BEIJING, Jan 20 (APP): Huawei Technologies Co unveiled a new version of its self-developed operating system HarmonyOS, as the Chinese tech company speeds up efforts to cut reliance on foreign technologies and build an indigenous software ecosystem.
The move comes as Huawei announced that more than 800 million devices, including its own-brand products and devices from third-party companies, have now been equipped with HarmonyOS, up from 700 million devices five months ago, marking a significant milestone in its rapid expansion.
Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei’s consumer business group said at a conference in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, that the native HarmonyOS Next operating system, roughly translated as the Star River Edition, is targeted at software developers, China Daily reported on Saturday.
This version is more user-friendly, smooth, secure, intelligent and interconnected, and HarmonyOS can open up a trillion-dollar industrial new frontier, Yu said and added, a genuine operating system requires a foundation and an ecosystem. HarmonyOS has evolved into an operating system running seamlessly across a diverse array of devices.
HarmonyOS Next will no longer support Android apps or read Android code, according to Huawei.
Highlighting its commitment to promote the ecosystem of HarmonyOS, Huawei said that over 200 leading applications have accelerated their integration into the HarmonyOS ecosystem.
Major partners like Ant Group and China UnionPay, leveraging their innovation prowess and HarmonyOS’ foundational capabilities, provide software developers with efficient end-to-end tools and expedite application development.
Meanwhile, Yu said the HarmonyOS campus courses have reached 135 universities, involving 305,000 students, with 286 companies participating in HarmonyOS ecological workshops. Over 380,000 developers have obtained HarmonyOS certification.
The self-developed operating system was first unveiled as an Android alternative in August 2019, three months after the US government added Huawei to its Entity List, restricting the Chinese company’s access to crucial US technologies.
Since then, Huawei has been working hard to push for wider adoption of HarmonyOS, which is projected to surpass Apple’s iOS as the second-biggest smartphone operating system in China in 2024, according to Canadian research firm TechInsights.
Though Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS will continue to dominate the global smartphone operating system sector, Huawei’s HarmonyOS will take some ground in China, driven by the firm’s 5G smartphone comeback with the Mate 60 series, TechInsights said in a report.
Dai Wei, deputy secretary-general of the Internet Society of China, called on Chinese internet enterprises and every link in the industry chain to embrace and support the HarmonyOS ecosystem.
Zhou Hongyi, founder and chairman of Chinese cybersecurity company 360 Security Group, said multiple high-quality applications under the company will join the HarmonyOS ecosystem, promising users a smoother, more intelligent and secure experience.
Zhu Yonggang, president of Huawei’s device cloud business, said that the HarmonyOS application ecosystem is entering its second phase, and expressed hope for collaboration with more developers to accelerate the integration of diverse industries into the ecosystem.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 20 (APP): China now has over 800 million 5G users with 5G directly driving more economic output in China last year, the China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said.
China had over 805 5G users nationwide by 2023, driving total economic output of 1.86 trillion yuan (US$262.0 billion) last year, a 29-percent growth from the previous year, MIIT officials said during a broadcast conference.
Technology including 5G and the industrial Internet are deeply integrating various industries, which boost digital transformation and economic structure upgrades in China, Shanghai Daily reported.
In 2023, China’s industrial Internet core industry value reached 1.35 trillion yuan, covering 49 economic categories nationwide, Zhao Zhiguo, MIIT’s chief engineer, told the conference.
It boosts green and low-carbon economy, promotes consumption upgrading, safeguards production safety, and fuels digital transformation, Zhao added.
MIIT will also push high-quality development for the automotive industry, with measures on favorable taxes, support for innovation in the chip, battery and autonomous driving sectors, organizing tests for vehicle-road-cloud connections and prevention of supply-over-demand risks, MIIT officials said.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 20 (APP): The number of China’s 5G base station reached 3.377 million by the end of 2023, laying a solid foundation for network construction, the China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said.
China owned nearly 40 percent of the standard essential patents for 5G technology, leading the world, said Zhao Zhiguo, chief engineer of the ministry.
The 5G applications have been integrated into 71 national economic categories with over 94,000 applications and more than 29,000 virtual networks launched last year, according to Zhao.
China continued to develop green and low-carbon 5G networks in 2023 jointly, Ecns reported. According to estimates, 5G will drive a total economic output of 1.86 trillion yuan ($258.5 billion) in 2023, an increase of 29 percent compared to 2022.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 20 (APP): After failing to subdue the Kashmiris’ resolve for freedom by applying different brutal tactics, the Narendra Modi-led Indian government has now started harassing the people in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to force them to give up their affiliation with pro-freedom organizations.
According to Kashmir Media Service report on Saturday, the Indian police are making announcements through loudspeakers in occupied Kashmir asking the people to stay away from Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League (JKML) and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir (TeH).
The Modi government had recently banned the JKML headed by illegally detained Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Masarrat Aalam Butt and TeH founded by Syed Ali Gilani Shaheed for five years.
The Indian police made announcements in markets and public spaces, stressing that any association with these organizations would result in severe consequences. In addition, a drum beater accompanied the police during these announcements in the areas of North Kashmir where the warnings were being conveyed.
Locals told the media that posters were also prominently displayed across the IIOJK reading the message that any attempt to establish contact with these Hurriyat organizations would be dealt with firmly.
Political experts and Kashmir watchers are of the view that the Indian police are preparing grounds to arrest people on a massive scale to punish them for their attachment with the ongoing struggle for right to self-determination. However, they added that such tactics have failed to intimidate the Kashmiris into submission in the past and will meet the same fate now as well.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 20 (APP): A high-level Chinese delegation, consisting of renowned engineers and healthcare professionals are participating in the third edition of Engineering and Healthcare Show in Lahore. The Chinese delegation is expected to share their expertise and knowledge during the event, Muhammad Irfan Commercial Counselor, Consultant General of Guangzhou, told China Economic Net (CEN).
The show features various exhibitions, seminars and workshops that will highlight the latest technologies and innovations in engineering and healthcare. From state-of-the-art medical equipment to groundbreaking engineering projects, attendees will have the opportunity to witness the future of these industries”, he stated.
“Engineering and Healthcare Show is the flagship event of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. This year, more than 180 leading manufacturers of Engineering and Healthcare sectors are exhibiting their products. Besides, more than 500 foreign delegates from 50+ countries including 150 plus Chinese companies are participating in the exhibition. It will open endless opportunities for the Engineering and healthcare sector of the country”, he added.
Dr. Jian Peng, the leader of the Chinese delegation from Guangzhou and Honorary Investment Counselor, expressed his excitement about the show and the potential for collaboration between Pakistan and China. “Pakistan has shown remarkable progress in the fields of engineering and healthcare, and we are eager to explore opportunities for mutual growth and development.”
It is to be noted that the three-day Engineering and Healthcare Show has attracted thousands of professionals, students, and enthusiasts from across Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (APP):Pakistani and Iranian diplomats engaged Friday in a flurry of diplomatic activity to normalise relations of the two countries and de-escalate tension.
The signs of rapprochement became public when Iranian diplomat Seyed Rasoul Mousavi in a post on X told that “an hour ago, foreign ministers of Iran and Pakistan had a very good phone conversation to return relations to a high level. I hope that with the help of my colleague Rahim Hayat we can set a new record in de-escalation for two brotherly and friendly countries in the Guinness World Records by returning the ambassadors to the capitals and mutual visits of the foreign ministers.”
In another post on X, he said, “I believe that the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of our country is the end point on the waves of tension created between Iran and Pakistan. Leaders and high officials of both countries know that only terrorists and enemies of both countries benefit from the existing tension between the two neighboring countries.
Today, the main problem of the Islamic world is to stop the crimes of the Zionists in Gaza.”
This was followed by a post of Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan for Afghanistan and West Asia Rahim Hayat Qureshi who thanked Iranian diplomat Seyed Rasoul Mousavi and Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam and members of their team for the constructive efforts made for the early de-escalation between the two brotherly countries. “We look forward to many high level engagements in the future,” he hoped.
The Iranian ambassador reiterated in a statement that “Iran is fully committed to the territorial integrity of brotherly country of Pakistan. Threats like terrorism are common, also interests, and complementary economy provides a fertile ground to promote geo-economy, security and welfare in region.”
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