IIT Madras created BharOS, which is based on AOSP but does not include any Google services.
Although Google recently stated that it is willing to work with CCI, the company is also receiving a lot of criticism for its monopoly in the smartphone operating system market, where it promotes its own apps as the default services on Android devices. BharOS, a new operating system developed by IIT-Madras, is said to benefit India's 100 million smartphone users by providing a more private and secure mobile operating system.
Can BharOS compete with Android from Google? How does BharOS differ from Android from Google, and is it really safe to use in today's world? Since the announcement of BharOS, we have made every effort to address all of your inquiries.
BharOS: What is it?
BharOS is an operating system based on the Android Open Source Project and does not include any Google services or apps. JandK Operations Private Limited (JandKops), a non-profit organization based at IIT Madras, developed it.
What distinguishes BharOS from Android?
BharOS and Android's Google OS are technically not that different from one another. In point of fact, the Android Open Source Project serves as its foundation. The fact that BharOS will be a barebone operating system that enables users to install apps of their own interest is the primary distinction between BharOS and Google's Android OS. Additionally, BharOS will not come pre-installed with Google services.
Even though BharOS is known as an indigenous operating system, it is still based on AOSP, so its features and user interface are similar to those of Google's stock Android. In addition, there are no applications pre-built for BharOS. Users will be able to sideload an application of their choice if there are no pre-installed applications. Sideloading an APK, on the other hand, could compromise the device's security and make it more susceptible to hacking.
It is currently unclear how BharOS can replace an OS that comes pre-installed. Is it necessary to unlock the bootloader, which could put the device's security at risk even more? In addition, how long will software and security updates be available to the operating system? The BharOS developer ought to respond to these inquiries.
It's also interesting to see that DuckDuckGo and Signal are the default messaging and browser applications in the current BharOS build. It will also be interesting to see if the BharOS team will collaborate with an OEM to launch phones running BharOS.
Is Android superior to BharOS?
The creators of BharOS assert that, in terms of security and features, BharOS is superior to iOS and Android. In addition, they assert that BharOS may even extend the device's battery life. It will also come with an app store based in India and let users install apps of their choice.
Can Android apps be run on BharOS?
Yes, BharOS will be an Android operating system with a private app store and sideloading capabilities for third-party applications. Although it can run most apps, BharOS phones cannot run some apps that require Google Play Services.
Can BharOS take Android's place?
No, it cannot yet replace Android OS. Although it could serve as an alternative to iOS and Android, it still has a long way to go and needs the support of OEMs and users before it can be widely adopted.
Will Google Play Services be supported by BharOS?
No, BharOS was developed solely for the purpose of providing an alternative smartphone operating system that does not rely on the Google Play store or Google Play services, and BharOS will not be compatible with Google Play Services.