Summary of Key Points
The number of applications for HarmonyOS-based computers has exceeded 19,000, and two new products are about to be released. The ecosystem covers major scenarios such as office work, finance, and education, with a rich range of peripherals supported. This year, applications have begun to be deeply optimized to take advantage of HarmonyOS's features (such as cross-device collaboration and foldable screen interaction), and there have been breakthroughs in professional fields like industrial design, finance, and scientific computing. However, the gap with the ecosystems of Windows and macOS still exists. The key to future success lies in attracting more industry software developers to create native versions for HarmonyOS and in achieving widespread adoption by enterprises.
1. Progress of the HarmonyOS Computer Ecosystem: More usable applications, no more worries about compatibility
Over the past year, the application ecosystem for HarmonyOS-based computers has made significant progress from having a basic collection of apps to offering a sufficient variety for everyday use. The 19,000 available applications cover almost all common scenarios, including daily office work (e.g., using WPS), watching videos and playing games, and educational activities. Peripherals are also more convenient to use—more than 1,700 types of keyboards, mice, and USB drives, as well as over 1,600 types of printers and scanners, are compatible with HarmonyOS, eliminating the need to worry about device compatibility issues. For ordinary users, this means that once they purchase a HarmonyOS computer, they can use their favorite software without any additional setup.
2. Applications are no longer just for compliance: They now utilize HarmonyOS's unique features
Last year, most applications on HarmonyOS-based computers were merely adapted from other systems to work on the new platform. This year, things have changed significantly as developers are reengineering functions to leverage HarmonyOS's strengths:
- WPS: Optimized for HarmonyOS, opening a 1GB PPT file now takes six times faster, and saving files is 50% quicker compared to before.
- Zhongwang CAD: On foldable screen computers with HarmonyOS, designers can view drawings, edit documents, and make annotations using a stylus, extending their work experience to mobile devices (e.g., making changes while on a train during a business trip).
- Finance: Corporate online banking services from five major banks and Xingye Bank, along with 25 other financial applications, are now compatible with HarmonyOS, allowing professionals to use these tools on their computers.
These improvements show that applications are not just being developed for the sake of compatibility but are truly designed to enhance the user experience by taking advantage of HarmonyOS's features.
3. Breakthroughs in professional fields: Domestic alternatives are available where foreign software was once dominant
The most impressive advancements have occurred in high-demand professional areas:
- Industrial Design: Zhongwang CAD, a domestic industrial software solution, is now compatible with HarmonyOS, enabling designers to perform their work on HarmonyOS devices.
- Scientific Computing: Simulation software like MWORKS has been released for HarmonyOS, breaking the foreign monopoly in this field and providing researchers with an alternative to Windows.
- Finance: Corporate online banking and brokerage applications are widely available, meeting the needs of business and investment professionals.
This is a crucial step forward, as it indicates that HarmonyOS is no longer limited to casual use but can now support professional tasks, indicating the deepening of its ecosystem.
4. What does HarmonyOS still lack compared to Windows/macOS?
Windows and macOS have dominated the market for decades due to their strong ecosystems:
- Enterprises have invested heavily in software solutions used for decades in areas like research and development, industrial manufacturing, etc. Switching to a new system would require retraining employees and adjusting business processes, which is costly.
- The development tools, hardware partners, and IT infrastructure are all integrated, creating a closed loop that supports the ecosystem.
Although HarmonyOS has a large number of applications, its depth in professional fields and market penetration among enterprises are still insufficient. For example, many core business applications are not available for HarmonyOS, which is the biggest gap at present.
5. The key to HarmonyOS's future: Attracting industry software developers and gaining enterprise adoption
To close the gap with mainstream systems, Huawei needs to focus on two main areas:
- Encouraging industry software developers to create native versions: Instead of simply adapting existing apps, they should develop new software specifically for HarmonyOS to maximize its potential.
- Promoting widespread enterprise adoption: Only when enterprises are willing to use HarmonyOS for critical tasks can the ecosystem truly take off. This can be achieved by encouraging more factories to adopt industrial software and banks to use office solutions based on HarmonyOS, thus creating a positive cycle of development, application distribution, user adoption, and further development.
In summary, HarmonyOS-based computers are now usable and even perform well in certain scenarios. However, to become the dominant platform, it still needs to make significant progress in professional fields and within the enterprise market. This is a long-term effort, and we are just at the beginning of this journey.