Huawei Introduces Google Play Workaround
Huawei has unveiled a surprise alternative to Google’s search and Play Store, a defiant move against both the U.S. blacklist and Google.
Huawei, which saw its smartphone sales shrinking overseasprimarily due to the loss of Google, recently posted decent financials based on its performance at home. However, all flagship phones will be hit probably by Taiwan’s TSMC cutting off supplies.
Despite those serious issues, the company announced at its HAS2020 global analyst conference updates to AppGallery, its alternative to Google Play. The AppSearch, which has been reportedly already tested in Germany, is designed to help users install their favorite apps on Huawei smartphones, has been renamed “Petal Search”. The app combines both “Search” and “AppSearch” into a single install. “Petal Search puts the world in the palm of your hand,” Huawei says, confirming that users can “search for your favorite phone apps with our state of the art technology.”
Petal Search offers Huawei curated “daily weather forecasts and top news, live sports scores and schedules, video, image, and music searches,” as well as “financial news and stock market updates.”
Of course, users are able to search for and install apps. The new Petal Search is intended to make everything official and assured. Search for an app like “Instagram” or “Facebook,” and the results will come complete with an install option. If the app is available on the AppGallery, then that’s where it comes from. If not, a third-party app store will be used instead.
During HAS2020, Huawei also said it is committed to unleashing diversified computing power based on x86, Kunpeng, GPU, and Ascend. For general computing, Huawei provides a broad product portfolio, such as integrated equipment, motherboards, and cards. Thanks to the diversified product lineup, the computing device shipments of Huawei registered a year-on-year growth of 8% in 2019.