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When sanctions were imposed on the most popular Chinese company, we all thought that we would only see the words of Huawei and Google in the news about tougher sanctions.
Indeed, what is there to talk about when Huawei was banned from using full-fledged Android and the services of the search giant? But now we have some interesting information, according to which the “Corporation of Good” will use the technology of the Chinese telecommunications giant. It only remains to figure out what exactly is at stake and is it so bad or, conversely, good?
This is not a collaboration, but an indirect connection between Google and Huawei. Albeit a very indirect one.
What’s new in Android 13
Google is making an interesting and potentially controversial decision starting with Android 13. This is where what Huawei came up with will be implemented. Namely, we are talking about a file system developed by a Chinese company.
According to esper.io, Google plans to enable the Enhanced Read-Only File System (EFORS) in Android 13, making it the default solution. The file system was created by Xiang Gao when he was an engineer at Huawei. EROFS offers significant advantages over existing file systems, including compact compression and data processing speed.
What will the new file system in Android 13 give
This can lead to the fact that even older smartphones will start to work faster, and the system files in them will take up less memory. Of course, we are talking about those old smartphones that Android 13 will support. Unfortunately, there won’t be many of them.
Google services are no longer on Huawei, but part of Huawei will soon be in Android.
Huawei has developed EROFS to be included in the Linux kernel that forms the basis of Android. Even though the file system was eventually locked out of the Android ecosystem due to US sanctions, it officially became part of the Linux kernel starting with Linux 5.4.
It is also used on millions of Huawei devices already released by the company. And also the advantages of the solution affect the decision of other companies that also implement it in their products.
Google is now planning to make it the default file system for read-only partitions such as those used by the main Android system. Since the system partition is usually read-only, compressing it is an attractive option to save space on files that only change when a system update is performed. Unfortunately, most compression systems have a significant performance penalty, a limitation that EROFS specifically eliminates.
This system is more practical and useful for daily use. This is important, and many manufacturers rely on the file system when they try to optimize the performance of their devices. For example, Apple’s transition to the APFS file system marked the company’s commitment to a new path – optimization.
Which devices will get the new file system
Just because Google supports EROFS doesn’t mean all devices will automatically use it . This change will only affect devices that will receive Android 13. That is, these are new devices and those that will receive updates.
Roughly speaking, we can say that these are smartphones up to two years old at the time the new operating system was released this fall.
It is not often that we hear about these companies in the same context.
And another important condition for the update is support for Google services . That is, the phone must only be certified and fully supported by the search giant itself. Based on this, we can conclude that devices running AOSP (Android Open Source Project) will not use EROFS.
Will Android 13 be good
We’ll have to wait and see what happens from this initiative, but two things can be said already now. First , it’s good that Google is looking to not only offer new features, but also overhaul the foundation of their operating system.
Second , it’s just a fun fact. When we are used to the fact that Google has nothing to do with Huawei, it turns out that it chooses what, although indirectly, is made by Huawei.
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