MIUI6 has caused controversy. Where will the customized system go in the future?

MIUI, the "best third-party customized Android phone system", recently launched a version update codenamed 6. MIUI's deep optimization design based on domestic user habits has not only made "whether or not to flash MIUI" a major factor affecting many Chinese consumers' phone purchase decisions, but also earned a good reputation worldwide as "the third-party Android system with the largest number of users", on par with foreign CM systems.

However, since its release, MIUI6 has caused controversy all the time. Consumers no longer give overwhelming praise to MIUI6 as usual, and even some "Mi fans" say they are "tired of it". From V5 to 6, as Xiaomi's most important product, what happened to MIUI?

The accusation of MIUI "plagiarism" " happens every year"

MIUI6's more radical "flattening" and "frosted glass" style compared to its predecessor has made many Android phone users "cheer", but some users also joked that "after flashing MIUI6, the Android device in my hand can finally use iOS7." Of course, the "plagiarism" saliva caused by MIUI is far more than this.

The war of words between "Mi fans" and "Hua Fans" has started again on time. Emotion UI is a unique system interface for Huawei smartphones and one of the most well-known third-party Android systems among domestic users. Huawei's Emotion UI 3.0, which will be released in early September, collides with MIUI6 in terms of flat design and yellow pages, which has directly led to a bloody battle between fans of both sides on social platforms such as Weibo.

Another pair of "enemies" is "Kerosene" vs. "Mi Fans". Meizu, which has a close relationship with Xiaomi, has always been in direct confrontation with Xiaomi in terms of mobile phone products. "Kerosene" and "Mi Fans" have been arguing on social platforms about "who copied whom" in recent years. Meizu's new product is about to be released, and its new Flyme 4.0 system is also about to be released. Coincidentally, the lock screen interface of Flyme 4.0 is very similar to MIUI6, and the release dates of the lock screen wallpapers of the two with the same style are only one day apart.

Of course, some people think that the so-called "plagiarism" is actually a tribute to Apple iOS, but in terms of flattening alone, the previous version MIUI V5 is actually earlier than iOS7. I remember when iOS7 was launched in 2013, there were many people who "accused" Apple of "plagiarizing" Xiaomi MIUI without bottom line - when you are in the world, who can avoid being hurt?

Putting aside the verbal battle, we must admit that Apple iPhone, the pioneer of "modern" smartphones, was the first to find a more correct path in system interface design, which directly led to the increasing homogeneity of smartphone appearance, and thus affected the design ideas at the system interface level in the long run. In particular, various third-party customized systems are more influenced by other interfaces. Each company hopes to integrate practical functions and designs that meet user habits into its own system interface. Over time, customized systems look very "similar".

Will Android L be the "terminator" of customized systems?

The fundamental reason why a wide variety of customized systems have blossomed is that they benefit from the open environment of Google Android. Android is open enough, so open that Google is unable to restrict it. In the era of Android 3.X and 4.X, Google also tried to standardize the management of various interfaces, but all failed.

Android's next strategic version is Android L. The reason why it is called a "strategic version" is that in addition to the 64-bit system and performance improvements, Android L also brings a new "Material Design" design language, which looks cooler and is very similar to Google's own style, and is completely different from the design concept of Apple's iOS. Some people even think that the new Android's native style is comparable to Apple's iOS, and believe that it " revealed the beauty of technology . "

Google's determination to tidy up and control the Android system has made many brands and products return to or at least get closer to the mainstream. From the product perspective, although the position has changed slightly, Samsung has changed the "menu key" below the screen to "multitasking", and HTC, which was the first to customize the system with Sense UI, has also adopted virtual buttons on the screen in its new products.

The simple, direct and more plain Android system affects more than just mobile devices such as smartphones. The rise of smart TV products has made customized TV systems a new direction that both home appliance and Internet manufacturers have invested their energy in research and development. However, it is a fact that cannot be ignored: the Android that truly belongs to TV in the future is probably the Android TV system with a good foundation.

"Google's ideals are very grand, but the reality of the Android market is very skinny." I'm afraid that the desire to achieve "world peace" with Android L is likely to fail. In the highly open Android ecosystem, although many ordinary consumers have begun to accept native systems such as Nexus and MOTO X, the camp of customized systems is also expanding at a faster rate. "Openness" is the greatest charm of Android and the gene of the Android ecosystem. From this perspective, whether it is MIUI, Emotion UI, Flyme, SmartisanOS, or IUNI and ColorOS, they are all positive.

As for the verbal spat? Let it be.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.