Harmony Os exists because of the US trade embargoes, they would put Google Play Services on their phone if they could. I don't know if Lemmy is blocked in China (I guess it is), so if you could write that comment it means you are not even the target audience.
Thing is, not that many apps use Google Play Services. In fact, afaik F-droid explicitly forbids the use of gsm. I'd understand blocking sideloading of the apps that do use it, but if they are going block every single one, that seems a bit draconian and spiteful. Like I understand why they would be displeased with the harsh treatment they received from the US, but I don't think revenge is a good reason to hamper the user experience.
Considering that they "block sideloading Android apps", then I so believe it's yet another AOSP fork that blocks apps from the Play Store to be installed
I'm not sure Harmony OS is what you said, but it definitely presents and Android environment as the main way to run applications. Say, Sailfish does that too, but it also has native ones.
This all started when US banned google from doing business with huwawi. They could no longer use google products including good play services - which many apps depend on - and google play store. They had to come with an alternative or go out of business
I think the whole Huawei ban thing is going to so badly keep backfiring. Best phone I've ever owned was a Huawei I can really see this taking major market from both Android and Windows given time.
Never seen a single ad here in the UK and constant 5 bars no other phones came close, that battery also lasted me 2 days and the camera, remote desktop etc were stellar.
Kinda feel Huawei were the ones pushing everything new and Samsung was playing copycat.
Oh yeah Ir blaster, Micro SD and a headphone jack.