design concepts such as "Spatial", "Vivid Color", and "Immersive", promising a transformative user experience. The developer preview is now open for applications, with the commercial release scheduled for Q4 2024.

HarmonyOS NEXT: Redefining User Interface and Experience

The HarmonyOS NEXT "Galaxy Edition" showcases a revamped user interface, bringing significant improvements in native refinement, application smoothness, security, intelligence, and interconnection. Notable changes include a floating effect between components for an enhanced three-dimensional experience and clearer color distinctions in built-in applications, streamlining usability.

Huawei's commitment to innovation is evident in the adoption of the self-developed Harmony kernel, featuring a groundbreaking "heterogeneous native" parallel mechanism that triples memory management efficiency. According to Yu Chengdong, the HarmonyOS kernel transcends traditional kernels, seamlessly adapting to diverse device scenarios, eliminating the reliance on the Linux kernel or AOSP.

HarmonyOS NEXT Native Applications and Growing Developer Community

The HarmonyOS ecosystem is rapidly expanding, with over 200 native applications in development, covering a diverse range of commonly used apps. More than half of China's Top-200 mobile apps have initiated the development of HarmonyOS native applications. The developer community is witnessing exponential growth, with over 10,000 new registrations daily.

Key industries, including social, audio and video, games, finance, and food, have embraced the HarmonyOS ecosystem, with major players like Alipay, Jingdong, Xiaohongshu, and Meituan joining in. Huawei encourages developers through the HarmonyOS NEXT Developer Preview website, offering comprehensive hardware and software full-stack online services.

The "Galaxy Plan" and Ecosystem Strengthening

Huawei has announced the "Galaxy Plan", committing over 7 billion RMB to incentivize HarmonyOS native applications, meta-services, SDKs, and other ecological innovations. This strategic initiative aims to rapidly build a stronger and richer ecosystem, fostering collaboration and innovation within the HarmonyOS community.

With an ecosystem spanning over 800 million Huawei devices (700 million as of August 2023), the company envisions leading the industry across various scenarios, creating a new blue ocean in the trillion-dollar market.

HarmonyOS NEXT Operating System Base

The operating system base of HarmonyOS includes advanced components such as the Pangu AI model, MindSpore AI Framework, DevEco Studio/DevEco Testing integrated development environment, HarmonyOS Design design system, ArkUI/ArkUI-X programming framework, Ark Compiler/Bisheng Compiler/Ark Runtime compiler & runtime, ArkTS/Cangjie programming language, and EROFS/HMDFS distributed file system for efficient file management.

According to the current plan, Huawei will release the developer Beta version of HarmonyOS NEXT Galaxy Edition in the second quarter and launch the official commercial version in the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a new era in the world of operating systems.

 IMAGES CREDITS: HUAWEI