Arstechnica: Huawei's Harmony OS is a remade Android 10 without much change

The 2019 Huawei P30 Pro is still one of the amazing flagship-level smartphones that runs on Android-based EMUI skin out of the box. After the ban in the US and partnerships with American companies, Huawei developed its own skin called HarmonyOS which mainly runs on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS). Now, if you are one of the Huawei P30 Pro users and want to download or install HarmonyOS on your phone, you can follow this complete guide.

  • Conclusion
  • Harmony OS and its features

    Harmony OS is a distributed and unified operating system developed by Huawei to run on its devices, including mobile phones, TVs, headsets, etc. Thanks to its multi-core structure, the operating system selects suitable kernels for devices with different resources. HarmonyOS is a next-generation operating system that makes smart devices interact and collaborate seamlessly. It offers simple interaction and increased productivity.

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    HarmonyOS (HongMeng OS) is completely different from Android and iOS because it is a microkernel-based distributed OS that can run on all platforms with a robust and secure architecture. It supports seamless collaboration across devices so app developers can easily create their apps once and then edit/update accordingly. According to the company, it has several highlighted features which we have mentioned below.

    • Seamless experience
    • Smooth Performance
    • Privacy and Security
    • Universal operating system
    • New home screen
    • Control Panel
    • Service widgets
    • Service center
    • Smart folder
    • HarmonyOS fonts
    • Super device
    • Huawei Share
    • Smart House
    • Task Center
    • Better performance
    • App Guard
    • Shared Security

    Design and appearance

    The Honor Magic Watch 2 I tested came with a silicone strap. The case and strap are matte black, and the top round button has a red stripe. In my opinion, it perfectly combines classic shapes and a round display with modern sporty design and functions.

    Like Watch GT 2, Magic Watch 2 received two control buttons and a touch screen. The top one brings up a list of all available functions and acts as the main one - returning us to the main dial. The lower one allows you to start training without touching the screen, for example, while wearing gloves. You will also be able to assign a shortcut to any function on your Honor smartwatch.

    What distinguishes the second version of the Magic Watch from the first is the built-in speaker and microphone. They allow you to conduct telephone conversations, as well as receive audio notifications and play advice from a virtual trainer. Despite the speaker, the watch is waterproof (up to 50 meters). With them you can swim in the pool, there are even special training modes for this. The speakerphone level here is so good that you can easily talk in quite noisy environments. In this regard, the Watch 2 is better than many phones.

    The strap has a slightly different shape than the Huawei watch. The name Honor is also embossed on the buckle. It is more comfortable than the first generation version and is durable for long periods of wear, although it is not as suitable for everyday wear as the leather one. Attached in the standard way.

    There are two size types of Honor Magic Watch 2: 46mm and 42mm. I tested the larger version. The reviewed model weighs 41 grams, and the smaller one weighs 29 grams. Another important difference is that the smaller version has twice the battery life.

    How to install HarmonyOS 2.0 on Huawei P30 Pro

    Installing the latest version of HarmonyOS on your Huawei P30 Pro or even any Huawei device is a snap. Just follow this guide to complete the installation process with other requirements.

    Prerequisites:

    As for the requirements, you just need to complete a few things before proceeding.

    • Make sure your Huawei P30 Pro device is sufficiently charged (more than 50%) to avoid random shutdowns during the software update process.
    • Since HarmonyOS is in beta testing at the time of writing this article, you should back up all important data on your device for your convenience.
    • Keep your device's system updated regularly to avoid facing any system glitches or compatibility issues.
    • Installing the update will require a faster and more stable internet connection, which will likely be around 2.7GB in size.

    Read more: How to install Google Play Store on any Huawei HarmonyOS 2.0 device

    Installation Instructions:

    You are now ready to continue installing the HarmonyOS update. So, without wasting any more time, let's get down to business.

    • Go to Settings menu on your device > Scroll down to the bottom and select System updates .
    • Be sure to set the region to China from the language. [This is important no matter what country you live in]
    • You must have logged into your Huawei ID on the device.
    • Now open the Huawei AppGallery app > Click on Me (profile icon) in the bottom right corner.
    • Tap on your Huawei ID to open Account Center > Go to Settings at the bottom.
    • Set Country/Region to China from here too. [Important] It may ask you to enter the password for the email account you provided. Simply enter a valid password to confirm.
  • Then return to the home page of the Huawei AppGallery app and search for "My HUAWEI" .
  • Click on the app's Support page and be sure to update it to the latest version (if available).
  • After updating the support app, simply reboot your Huawei P30 Pro device for the changes to take effect. [Press and hold the Power button and then select Restart]
  • After restart, open Huawei AppGallery > When prompted, click Agree > Now all language will be displayed in Chinese.
  • Find the My HUAWEI app, which is a support app, and update it.
  • Wait for the app to update > Now open the My HUAWEI app on your device.
  • When the My HUAWEI app setup interface opens, click Next .
  • Then click on Agree > HMS Core will start updating some additional resources or the latest version with the latest version of My HUAWEI app. So, wait for it to complete.
  • If it asks you to change your country/region, select 'Yes' and select China from the list.
  • Now tap on Get Started > When the My Huawei app interface opens, tap on the Update Icon shortcut (red color).
  • Once the HarmonyOS page loads, click Try it now > Select the specific device model that will be listed there. [In this case, select Huawei P30 Pro]
  • Click on the blue button at the bottom > click on the blue button in the bottom right corner again.
  • You will need to press the blue button several times to confirm and continue.
  • Click on the Public Test Description file (in the blue button) > Select Download to get the beta profile.
  • Now the Huawei Public Beta Test Notification page will appear > Just click on Agree .
  • Once the profile is installed, you will see the same on the screen.
  • Go to Settings menu on your device > Scroll down to the bottom and select System updates .
  • Click on Software Update and the device system will automatically start checking for the latest software updates.
  • Just click on Download and Install > Wait for the update process to complete as it may take some time.
  • After installing the software update, restart your device for the changes to take effect.
  • Please wait for your device to boot into HarmonyOS; this may take a while.
  • Finally, go through the initial setup process and enjoy!
  • Characteristics of Honor Magic Watch 2

    Size 46 mm (there is also 42 mm)
    Weight 41 g (without strap)
    Screen type AMOLED 454?454 326 ppi
    Display size 1.39 inch
    Waterproof 5 ATM
    Housing material Stainless steel + plastic
    Number of sports modes 15
    Sensors Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, optical heart rate sensor, ambient light sensor, barometer
    Health Tracking Pressure, sleep, heart rate, SpO2 (CN version)
    Battery 455 mAh
    Charging time 2 hours
    Battery autonomy 14 days
    NFC Only supported in Chinese version
    GPS GPS + GLONASS + Galileo
    Connection Bluetooth 5.1
    OS Compatibility Android 4.4/iOS 9.0 or higher
    CPU Kirin A1
    Application HUAWEI Sports Health
    Price $170 (RUB 11,000)

    Conclusion

    It looks like Huawei has done a great job with the system optimization and stability of HarmonyOS, which is much better than the EMUI skin. While the app compatibility and support on multiple devices will make it very convenient for seamless use in one ecosystem. However, the HarmonyOS build is currently only available in China and for a few device models or specific variants. not supported Now.

    Other Huawei devices available worldwide may take some time. However, if you are interested in using HarmonyOS, you can do so too by following this guide.

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    That's it, guys. We hope you found this guide helpful. For further queries, you can leave a comment below.

    Clock display

    The screen of my Honor Magic Watch 2 has a diagonal of 1.39 inches and an AMOLED matrix. Its resolution is 454×454 and its pixel density is 326 PPI. The same parameters as the model from Huawei.

    The display brightness can be set to one of 5 levels, or adjusted automatically. The waiting time can be changed from 10 to 20 seconds or left on automatic mode. You can also specify how long you want the screen to be backlit (ranging from 5 to 20 minutes). It is also possible to configure the display of the dial in standby mode - then the time will always be visible. However, this will affect the battery life.

    Bottom line

    The Honor Magic Watch 2 isn't a deal for people who already bought the Watch GT 2 - it's basically the same device, with all the pros and cons, with minor changes to the aesthetics and watch faces. Between all the models from Huawei and Honor, the Magic Watch 2 is my favorite because of the matte black design with red accents and the new digital watch faces that I've been waiting for.

    Is it worth buying?

    If you already have a Huawei Watch or Honor Magic Watch from the first generation, but want to upgrade to a newer version, then the Watch 2 is a better choice, with a lower price and nicer digital watch faces. If you don’t have a smart watch and need a decent gadget that you will wear on your wrist, then you will be very pleased with the new Magic Watch, under certain conditions.

    Activity and health tracking

    Honor Magic Watch 2 is very suitable for activity monitoring. They measure heart rate, stress, steps, calories, distance and sleep in detailed, continuous measurements. Data is presented as charts or numbers, synchronized with the Health app and can be collected throughout the day, week, month, year. If you're looking for a sports watch that's equally effective at activity monitoring, has long battery life, and doesn't cost too much, you may find that the Honor Magic Watch 2 has little competition.

    However, there are significant limitations to keep in mind—data cannot be exported from the Health app to other services like Straw, RunKeeper, Endomondo, Google Fit, Runtastic, or Garmin Connect. As I mentioned earlier, the smart features here are very limited compared to even Samsung's competitors.

    The set of tracked disciplines includes 15 exercises, and has not undergone significant changes compared to the latest Huawei smartwatches.

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