A Huawei has some pretty ambitious plans for the HarmonyOS, its operating system. It emerged as a derivative of Android, has evolved into its own solution, and the company is looking to bring it to more devices. That's why it has now introduced its first laptop equipped with this platform, abandoning Windows.
According to the South China Morning Post, Huawei's HarmonyOS PC was created in response to US sanctions that prevent the company from continuing to use Windows. The Asian manufacturer's license with Microsoft expired in March this year, prompting the transition to the new operating system.
Details about the device are practically non-existent. The only thing that is known so far is that it will go on sale in China on May 19, and some promotional videos have offered a first look at the graphical interface. It is not yet known whether the device will reach international markets, something that many consider unlikely.
Huawei has adapted the design of HarmonyOS for use on computers, offering a hybrid user interface. This means that it features many of the elements that are already traditional on smartphones and tablets that use the same software, but introduces features similar to those offered by Windows or macOS.
As you can see from the few images that have emerged of Huawei's new laptop, HarmonyOS features a taskbar with a macOS-like dock for managing apps. There's also a system tray-like section for managing connectivity and other device settings, as well as a sort of Start menu.
Using HarmonyOS, the computer can run applications already available on other devices running the same software, such as mobile phones and tablets. According to the report, other programs that can be used on the Huawei laptop include the WPS office suite and the DingTalk business software, both of which are very popular in China. It also supports Celia, the Asian brand's virtual assistant.
When will HarmonyOS for PCs hit the market?
It is important to note that HarmonyOS for PCs has been confirmed, but not released. However, the official launch of the operating system should happen soon. This is because Huawei is expected to announce the first computer based on HarmonyOS by the end of the month, when we will then see the system in action.
At least initially, the new product is expected to cater to the Chinese market. There, Huawei smartphones with HarmonyOS already account for 19% of mobile phones sold, even surpassing the iPhone (17%). There is a good chance that the PC version will be a success in China, therefore.
