4-5,000 people on working to build Harmony, Huawei’s new operating system that works on all your devices and most Android mobile phones. There’s no test data available, but the specifications suggest it outperforms Android.
Harmony is running on the Honor Vision, a 55″ 4K connected TV that Huawei prefers to call a “smart screen.” The features, which look interesting are in the release below.
It can also run on most Android phones and will replace Android if the U.S. problems continue. It’s rumored to be testing widely on mobile phones in China. Ren has said he is ready if the U.S. forces his hand but would prefer to stick with Google.
Android works well with millions of apps. Huawei has put a billion dollars on the table for application developers. WeChat, TikTok, and tens of thousands of applications are already being ported for the Chinese market. It will take time for the Westerners to jump in.
About a third of mobile phones are in China, enough of a base to support an extraordinary ecosystem that will more than match most of the West. However, fear of problems has scared off many western buyers of mobile phones; sales will be down 20M to 50M this year if the boycott continues.
Harmony is almost certainly superior to Android because software has advanced enormously in the decade since Android came out.
The file system is 60% faster than Android on the most common memory in mobile phones, I’ve reported previously. Android is based on Linux, developed for computers rather than phones.
The file system is not the only speedup. Harmony has a sophisticated scheduler, called the “Deterministic Latency Engine,” which controls how programs run.
On the PC I’m typing this on, about 40 programs are running in the background. All are interacting with the processor and memory, swapping in and out constantly. Huawei sees a 20%+ improvement on its chosen tests.
Google is working on Fuchsia, also an open-source microkernel-based OS. It was released as open source and is available at https://fuchsia.dev/fuchsia-src/development/source_code.
Here’s the release with far more information about Harmonay and the announcement of HONOR Vision.
Huawei Launches New Distributed Operating System, HarmonyOS
HarmonyOS will deliver an intelligent experience across all user scenarios
[Dongguan, China, August 9, 2019] At the Huawei Developer Conference today, Huawei launched HarmonyOS – a new microkernel-based, distributed operating system designed to deliver a cohesive user experience across all devices and scenarios.
Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, explained the company’s thoughts behind developing this new OS. “We’re entering a day and age where people expect a holistic intelligent experience across all devices and scenarios. To support this, we felt it was important to have an operating system with improved cross-platform capabilities. We needed an OS that supports all scenarios, that can be used across a broad range of devices and platforms, and that can meet consumer demand for low latency and strong security.”
“These were our goals with HarmonyOS,” he continued. “HarmonyOS is completely different from Android and iOS. It is a microkernel-based, distributed OS that delivers a smooth experience across all scenarios. It has trustworthy and secure architecture, and it supports seamless collaboration across devices. You can develop your apps once, then flexibly deploy them across a range of different devices.”
Traditionally, new operating systems are released alongside new types of devices. As early as 10 years ago, Huawei envisioned a future where intelligence would seamlessly integrate with all aspects of our lives, and it began exploring how it might deliver this experience – one that would transcend the boundaries of physical space and span different hardware and platforms.
HarmonyOS is a lightweight, compact operating system with powerful functionality, and it will first be used for smart devices like smart watches, smart screens, in-vehicle systems, and smart speakers. Through this implementation Huawei aims to establish an integrated and shared ecosystem across devices, create a secure and reliable runtime environment, and deliver a holistic intelligent experience across every interaction with every device.
HarmonyOS – Four distinct technical features
An all-scenario, intelligent experience sets a high bar for connectivity, so HarmonyOS was designed with four distinct technical features to deliver on its promise to consumers.
1. Seamless: First-ever device OS with distributed architecture, delivering a seamless experience across devices
By adopting distributed architecture and distributed virtual bus technology, HarmonyOS offers a shared communications platform, distributed data management, distributed task scheduling, and virtual peripherals. With HarmonyOS, app developers won’t have to deal with the underlying technology for distributed apps, allowing them to focus on their own individual service logic. Developing distributed apps will be easier than ever before. Apps built on HarmonyOS can run on different devices while delivering a seamless, collaborative experience across all scenarios.
2. Smooth: Deterministic Latency Engine and high-performance IPC
HarmonyOS will address underperformance challenges with a Deterministic Latency Engine and high-performance Inter Process Communication (IPC). The Deterministic Latency Engine sets task execution priorities and time limits for scheduling in advance. Resources will gravitate toward tasks with higher priorities, reducing the response latency of apps by 25.7%. The microkernel can make IPC performance up to five times more efficient than existing systems.
3. Secure: Microkernel architecture that reshapes security and trustworthiness from the ground up
HarmonyOS uses a brand-new microkernel design that features enhanced security and low latency. This microkernel was designed to simplify kernel functions, implement as many system services as possible in user mode outside the kernel, and add mutual security protection. The microkernel itself provides only the most basic services like thread scheduling and IPC.
Harmony OS’s microkernel design uses formal verification methods to reshape security and trustworthiness from the ground up in a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE). Formal verification methods are an effective mathematical approach to validate system correctness from the source, while traditional verification methods, such as functional verification and attack simulation, are confined to limited scenarios. Formal methods, by contrast, can use data models to verify all software running paths.
HarmonyOS is the first OS to use formal verification in device TEE, significantly improving security. In addition, because the HarmonyOS microkernel has much less code (roughly one-thousandth the amount of the Linux kernel), the probability of attack is greatly reduced.
4. Unified: Multi-device IDE allows apps to be developed once and deployed across multiple devices
Powered by a multi-device IDE, multi-language unified compilation, and a distributed architecture kit, HarmonyOS can automatically adapt to different screen layout controls and interactions, and support both drag-and-drop control and preview-oriented visual programming. This allows developers to more efficiently build apps that run on multiple devices. With a multi-device IDE, developers can code their apps once and deploy them across multiple devices, creating a tightly integrated ecosystem across all user devices.
The HUAWEI ARK Compiler is the first static compiler that can perform on par with Android’s virtual machine, enabling developers to compile a broad range of advanced languages into machine code in a single, unified environment. By supporting unified compilation in multiple languages, the HUAWEI ARK Compiler will help developers greatly improve their productivity.
Developer plan and ecosystem development
At today’s conference, Huawei also announced the evolution roadmap for HarmonyOS and its kernel. HarmonyOS 1.0 will be first adopted in its smart screen products, which are due to launch later this year. Over the next three years, HarmonyOS will be optimized and gradually adopted across a broader range of smart devices, including wearables, HUAWEI Vision, and head units for your car.
The success of HarmonyOS will depend on a dynamic ecosystem of apps and developers. To encourage broader adoption, Huawei will release HarmonyOS as an open-source platform, worldwide. Huawei will also establish an open-source foundation and an open-source community to support more in-depth collaboration with developers.
China is home to a strong app ecosystem and a massive user base. Moving forward, Huawei will lay the foundations for HarmonyOS in the Chinese market, and then expand it further to the global ecosystem. With a focus on providing new and unique value, Huawei will open up and share its core capabilities in areas like connectivity, cameras, and AI. It will work closely with ecosystem partners to deliver apps and services that provide consumers with the best possible experience and bring new life to the industry.
HarmonyOS will bring incredible new benefits to consumers, equipment vendors, and developers. For consumers, it will bring a cohesive and powerful intelligent experience across all aspects of their lives. For equipment vendors, it will help them gain a first-mover advantage in the age of holistic intelligent experience, where 5G, AI, and IoT will see explosive growth. At the same time, HarmonyOS will enable developers to win over more users with less investment, and rapidly innovate services across all scenarios.
“We believe HarmonyOS will revitalize the industry and enrich the ecosystem,” said Richard Yu. “Our goal is to bring people a truly engaging and diverse experience. We want to invite developers from around the world to join us as we build out this new ecosystem. Together, we will deliver an intelligent experience for consumers in all scenarios.”
HONOR Vision Defines the Future with HONOR “Sharp Tech” Innovations
HONOR launches HONOR Vision, the world’s first smart screen equipped with HarmonyOS
[Dongguan, China, August 10, 2019] HONOR, a leading smartphone brand, today officially launched the HONOR Vision Series at the 2019 Huawei Developer Conference(HDC). Ushering in a new era for the future of TV, the device is HONOR’s first smart screen product, packed full of HONOR’s “Sharp Tech” innovations. Equipped with three Huawei self-developed intelligent chipsets—the Honghu 818 Intelligent Display Chipset, an AI Camera NPU chipset and a flagship-level Wi-Fi chipset, HONOR Vision is also the world’s first smart screen device to carry Huawei’s self-developed HarmonyOS.
Mr. George Zhao, President of HONOR, at the HONOR Vision China Launch
“HONOR Vision is not just television as we know it. It defines the future of television with HONOR’s ‘Sharp Tech’ innovations. HONOR Vision will play a more critical role in the future of smart family life. It is not only a home entertainment center, but also an information sharing center, a control management center and a multi-device interaction center.” said Mr. George Zhao, President of HONOR.
The World’s First Smart Screen equipped with Huawei’s Self-developed HarmonyOS
During the HDC, Huawei launched HarmonyOS, a new microkernel-based, distributed operating system designed to deliver a cohesive user experience across all devices and user scenarios. HarmonyOS will be optimized and gradually adopted across the brand’s smart devices including smart watches, smart screens, in-vehicle systems, and smart speakers. HarmonyOS will be released as an open-source platform worldwide to encourage adoption.
In an age where users demand a holistic intelligent experience at all times across all devices, it is important to have an operating system with improved cross-platform capabilities. According to Mr. Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, Huawei’s innovative HarmonyOS supports all user scenarios across a broad range of devices and platforms, in order to deliver a consistent experience with low latency and strong security. Among the smart devices shown at HDC, HONOR Vision is the first smart screen equipped with HarmonyOS.
Synchronized Tri-chips: Honghu 818 Intelligent Chipset, AI Camera NPU Chipset and Flagship-level Wi-Fi Chipset
HONOR Vision brings a number of innovative technologies together to give users an intelligent smart screen experience.
Honghu 818 Intelligent Display Chipset: As the latest intelligent display SoC available globally, “Honghu 818” carries a magic image-processing engine. Equipped with seven advanced image-processing technologies, including Motion Estimate and Motion Compensation (MEMC), High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDR), Super-Resolution (SR), Noise Reduction (NR), Dynamic Contrast Improvement (DCI), Auto Color Management (ACM) and Local Dimming (LD), the “Honghu 818” chipset enhances and optimizes image resolution, contrast and color performance through multiple algorithms. The octa-core processor can handle heavy image-processing on large screens and run multiple tasks simultaneously. MEMC is also capable of delivering high-resolution images, superior sound quality and far-field voice interaction. The processor’s industry-leading bandwidth utilization rate outperforms others by over 50% on average.
AI Camera NPU Chipset: Another “Sharp Tech” innovation, a Smart Pop-up AI Camera equipped with a dedicated HiSilicon Hi3516DV300 NPU chipset enables AI capabilities including face recognition, body tracking and posture detection. The camera’s pop-up design provides a smart and secure user experience, tilting downwards by 10 degrees when wall-mounted and automatically hiding behind the screen when not in use.
Flagship-level Wi-Fi Chipset: HONOR Vision is equipped with a flagship Wi-Fi chipset—the HiSilicon Hi1103. As the world’s first chipset to support a 160MHz bandwidth with a download rate of up to 1.7Gbps, the chipset is 1.7 times faster than the industry average, enabling smoother and more stable video playback, especially for 4K HD video. It also supports 2.4G/5GHz dual frequency optimization. While 2.4GHz Wi-Fi ensures a stronger Wi-Fi signal and wider reach, 5GHz Wi-Fi enables faster internet speeds and less network latency, offering an optimized connection under a variety of environments.
HONOR Vision: Transforming the Future of Television
HONOR Vision will play a more critical role in the smart home. Going beyond a home entertainment center, the HONOR Vision also serves as an information sharing center, control management center and multi-device interaction center.
Home Entertainment Center: HONOR Vision offers an extraordinary audio and video experience, with a library of content from Huawei Video and a range of other platforms, creating a one-stop shop for TV series, variety shows, movies, music, animation and more.
Information Sharing Center: HONOR Vision’s intelligent display is equipped with the Family Note Function, allowing users to transfer 600M images between their smartphone and display via Huawei Share in just 20 seconds—100 times faster than transferring via Bluetooth.
Control and Management Center: Huawei and HONOR are committed to establishing HiLink, an open eco-system for the smart home. The platform as well as the technology will be accessible to other smart home providers in the industry, allowing users to connect their preferred smart home products together.
Multi-Device Interaction Center: HONOR Vision’s intelligent display utilizes the HONOR Magic-link function, allowing users to use their smartphone or Pad to search for programs, adjust settings, and more. It also allows users to simultaneously sync content being typed out on their smartphone or Pad to the HONOR Vision display. Using this function, users can also connect and project files without downloading any apps on their smartphone or smart screen, and can simply tap to activate NFC and enjoy a 1080P HDR content viewing experience. With an ultra-low latency of 100ms, users can connect devices to HONOR Vision within two seconds. Users can also swap between Miracast mode and DLNA mode seamlessly when watching videos, browsing images and gaming.
Superior Design for a Superior Screen
Both variants of HONOR Vision feature a 55-inch 4K HDR display. Thanks to its three-side bezel-less Full-View design, users can enjoy a screen-to-body ratio of up to 94%. The smart screen sports a 6.9mm full metal frame and a diamond-patterned rear, supporting an intelligent breathing light and TÜV Rheinland Eye Comfort Mode. The HONOR Vision series includes the 2GB+16GB standard version and the 2GB+32GB PRO version, priced at RMB3,799 and RMB4,799 respectively
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