OpenHarmony 4.1 Beta1 Unleashes Cutting-Edge Features and API Advancements

In a significant development for the world of open-source software, the Open Atom Open Source Foundation has announced the release of Hongmeng OpenHarmony 4.1 Beta1. The release marks a crucial step in the foundation's mission to create an intelligent terminal device operating system for the full scenario, full connection, and full intelligence era.

OpenHarmony, an open-source project under the umbrella of the Open Atom Open Source Foundation, aims to build a versatile operating system based on open source principles. The recently launched version 4.1 Beta1 introduces a host of improvements, with a particular focus on enhancing system capabilities and providing developers with the first batch of API Level 11 interfaces.

According to the release notes, several key areas have been refined and expanded in the OpenHarmony 4.1 Beta1 version:

Application Framework

• Introduction of the Autofill automatic filling framework for system applications.
• Support for obtaining the resFile resource directory through Context for improved application development convenience.
• Enhanced UIExtension capabilities, including synchronization callbacks and support for multiple instances.
• Support for intent framework capabilities, facilitating binding intentions for UIAbility, UIExtension, ServiceExtension, and more.

ArkUI

• Added NodeContainer to open imperative rendering nodes, improving custom drawing capabilities.
• Enhanced text and container components with additional features like TextInput and TextArea improvements, nested scrolling of Swiper components, and advanced capabilities for Grid/WaterFlow components.

Application Package Management

• Unified access to basic resources with support for querying application icons and names.
• Quick repair capabilities in debugging state for rapid debugging of large applications.
• Installation, update, and uninstallation of driver applications with menu configuration and query capabilities.

Distributed Soft Bus

• Further enhancement of connection capabilities, including support for P2Pv2 negotiation and dynamic setting of connection parameters.
• IPC reference technology query interface and timestamp query interface for improved maintenance and testing capabilities.

Distributed Data Management

• Support for RDB to create a database in the subdirectory of the sandbox path specified by the application.
• Standardized definition and description of data types through UDMF, including support for data access authorization and management.

Graphics Images and Windows

• Support for rendering and displaying HDR Vivid videos.
• Enhanced graphics NDK capabilities, including OnFrameAvailableListener callback and OpenGL extension interface support.
• Advanced animation capabilities, including support for hardware hollowing out, screen rounding, and Navigation transition animation.

Media

• Addition of new HDI interface capabilities for camera framework, audio, etc.
• Support for flashlight control, motion anti-shake mode, camera scanning mode, and recording during calls over cellular networks.

Event Notification

• Emitter enhancements, supporting subscription by string type and obtaining the number of subscribers.
• Application settings for custom events and system live window type notifications.

Communication and Connection

• NFC support for HCE card simulation capabilities and Bluetooth enhancements, including dynamic start/stop of BLE broadcast.

Location

• Support for geocoding, reverse geocoding, and querying geocoding service status.

Phone Service

• Various improvements in SIM card text message management, roaming scenarios, and call interception framework.

Network Management

• Support for LAN routing management and new capabilities for UDP Socket.

Power Supply

• Configuration support for pressing the power button or closing the lid to sleep or turn off the screen.
• Various features for power management, including wake-up reason retrieval and screen power status control.

Safety

• Key management improvements and additional encryption and decryption algorithm library framework support.

UserIAM

• Support for cleaning up redundant user credentials, vibration feedback for authentication failure, and dynamic fingerprint disabling function.

ArkCompiler

• SmartGC improvements for highly performance-sensitive scenes and Taskpool enhancements.

Kernel

• Independence in building ko modules outside the kernel tree and new features for ko partition chip_ckm.

Multimode Input

• New interfaces supporting custom cursor interaction, keystroke monitoring, and recognition of various gestures.

Pan-Sensor

• Reporting of sensor accuracy and native API interface for sensor and tactile control.

Testing Framework

• Automated testing framework enhancements with simulated UI operation capabilities and improved efficiency.

Stability Testing Tool

• Added capabilities for page shielding during testing and a new single-scenario stress test.

Performance Development Tool

• Support for collection, analysis, and display of hilog and hisysevent in SmartPerf Host.

Performance Testing Tool

• Optimization of existing capabilities and new commands for starting and stopping collection.

DFX

• Improved identification speed and accuracy of power consumption abnormalities.

Upload Download

• Support for file fragment upload and priority policy for task execution.

Input Method Framework

• Support for input method switching list control and visual input of input method box.

Time Time Zone

• Support for user-aware configuration switches and custom NTP servers.

AI

• Added Native device-side AI training interface and ArkTS interface for configuring NNRt backend.

Web

• WebRTC capabilities improvement, CSS cursor style enhancement, and support for nested scrolling.

This comprehensive update reflects the commitment of the Open Atom Open Source Foundation to advancing open-source technologies. Developers and enthusiasts can explore the Hongmeng OpenHarmony 4.1 Beta1 code on [Gitee](https://gitee.com/openharmony) with the official release expected in Q1 of the coming year. OpenHarmony continues to pave the way for a more connected and intelligent future, fostering collaboration and innovation in the open-source community.