140: Chapter 140: Rice Makes Its Move – UI is UI, OS is OS

"CEO Lin, MIUI is based on the Android open-source community. Its core functions do not rely on Google services, but the app store, maps, and email currently still use Google's. There is an impact, but it's controllable."

Lei Jun decided that after the first-generation Xiaomi launched domestically, he would make a youth version and try it in the India market to see if they could capture some market share.

Hong Feng looked at the two: "If Google cuts off supply, we need domestic alternatives."

"Use Baidu for search, and NetEase for email. We'll build our own app store. Let's get these features ready before Xiaomi launches."

Having made his decision, Lei Jun began assigning tasks.

Hong Feng nodded: "That's possible, but it will take time. For the app store, we need to establish an audit standard to prevent unhealthy apps from entering our store and to avoid the enemy using dirty tactics."

"How long will it take?"

"Two to three months."

Lei Jun calculated in his mind again. Another three months!

The initial sales cycle for a hot product is only three months; after that, it's just adding a few stragglers. Unless there's a major price cut, it's hard to make sales take off again. This amount of time is enough for the market to change several times over.

But he had no other choice.

"Then let's do it. You and I will each lead a team. From today on, MIUI will focus all efforts on strengthening its independence. If we can do it ourselves, we will; if not, we'll find domestic partners."

He looked at everyone: "This Google incident has taught us a lesson: we cannot leave our lifeblood in someone else's hands."

[Qualcomm: Haha... really?]

...

March 23, Guangzhou, Transsion Headquarters.

In the conference room sat over 20 core engineers, half from Transsion and half from Huawei. Each had a computer in front of them, and code repositories were open on the projector.

"We refactored part of the underlying layer for OS2, but for OS3, we are going to refactor everything," Product Manager Liu Zhihong introduced. "The entire system, not just a partial refactor. The core philosophy is to be application-compatible but not reliant."

He pointed to the architecture diagram on the screen. "In terms of applications, we plan to temporarily build a compatibility layer to map Android APIs to Taishan System's own services. We want most Android apps to be able to run without modification."

The Huawei engineers nodded. This was API mapping. Compared to native Android, it was faster and better, very close to native Android, perhaps even better.

They might see a joke soon: software developed for Android running faster on Taishan System than on Android...

Big Mouth Yu asked: "What about system services? In the last generation, only the account, app store, system push, and weather were ours; the rest were the same old stuff."

"The new version is entirely self-developed. We've added maps, payments, notes, messaging... all self-developed. These are minor issues; what we need to do next is fully transition this system to be self-developed."

Big Mouth Yu glanced at Liu Zhihong and said with his wide mouth smiling: "The workload..."

Liu Zhihong also laughed: "That's why I asked CEO Yu to help. Let's transfer all the system adaptation personnel over; let's get this domestic system built as soon as possible."

"Okay!"

Big Mouth Yu didn't care whether it was a loan without return or a loan with return. Anyway, Huawei was already part of Transsion, so there was no need to distinguish so carefully.

Laughter filled the conference room, and the atmosphere was more relaxed than imagined.

...

March 25, Shen Fei posted on Weibo.

"Transsion's self-developed chip + self-developed system is progressing smoothly. The first mobile phone equipped with Taishan OS2 and Transsion's self-developed chip is expected to launch at the end of April."

The attached image was a photo of a wafer with the Transsion logo printed on it.

Not long after the news was posted, Big Mouth Yu was the first to repost it, followed by a crowd of onlookers.

"Self-developed chip? Really? Does our country have this kind of capability?"

"This is going head-to-head with Qualcomm. I wonder if it can beat the MSM8255 in Xiaomi phones."

Xiaobai Unboxing: "CEO Shen, considering I've reviewed so many Transsion phones, can I get a ticket?"

Shen Fei: "You are welcome to come."

Shen Fei's involvement made the comment section even livelier.

"Self-developed system, no wonder it's compatible with Android..."

"Look at Mate; the ecosystem won't be bad. Starting from zero and building compatibility is the best method."

Of course, skepticism remained the mainstream in the comment section. After all, it had only been four years since the Hanxin incident, and the entire industry was still wary of chip-related claims.

"Bluffing. Self-developed chips aren't that easy. It's probably just buying a MediaTek reference design and calling it their own chip after some so-called 'enhancements'."

"How many years has this guy Shen Fei been in charge? And he dares to make self-developed chips."

"Wait and see the real product. Who doesn't make PPTs?"

#Transsion Self-Developed Chip#

#Domestic Chips and Systems Blossom, Ushering in a Period of Technological Explosion#

Just as China Star was dominating the top of the trending list, Lei Jun also posted on Weibo in the afternoon.

"Google's withdrawal from the China market is a great pity and has had a huge impact on us. Please rest assured, all users who purchased the first-generation Xiaomi will not have their shipping or experience affected. MIUI always insists on independence. No matter how the external environment changes, Xiaomi will always provide users with the best experience. [UI is just UI, we will never claim credit we don't deserve.]"

The attached image was a screenshot of MIUI with "Based on Android OS" written in large letters.

Mi Fans in the comment section supported him: "CEO Lei is right, MIUI is the best."

"Regardless of whether Google leaves or not, I will always use MIUI..."

"Transsion talks about self-developed chips and systems, Xiaomi talks about MIUI independence. Are domestic mobile phone manufacturers collectively rebelling?"

"Rebelling? This is clearly self-strengthening, okay?"

"Google left, which is just what's needed to force out domestic systems... and custom Android UIs. A good thing. Native Android is simply too anti-human."

Both Weibo posts were widely reposted, and self-media outlets began writing comparison articles.

"Transsion vs. Xiaomi: Who is the Future of Domestic Mobile Phones?"

"Chip + System: Transsion's Grand Strategy"

"MIUI's Road to Independence, Xiaomi's Moat"

Besides these relatively normal comparison articles, Lei Jun's Weibo post was also "over-interpreted" by some.

Shuaji001, a flashing enthusiast blogger with 150,000 followers, usually loved to stir up a little drama.

This time he set his sights on Xiaomi and Transsion, believing he could gain a lot of followers from this...

Shuaji001: "Google has withdrawn from the China market. The internet industry is busy grabbing market share, and everyone in the mobile phone market is feeling insecure. Everyone is making statements, but their stances are different. Some say self-developed systems don't need to rely on Google. Some say it's based on open source, so it won't be affected. Comforting customers immediately is an attitude worthy of praise. But when everything is clearly based on the same thing, hmm... some are touting self-development, while others are talking about careful adaptation. This is worth pondering. Who is really engaging in fake research and deceiving customers, and who is diligently researching and serving customers? The answer is obvious."

Once this drama started, it instantly hit the trending list.

#Transsion Fake Research#

"Really, anyone can be a blogger now. Without doing any research, just stirring up drama here?"

"Don't pay attention to these idiots upstairs. He can't see the code Transsion modified; he can only see it's based on open-source Android. Their 'parents' have already flown away..."

Shuaji001: "Then tell me, is it based on Android? Has the Android code been completely cleared?"

In Beijing, at Dami Company, Lei Jun laughed out loud when he saw this unexpected surprise. He had originally been worried that the launch of the first-generation Xiaomi would be too late... Now... This fire is burning well!