Restart life

Chapter 461 0451 [The Launch of the iPhone 4]

As June arrives, competition in the smartphone market is becoming increasingly fierce.

The number of mobile phones that can be operated by swiping with your fingers has increased to five in the Chinese mainland market.

Tong Zhihong, Chen Guiliang's roommate who was a year younger than him, had just finished his graduation thesis defense and began to fully dedicate himself to his internship at Youke.

He joined the "My Own Swordsman" project team. He had been doing odd jobs before, but had already learned a lot of practical skills. He was about to be assigned to more important work.

"Good morning, Lao Tong. Did you pass your thesis defense?"

"pass."

"That's good."

"..."

Tong Zhihong went to his workstation and sat down. He was busy until mid-morning when he went to the restroom, taking his phone with him.

He then realized that he had received a system update notification at some point.

The system information is not sent via SMS from the operator, but rather through an internet push channel.

Your phone has a system update available.

The update includes: 1. Fixing existing system bugs and addressing user inconveniences; 2. Adding OTA (Over-The-Air) functionality to the system; 3. Adding cloud backup functionality to the app after the system upgrade.

Tong Zhihong, squatting on the toilet, exclaimed with emotion: "HarmonyOS finally has OTA updates!"

OTA, or Over-the-Air, is a technology that allows users to upgrade their system with a single click using Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Apple's 3G had OTA (Over-The-Air) functionality, but the user experience was extremely poor.

While the Apple 3GS improved the OTA (Over-The-Air) function, major version updates are still more effective when done via computer.

Developing OTA functionality takes 6-9 months, and HarmonyOS is only now being developed.

When HarmonyOS was first launched, it was a bit rough around the edges. It has been improving over time, and now a major version update has arrived.

To be honest, even if HarmonyOS has OTA functionality, many users will still use a computer to update their phone's system. This is because data plans are too expensive, and some users don't have Wi-Fi at home.

After Tong Zhihong finished taking a dump and went back, he was called by his team leader to do some work. He was busy until he got off work and returned to his dormitory, when he finally remembered about the system update.

For mobile phone users at this time, upgrading the system is incredibly troublesome. Many phones don't even have message notification functions, and users have to browse forums or read news to find out about updates.

Tong Zhihong had already downloaded and installed the HarmonyOS PC suite, but backing up the data and downloading the firmware took him half the night. He set several alarms, remaining half asleep until he was finally able to click on the upgrade at 3 a.m.

If there's a power outage at this time, the phone will become a complete brick.

The system upgrade was finally completed the next morning after much effort...

"Senior Brother Tong, what have you been doing running around all night?" asked Yu Chengyu, his roommate who was two years his junior.

Tong Zhihong said, "Update the phone system."

Yu Chengyu looked at his HarmonyOS A1 with considerable envy: "HarmonyOS should be launching a new model this year, right? I'll just buy the second-generation HarmonyOS then."

Tong Zhihong casually agreed and then connected to the Wi-Fi to download the cloud backup app.

The next HarmonyOS phone will come with cloud backup functionality; this one requires users to download and install it themselves.

Apple's 3G and 3GS already have a cloud backup service called "MobileMe," which costs a hefty $99 a year, and hardly any users pay to use it. The Chinese version is even worse; due to the removal of Wi-Fi functionality and the instability of the 3G network, even if you pay the annual fee, it's still a terrible experience.

Tong Zhihong opened the HarmonyOS app store and found the "Cloud Backup App" prominently displayed. There was also a message: 3GB of free cloud storage space available!

"Holy crap, it's free?" Tong Zhihong was stunned.

……

The HarmonyOS community was in an uproar; a simple refresh of the webpage would reveal a dozen or more new posts.

"After updating the system, it seems that running multiple tasks at the same time is less laggy."

"The Bluetooth connection is also more stable now; it used to be intermittent."

"What exactly is cloud backup? I don't understand it at all."

"You can think of it as a safe. Your phone contains many important files, such as photos, contacts, and so on. If your phone is stolen, all of these files will be gone. Now you can back up your photos, contacts, and other files and put them in a safe. If your phone is stolen, it doesn't matter; you can just retrieve them from the safe."

"That's actually quite useful."

"Old Master Chen is so kind, he actually gave me 3GB of cloud backup space for free. Apple charges $99 a year for that."

"Don't even mention 3G, one or twoG is enough. They're not even expecting to make money from this."

"None of you mention OTA updates, but that's the most useful feature. Updating the system used to be such a hassle, but now we can finally update automatically with just one click."

"I estimate that, like Apple's OTA updates, major version changes are still unreliable, and we'll still have to use a computer to update."

"It's good that there's progress. I thought that after HarmonyOS was open sourced, the technical team would be handed over to the HarmonyOS Foundation for management, and the subsequent updates and maintenance would be terrible. But they've updated the system twice in the past six months, and each time there has been significant improvement."

"Speaking of which, after this system update, which smartphone in the domestic market can still compete with HarmonyOS phones?"

"It seems not. Apple and Samsung are nothing compared to them. They're ridiculously expensive and their features aren't even as advanced as HarmonyOS A1."

"To be honest, the Samsung i9000 and the HamG7 are still quite beautiful in appearance."

"Haha, I just saw Huang Zhang's Weibo post. He said the Meizu M9 is about to be launched, equipped with a new version of Meizu OS, and also has OTA and cloud backup functions."

"A new version of Meizu OS? Didn't Meizu join the HarmonyOS camp?"

"The so-called new Meizu OS is actually just a rebranded HarmonyOS. It's nothing more than changing the UI and customizing some features. Just like Wu Ying's Star OS, which is also based on HarmonyOS."

"..."

end of June.

Wu Ying held a press conference to launch her mobile phone, and the Xingyao X800 was officially unveiled.

This is the third smartphone in the HarmonyOS camp, priced at 2188 yuan/2588 yuan depending on the storage capacity.

Wu Ying had an excellent relationship with China Telecom, so she produced the Telecom version. She used both her own sales channels and the Telecom channels. Telecom directly purchased 20 units, and it's said that 3 Xingyao phones were sold in just one week through Telecom channels alone.

Wu Ying also invited Fan Bingbing to be her spokesperson and launched a massive advertising campaign on major television stations, resulting in a surge in sales in the second week after its release.

At this time, high school graduates had just finished filling out their college applications, and many parents were taking their children, who were about to enter university, to buy mobile phones. Wu Ying's choice of release time was quite opportune.

As usual, Chen Guiliang posted on Weibo to help promote the product: "Congratulations on the hot sales of Xingyao phones, another new phone added to the HarmonyOS camp."

When Wu Ying called, she immediately said, "Thanks, bro!"

Chen Guiliang laughed and said, "We're all on the same side, it's only right. The better the phones from the HarmonyOS camp sell, the more apps will be developed for us."

"I'll remember this favor. If you ever need anything in the future, just let me know." Wu Ying laughed heartily.

The "affection" he was referring to wasn't the kind of relationship Chen Guiliang was promoting on Weibo.

Instead, Chen Guiliang open-sourced the HarmonyOS system and was invited to become the chairman of the HarmonyOS Foundation. With mobile phone sales currently strong, Wu Ying is confident of fulfilling the performance guarantee and receiving a stake in Starcom for free.

Wu Ying's joy was short-lived, as Xingyao Mobile was sued by Motorola.

The development team for the Xingyao phone was poached directly from Motorola, and its team leader was the head of Motorola's R&D in China.

It seems to have infringed on some of Motorola's patents.

Wu Yingcai didn't care about any of that. He called Masayoshi Son and other shareholders: "I'm confident that I can turn Starcom around this year. You are the major shareholders. Now Motorola is suing me for infringement. Please help me coordinate this."

The matter was dropped, and an out-of-court settlement was reached after the patent fees were paid.

At this very moment, ham sausage is also suing Apple, allegedly infringing on twenty or thirty of Apple's patents.

Some media outlets even wrote articles jokingly saying, "Motorola has become the Whampoa Military Academy for the HarmonyOS camp. The core R&D teams for the best-selling HarmonyOS A1 and Xingyao X800 all come from Motorola."

The iPhone 4 has officially launched!

Although this product has not yet entered mainland China, it has already started to be sold in Hong Kong, and parallel imports from Hong Kong soon appeared in Shenzhen.

The number of Apple fans in China has surged because the iPhone 4 was truly amazing.

Most Apple fans haven't even used an iPhone 4 yet, but they're already mocking other phones online. They're not targeting anyone in particular, but rather—everyone here is trash!

Many Apple fans also flocked to ByteDance's Weibo account to tag Chen Guiliang.

Chen Guiliang responded in a unified post: "What's the rush? The new generation of HarmonyOS phones will show you what science fiction and the future really mean. Besides, we can make calls no matter how we hold the phone."

The "Antennagate" scandal has already broken out in the United States, but it hasn't received much attention in China.

Many Apple fans were completely unaware that the iPhone 4 had signal problems, and they didn't quite understand the second half of Chen Guiliang's post.

As a result, some netizens came out to explain, saying that Jobs made users change the way they held their phones.

Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Ham, and other mobile phone brands followed suit on social media accounts, collectively mocking Apple.

Not only in China, but Nokia and Motorola have also been advertising and mocking China in Europe and America.

Motorola bought a huge ad space in The New York Times: "Our phone features a dual-antenna design. This design allows you to hold it any way you want and make clear calls anywhere."

Nokia, on the other hand, ran an advertising campaign to educate the public, explaining in detail the four ways to hold a phone and claiming that its phone would always have a signal no matter how it was held.

In China, all mobile phone brands have registered Weibo accounts.

Nokia (China)'s official account directly tagged Chen Guiliang: "Mr. Chen, do you know what the basic functions of a mobile phone are? This question is worth discussing."

Chen Guiliang replied: "Isn't it a phone call?"

Nokia replied: "Mr. Chen really knows mobile phones; he was able to give the correct answer to such a difficult question."

The two Weibo accounts were working together in a coordinated manner, making onlookers burst into laughter.

Chen Guiliang posted another update: "I suggest Apple change the system so that the signal always shows as full bars. This would perfectly solve the problem."

"Damn, Old Master Chen is a genius. He can even come up with this kind of solution."

"Trying to cover your ears while stealing a bell, is that it?"

"This is hilarious. Apple fans should erect a memorial tablet for Chen Laozu."

"..."

A few days later, Apple headquarters indeed updated the system, ensuring that the phone always showed a signal.

When the news reached China, countless netizens were stunned.

"Did Steve Jobs see Chen Guiliang's Weibo post? He actually updated the system and changed the signal display rules."

"Is this the tacit understanding among capitalists? Do they think consumers are fools?"

Of course, the most common response was simply "Awesome!"

Even Huang Zhang found Chen Guiliang's Weibo post and forwarded it with the comment "Awesome".

At this moment, Chen Guiliang was discussing with Zhou Guangping and Ye Peng: "The iPhone 4 is too amazing. We should hold back our HarmonyOS A2 and not rush to release it after it is completed."

Ye Peng immediately understood: "That's right, we should launch HarmonyOS TianShu first, and go head-to-head with the iPhone 4! Otherwise, launching HarmonyOS A2 first would immediately lower the level of HarmonyOS."

Chen Guiliang asked, "When will Tian Shu be mass-produced?"

Zhou Guangping said, "The second round of testing for the engineering prototype has just begun. Mass production will take at least three more months."

Chen Guiliang said, "When the time is right, we can release it first. We can officially start selling it a month or two later. There's no need to rush. The iPhone 4 will also be available in mainland China in a while. Lao Ye, accelerate the construction of marketing channels, and I will personally oversee the advertising and promotion."

HarmonyOS is going head-to-head with the iPhone 4, taking advantage of the iPhone 4's antenna issues to launch a direct attack.

Even if a complete victory cannot be achieved, a draw would be enough to make them a legend and solidify HarmonyOS's market position!
Zhou Guangping couldn't help but ask, "President Chen, how did you come up with that idea? It's about updating the system to make the phone show that it has a signal."

"I was just saying it offhand, who knew Jobs would actually do it? He was quite abstract," Chen Guiliang laughed.

Zhou Guangping: "..."

(End of this chapter)