On September 19, in Munich, the Chinese manufacturer will unveil the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro, two smartphones delivered without Google services, but with a stripped-down version of Android. Blame it on the embargo imposed by the United States.

The best mobile plans of the moment:

It's back to school and the biggest smartphone manufacturers will draw, in turn, their new models. On the Huawei side, it will be the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro, two models like no other since they will be the first delivered without access to Google Play, nor integration of the usual Google services.

This is the consequence of the trade war between the United States and Chinese manufacturers, and even if Huawei is granted a reprieve until mid-November, Reuters reveals that Google has not granted a license to the manufacturer for these new smartphones which will be unveiled on September 19 in Germany.

The teaser for the Huawei Mate 30 gives pride of place to Leica optics. © Huawei

Hackers will be able to add Google services...

Which means that in the state, they will be delivered a priori with a bare Android (Android Open Source Project), and alternative applications to Google. In China, this is not a problem because we are used to not using Google services. On the other hand, in Europe, even in the United States, it will be a real problem and it could clearly slow down buyers.

However, the CEO from Huawei explained to the IFA that it would be possible to install Google applications manually and that it would even be "rather easy". Nothing prevents users from doing so, even if it will probably be necessary to "tweak" by downloading the code of the applications themselves and then installing them. The clever ones are used to doing it. For the general public, this will undoubtedly be a hindrance.

Huawei unveils HarmonyOS, Android's replacement

At a conference in China, Huawei presented its mobile operating system. Called HarmonyOS, it could eventually replace Android on all of the brand's smartphones.

Posted on 08/09/2019 by Fabrice Auclert

It is now official. At a conference held in China this morning, Huawei unveiled its mobile operating system. Known until then under the name of HongMeng, the OS is actually called HarmonyOS. A name that was chosen to show the world that the manufacturer seeks harmony, rather than discord while he is banned in the United States on suspicion of espionage. The arrival of this OS comes as within three months, Google should no longer be able to provide Android to the Chinese manufacturer due to US sanctions taken against it.

Just like Android, HarmonyOS will be available in open source and can therefore be used on any brand of smartphone. For once, US sanctions could well hurt Google, especially in the Chinese market. The OS that was originally planned to animate connected objects (IoT) will actually be a unified operating system. It will work just as well for smartphones, watches as speakers, or connected TVs.

Compatible with Android apps

While it wishes to maintain its partnership with Android, if the sanctions against it do not weaken, Huawei has announced that it will be forced to deploy HarmonyOS on all of its mobiles. Unlike Android, the OS is not based on a Linux kernel, but on a new micro-kernel. With this base, the OS should consume much less RAM than Android according to Huawei.

There remains the vital problem of applications. Still according to the brand, the OS will be compatible with all applications in Java, JavaScript HTML5, C and C++, or even Kotlin. But above all, Huawei has clarified that Android applications will also be supported. The only downside is that it will not be possible to go through the Play Store to install them.

Initially HarmonyOS should make its debut this year on a television from the Honor subsidiary, to then land on all the connected objects produced by the manufacturer.

Deprived of Android, Huawei plans to release its own HongMeng OS very soon

By Fabrice Auclert, p

New leaks from China suggest an official presentation of Huawei's new mobile OS on August 9, and the launch of the first smartphone integrating HongMeng OS at the end of the year.

Since the Trump decree adding Huawei to the list of foreign companies at risk, under embargo, the Chinese manufacturer has lost its Android license. Many rumors are circulating about a possible in-house mobile operating system, called HongMeng OS. New leaks from China have revealed a little more.

Huawei is expected to showcase its Android alternative on August 9 at its Developer Conference in China. According to the 36kr.com site, the general public should soon be able to discover HongMeng OS, which will be integrated into the new connected televisions of the Honor subsidiary. Their release is scheduled for August 10. This same OS should in the future equip autonomous cars, remote medical services and industrial controllers.

A system more suited to artificial intelligence

HongMeng OS was originally intended for connected objects (IoT), but the loss of the Android license forced the firm to review its projects. According to these new leaks, Huawei plans to launch its first smartphone with HongMeng OS in the fourth quarter of 2019. The details of the mobile and its OS are still unknown, but to attract developers, the manufacturer plans to launch it at a price of 2,000 yuan (approximately 254 euro).

According to the same sources, HongMeng OS does not use a Linux kernel like Android. It is more like Google's Fushia OS, based on a microkernel capable of adapting more easily to different platforms, such as connected objects or industrial devices, or even artificial intelligence.

Google withdraws its Android license from Huawei

By Fabrice Auclert, p

After the decree signed by the Trump administration prohibiting American companies from maintaining commercial relations with "at risk" foreign companies, Google but also Intel and Qualcomm have decided to sever their ties with the Chinese manufacturer.

Even though Huawei has just taken 2nd place ⁱⁿ the world ranking of smartphone sales and the P30 is considered the best photophone on the market, it was a real thunderclap that fell on the manufacturer. Chinese. In quick succession, Google, Intel and Qualcomm announced that they were ending their commercial relations with Huawei, but also its subsidiary Honor.

Why these three computer giants? Because they are Americans, and they comply with the decree published by the American government which prohibits American companies from doing business with foreign companies deemed “at risk”. A decree which mainly targets Huawei and ZTE whose network equipment installed abroad, in the United States, Europe or Australia, would be used by China to spy.

Concretely, what does this divorce mean? First, that Google will no longer grant an Android license to Huawei and Honor, and that the smartphones of the two brands will no longer be able to install Google applications, nor offer to download applications from the Play Store. Clearly, Huawei and Honor are deprived of an operating system! And processors and components since Qualcomm and Intel are following suit.

Will the models already marketed be spared?

What about those who today own Huawei smartphones like the P20 or P30? Their phone is not affected by this measure, and this is the case for all smartphones sold before this ban. On the other hand, do not count on the next version of Android, nor on security updates!

Is this the death of Huawei and Honor? Outside of China, it will be complicated to exist without Android. But the Chinese giant has its own operating system in its boxes and it can still use the public version of Android. The problem is that it is complicated today to survive without Google applications such as Chrome, Gmail or Maps. Except in China where Google is absent...