Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
The Inevitable Happens: China Develops Its Own OS
China, the world’s largest country, one of the world’s fastest growing economies, one of the world’s fastest growing military powers, also has a robust industrial policy. From the NYPost:
In May, China banned government use of Windows 8, Microsoft’s latest operating system, a blow to the U.S. technology firm’s business which raised fears China was moving to protect domestic firms. Microsoft is also under investigation for anti-trust violations.
In March last year, China said that Google had too much control over China’s smartphone industry via its Android mobile operating system and has discriminated against some local firms.
Mutual suspicions between China and the United States over hacking have escalated over the past year following revelations by Edward Snowden that U.S. intelligence planted “backdoor” surveillance tools on U.S.-made hardware.
The U.S. Justice Department, meanwhile, indicted five Chinese military officers in May on counts of extensive industrial espionage.
Some of this may be Chinese security concerns, but I suspect most of it is what everyone knows anyway: the Chinese have spent the past 20 years studying western technological innovation, and now they’re prepared to build their own.
And exclude ours from their market.
China could have a new homegrown operating system by October to take on imported rivals such as Microsoft Corp, Google Inc and Apple Inc, Xinhua news agency said on Sunday.
The operating system would first appear on desktop devices and later extend to smartphone and other mobile devices, Xinhua said, citing Ni Guangnan who heads an official OS development alliance established in March.
“We hope to launch a Chinese-made desktop operating system by October supporting app stores,” Ni told the trade paper. Some Chinese OS already existed, but there was a large gap between China’s technology and that of developed countries, he added.
So, here’s the question: when, exactly, do we launch a trade war against the Chinese? Because that seems to me to be in the cards for the future, especially because it’s the one thing that everyone — left and right — seems to instantly discount as a possibility.
Published in General
“So, here’s the question: when, exactly, do we launch a trade war against the Chinese?”
I don’t understand why you think this development would make a trade war more likely…
A question for the experts: can you really reverse-engineer software the same way you can for a physical device, such as a smartphone or an airplane? Or will this likely just be a fancy version of an open OS?
Rob,
Prepare for the release. Large quantities of code directly ripped off of MS.
Hey, when can a 500 lb gorilla plagiarize?
Any time it wants to.
Regards,
Jim
I won’t put much stock in a communist OS until after they prove they can master rudimentary tasks like feeding people. Unless they just steal the code it’s going to be a disaster. One much loved by their oppressed people because they have no other options, but a disaster anyway.
How do you know you’re using ChiCom OS? When it crashes your Mao-mouse freezes up and you get the red screen of death.
Oh noes! The Commies are going to out-innovate us!
Heh.
Tee hee.
bwhaHAhahahaha…
Sorry, Rob. If the Chinese had said they were launching 20 OSs, or better, 50 OSs, and would let one or two or three win a chunk of market share according to a market-based darwinian process, then I’d say they were on to something. As it is, this initiative has the odor of another Obamacare website without the track record of competence.
The absurd preening of impotent roosters. If this is anything other than some trivial mod to Torvald’s work I will die of shock. I’ve seen this story before, nothing more than “Red Star Linux” redux.
If the PRC wishes to fork some Open Source software they are more than welcome to do so, that is not innovation.
Well maybe it’s time to bring all that manufacturing home.Would a trade war include debt default ?
Why does this matter? If it’s open source, we can get the same thing free, or at very little cost, from Linux. And there are even others, Haiku for example.
If it’s just a ripped-off version of Windows, why on earth would anyone buy a buggier version of Windows? There’s no way this thing could compete.
Yes, we’re losing access to that market, but they’ve always been protectionist about everything–movies, cars, etc.
The Chinese don’t develop anything on their own. They buy, borrow, and more often than not, steal from others. 5 gets you 10 this new “Chinese OS” will be nothing but a version of Linux.
Question of the day. Will Ricochet run better or worse on the Chinese OS?
FJG,
I’m not sure but I suspect that 1 hour after you’ve used your computer you’ll be hungry again.
Regards,
Jim
John,
In keeping with the phenomenon you describe, probably no existing software will run on the new OS. The communists will deny this and put those who are caught using another operating system to get their work done in front of a firing squad.
Just like old times.
Regards,
Jim
So, whats the reason for a “trade war” here?
Microsoft doesn’t even make any money on Windows OS anymore. If China wants to make their own, let them. I’m not sure this is going to affect anyone.
As for trade wars, most of our electronic devices are assembled in China. I don’t think we would benefit by going to a trade war with them, and they surely would suffer a lot more than us by going on a trade war with us.