Why are some users upset after MIUI’s latest internal beta package is pushed

MIUI is the light of a domestic customized system, with a large number of user groups, and often adding or deleting a new function will cause a lot of waves.

MIUI, which has recently developed a beta version, adjusted the GMS strategy of some models and removed the Google framework whitelist. As a result, some models participating in the internal test cannot use Google Family Bucket, and even GMS previously installed through a third party will be removed.

Since there was no "warning" in the upgrade instructions in advance, many users were recruited. They flocked to the MIUI forum to "feedback" and wanted corresponding solutions. However, the official did not say anything. Instead, a member of the MIUI answer group pointed out that due to non-compliance, for models without pre-installed GMS service framework, in the future Users are no longer specifically supported to install the GMS framework by themselves.

Suddenly, the public was indignant and there were divergent opinions. It was even reported that Xiaomi mobile phones no longer support the GMS service framework.

After several days of fermentation, Xiaomi officially issued multiple statements to clarify that this upgrade will not affect all Xiaomi mobile phones, but only models without GMS pre-installed are affected, and more models of GMS will be added in the future Pre-installed to meet the needs of rice noodles, and international version models are not affected by this upgrade.

It is reported that among Xiaomi's mobile phone products, only the flagship product of the Snapdragon 8 series will be pre-installed with the GMS service, and other products may be affected, and the scope of the impact is not small.

What is GMS in the mouth of enthusiasts?

GMS is the abbreviation of Google Mobile Services. The full name is Google Mobile Services. It integrates a variety of Google applications and API interfaces, allowing Google services and applications to run on certified Android devices, such as Google accounts, Google Play, Google Pay, and others Some services. In addition, the verification and push of some third-party apps also rely on GMS.

Simply put, GMS is the ecology created by Google for the Android system. Foreign Android devices and various apps almost completely rely on GMS.

However, in daily situations, we hardly use GMS services, and whether it is built-in or not has little effect. But if you are using some foreign apps (such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.), or you are playing some games (such as Japan, Europe and the United States), you need GMS.

In the MIUI incident, many foreign game players were also affected. They said they could only return to the iPhone. Although downloading games on foreign servers on iOS still requires an account in the US (Japanese), it is still easier than installing GMS.

GMS is not free, and the "whitelist" mechanism is not compliant

To be precise, the Android system is divided into open source AOSP and GMS services. The former is open source and free, while the latter requires Google authorization and payment. And in recent years, Google has continuously put new features and functions into the GMS service, which has prompted Android devices to rely on GMS, increased the installed capacity of GMS, and brought a lot of income to Google.

In the early days, domestic mobile phones did not go overseas, and Google did not explicitly require the installation of GMS. Many mobile phone enthusiasts will install the GMS framework by themselves, and even some similar flashing solutions, which can be said to have been refreshing.

Later, as mobile phone manufacturers continued to go overseas and built-in GMS framework became a must, they recharged and obtained authorization to Google one after another. Just like now OPPO, vivo, realme, OnePlus and other manufacturers' new machines will be pre-installed with GMS, which greatly reduces the threshold for domestic users to use overseas apps.

Not all models will go overseas. Some domestic models do not need to install GMS. GMS will stay in the background and memory. If not, it will indeed occupy some resources. After comprehensive consideration, many models are not authorized by Google or Google pays.

However, some users of many popular products will have GMS needs. In order to "best of both worlds", some manufacturers have opened a "white list" for GMS. Without Root, GMS can be flashed into the system. In this way, Google’s licensing fees can be avoided, and the needs of some users can be met.

However, as Google's policy on the use of the GMS framework has become more stringent, it has gradually begun to block the installation of GMS services to unauthorized devices. After the MIUI development internal beta upgrade for some Xiaomi models, the GMS service cannot be used, which is the "compliance" change that Xiaomi has made in response to Google's needs.

MIUI’s actions are reasonable and compliant, but the reasons are somewhat untenable

In addition to "non-compliance", Zhang Guoquan, director of Xiaomi's system software, explained in detail on Weibo another reason why it is not suitable to install GMS services.

In summary, one is that it is not safe to install the GMS service by yourself. The other is that some models are based on comprehensive considerations of performance, memory and storage space. The third is that the Redmi K30U may be approved in the future without affecting the overall performance. Upgrade to pre-install GMS service. Fourth, we will consider increasing the number of pre-installed GMS models in the future. Fifth, overseas versions will not be affected.

In recent years, Xiaomi has continued to export overseas. If you want to win overseas markets, all overseas models are authorized to pre-install GMS. This also means that the models going overseas are authorized by Google, and corresponding to domestic models, there should be corresponding authorization. The reason for removing GMS for better performance is a bit untenable.

The Guardian reported that the licensing fee for GMS is paid according to the number of models. Roughly speaking, 100,000 Android devices cost 75,000 US dollars. If you convert it, it is 0.75 US dollars per device. Although this data is not necessarily accurate, In addition, the standards of equipment from different manufacturers may fluctuate, but the license fee for each unit plus the huge sales volume is still considerable.

According to this news, look at the models affected this time, most of which are Redmi mid-range models, almost all of them are the vanguard of Xiaomi's competition for market share. Xiaomi's recent market response has been strong, and sales have soared. The mid-range and cost-effective Redmi models have contributed. It is irresponsible to guess that MIUI has removed GMS for some models, but in fact it still made a small article on cost control.

In addition, the MIUI removal of the GMS framework event is so far beyond the scope and the scope is so wide. The MIUI official has no "warning" in advance and the "sage mode" that is opened afterwards has a lot to do.

To be honest, the removal of GMS is not as serious as expected. In fact, a small number of users are affected, but the voices of these users are louder on the Internet (or in the MIUI forum), so this matter Only after a few rounds of official replies did things gradually become clear.

What should I do if I want to use GMS service in the future?

In the MIUI forum's feedback that GMS cannot be used, members of the official answer group have said that they can use the "Google Installer" to solve it.

But in principle, after MIUI removes the "whitelist", apps such as Google Installer will no longer work. If you want to flash into the GMS service framework, you still need to root in theory. Rooting will affect the hardware warranty, and relatively speaking, the security is also reduced a lot.

If mobile phones are mostly used for overseas apps and games on foreign servers, for now, there are either no upgrades or root solutions. There are only two ways to go.

After Root, you can swipe into the MIUI overseas version, or swipe into a third-party App, but there is no guarantee that the corresponding localization service will be provided. In addition, after Root, the upgrade of the domestic version of MIUI is maintained, but after each upgrade, the GMS framework needs to be re-applied. Although it is a bit toss, at least some localized services will be retained.

Having said that, the most perfect reality is to wait for the official trade-offs and then upgrade the appropriate models to complement the GMS service framework.

In addition, it is not new for domestic manufacturers to pre-install GMS services, and many thousand yuan phones equipped with MediaTek mid-range chips are already equipped with GMS services as standard, such as the vivo S7e and realme V15 that have been used before, which have basic Google Play services, The Google Play service update program will probably take up about 250MB of space, which is almost the same as some pre-installed promotional apps.

This time, the MIUI beta version removed the GMS service of most models, and blocked the "loophole" in the self-installation of the GMS service, coupled with the delay in the official response, which made the matter a lot of noise.

In fact, I think it is more likely that, considering that only a small percentage of users actually use GMS, the MIUI internal beta version plans to "compliance first" and then improve, which means that the follow-up probability will gradually pass the firmware Upgrade and complete the GMS service framework of the corresponding model.

Finally, I hope that this speculation will eventually come to fruition, that is, when the stable version is updated, more models will have built-in GMS services.

#Welcome to follow Aifaner's official WeChat account: Aifaner (WeChat ID: ifanr), more exciting content will be provided to you as soon as possible.

Ai Faner | Original link · View comments · Sina Weibo