Huawei‘s annual developer conference, HDC 2024, was the stage for the company’s biggest announcement yet: the official launch of HarmonyOS NEXT, the next iteration of its homegrown operating system.
The announcement comes after years of development for HarmonyOS, natively called Hongmeng on the mainland. The China-developed OS ditches the Linux kernel and Android Open Source Project (AOSP) codebase entirely in favor of a fully independent architecture built around Huawei’s Hongmeng kernel and system.
As the OS is made from the ground up, Huawei claims the new system architecture delivers a 30% improvement in overall machine performance and a 20% reduction in power consumption.
Currently in beta testing, HarmonyOS NEXT is looking for developers and a limited number of pioneer users (3,000) to participate. Those interested should be aware that the beta version may not be stable and could lead to data incompatibility issues.
One System for All Devices
A core feature of HarmonyOS NEXT is its ability to bridge the gap between different devices. According to Huawei, developers only need to create one version of an app to ensure a consistent user experience across various screen sizes within the Huawei ecosystem. This was demonstrated at the conference with popular apps like Taobao, Yiche, and Bilibili running seamlessly on different devices.
Furthermore, HarmonyOS NEXT boasts a unique “App Continuation” function. Imagine starting a video call on your tablet and seamlessly transferring it to your phone with a single click. The system also allows for effortless data sharing between devices. For example, you can easily cut and paste an image from your phone to your tablet while working on a document.
Harmony Intelligence: AI Built-in
HarmonyOS NEXT goes beyond just device connectivity. It integrates artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities directly into the system, coined as “Harmony Intelligence.”
The integration unlocks a range of features, including:
- AIGC image generation: Create unique images from line drawings, coloring existing photos, or even enlarging them.
- Industry-first AI sound repair: This feature aims to assist people with speech disorders by enhancing communication.
- “Xiaoyi Sees the World” for visually impaired users: This feature uses AI to “read pictures” by describing their content aloud, potentially helping users identify objects in their surroundings.
- AI-powered controls: HarmonyOS NEXT allows third-party apps to leverage the system’s AI for features like real-time text reading, smart form filling, and image/text translation.
Xiaoyi Gets Smarter
Huawei’s virtual assistant, Xiaoyi, has received an upgrade with HarmonyOS NEXT. Now known as “Xiaoyi Intelligent Agent,” it leverages the power of Pangu Big Model 5.0. Xiaoyi no longer requires a wake word and can be “summoned” by simply dragging and dropping content onto the navigation bar. This allows for a more intuitive interaction where Xiaoyi can analyze the content and offer relevant actions, like generating a chart from an image or summarizing a document.
Security First with Star Shield
Security remains a top priority for Huawei. HarmonyOS NEXT introduces the new Star Shield security architecture, designed to keep user data safe. This architecture implements several measures:
- Strict app vetting: Codes and apps that don’t meet security standards are blocked from being installed.
- Multi-device data encryption: Data is encrypted end-to-end across various devices for enhanced protection.
- Hardware-level encryption: Individual files are encrypted with unique keys stored on the device’s hardware.
- Permission control: Unnecessary app permissions are restricted to minimize privacy risks.
The Road Ahead
HarmonyOS NEXT is still under development, with the commercial launch expected in Q4 2024. The beta testing phase has begun, and Huawei is actively seeking developers and early adopters to provide feedback and help refine the system.
