First of all, HarmonyOS and Android are two independent bottom operating systems. Just like Microsoft's Windows, Apple's MacOS and IOS, they are not just programs and apps, but run these programs and apps to provide the basic environment and platform for all the functions on the mobile phone. Smart phone is not a simple hardware device, but a product of the combination of software and hardware. Only the mobile phone hardware and the adapted mobile phone operating system can form a complete smart phone.
The difference is that after more than ten years' development, Android has a global user base of more than 2 billion, and its scale and volume are quite huge. Take the domestic mobile phone market as an example. If it is not the IOS system of Apple's mobile phone, it must be Google's Android system. Among them, such as Huawei's EMUI, Xiaomi's MIUI, Meizu's Flyme, Yijia's Hydrogen OS, Hammer's Smartisan OS, etc., in fact, they all magic change the original Android interface UI and operating logic to a certain extent according to the freely customizable characteristics of the Android system, but they can't change the kernel and essence of the Android system, which is similar to a person who has changed several sets of different clothes and is still a person in essence. If you are not an Apple user, you can check the Android version of your mobile phone in your mobile phone settings-system-about mobile phone.
The HarmonyOS system is still in the research and development and testing stage, so we can only experience it briefly in Huawei's smart TV for the time being. At the press conference, the compatible Android software and the domestic self-developed system made many people have high hopes for this domestic operating system, but many people questioned how much it was made in China. Indeed, HarmonyOS system uses the same linux kernel as Anduo system, and although linux is open source, it is not made in China. Therefore, how much is made in HarmonyOS system? No one can say for sure until the official version is tested on mobile phones, so it can only be left for everyone to discuss.
However, after the birth of Android system, everyone knows Android, and no one cares too much about the proportion of linux in it. What we care about is whether the kernel of linux will also be stuck in Huawei's neck. At present, it is not a big problem, because although the founder of linux is Finnish and inspired by several Americans, the system is more open-source than Android. Although Android is open source, the copyright still belongs to Google in the United States, while linux can be said to belong to the whole world. It has gathered countless developers from all over the world to participate. The source code is transparent and open, and there is no copyright restriction, so the US government can't find a focus even if it puts pressure on it.
The remaining Huawei HMS and Google GMS have little to do with the HarmonyOS system. These intangible things are embedded in the Android system. After users register to use Huawei or Google accounts, the two companies provide different user services. For example, the built-in Huawei app store, Huawei maps, Huawei photo albums, Huawei music or Google Play, Google maps, Google photo albums, Google music, etc. in mobile phones depend on whether you choose Huawei services or Google services.
Many people will say that I don't remember seeing Google's service. That's right, because Google was banned in China in its early years. The reason for the ban is actually similar to the pressure on Huawei by the United States, and it is also national security. Because Google started as a search engine, if it is allowed to provide search services in China all the year round, just imagine that you use Google to search for Ma Yinglong and Yuting on the Internet every day. Can the Americans behind Google not know what you are doing? It may even be clear whether you are inside or outside, and whether you are a man or a woman. You use Google Maps to locate and navigate every day, and the hotel number and room number are also clear. Once the United States launches a family relationship war, who can afford it?
Therefore, Google's GMS service can't be used in China, that is to say, Android has entered China, but Google's GMS service, that is, its soul, has been rejected from the country. Why is it a soul? It's not that it's more important than the Android system. After all, there are basically no GMS Android phones in the domestic market, and users' use is not affected. It is said to be the soul mainly because Google needs to make profits through GMS services. As we all know, Android is licensed for free and open source, so Google can't charge licensing fees, and the way it makes money from Android is GMS services, such as Google Play App Store, which is similar to Apple App Store, which is regarded as a genuine app store for Android. Google enjoys profits from the applications and developers on the shelves, as well as membership services such as Google Music and Youtube.
This situation is a bit like different servers of a game. For example, Netease's Yin and Yang Division is divided into China service and international service. China service is recharged by registering through Netease account or Netease-supported account, while international service is recharged through Google account. The current situation of Android phones in China is to castrate Google's GMS service completely and replace it with your own or simply streaking. However, most of the domestic mobile phones exported abroad still obediently keep Google service because they need to adapt to the foreign network environment.
Therefore, the U.S. government issued an executive order requesting Google to stop providing GMS support to Huawei, which basically has no impact on Huawei's domestic business, but its mobile phone business abroad is affected. Because Google is basically unable to make money from domestic Android users, this restriction has little impact on it, and it is nothing more than sacrificing the company's reputation and obeying the mission of its own government. If it is not a simple GMS service, but a real Android system, it will have little impact on Google's actual business in China, because there is no business. However, the commitment of Android to open source does not exist, and its image in the industry will inevitably plummet. Before Huawei was launched in HarmonyOS, it could only enjoy the feeling of being strangled by fate. This is the real lose-lose.
HMS introduced by Huawei can only be regarded as a stopgap measure, because it still needs to be attached to Android. This thing will not play much role in domestic Huawei mobile phone sales, because most Huawei mobile phones in China have been pre-installed. Its main practical role is to keep the sales of Huawei mobile phones abroad from falling sharply, and it can be within the controllable range of Huawei. In fact, it is Huawei's bitter plan to focus on the press conference, complaining to Huawei's supporters and letting them see that Huawei has been bullied, but Huawei people are firmly opposed to American imperialism, unyielding and indomitable. Of course, the goal must have been achieved, which successfully aroused the national sentiment and cohesion of China people.
However, this is obviously not enough. It is necessary to strike while the iron is hot, and HarmonyOS needs to speed up the research and development. At the same time, at the hardware level, not only the chip problem should be solved, but also the manufacturing process of the processor is a top priority. At the same time, in order to avoid the US tampering with the ARM architecture of Kirin processor, the self-developed processor architecture also needs to be put on the agenda. It is in line with Ren Zhengfei's feeling that there is a long way to go.