MIUI

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MIUI
MIUI Logo .svg
Developer Xiaomi Inc.
Written in C, C++, Java
OS family Unix-like
Working state Current
Source model Open source with Closed source components
Initial release 0.8.16 / August 16, 2010; 6 years ago (2010-08-16)
Latest release MIUI 8 Stable:
8.1.1.0 (China)[1]
8.0.5.0 (Global)[2]
MIUI 8 Beta:
6.11.03 China
6.11.03 Global
Marketing target Firmware replacement for Android mobile devices; stock firmware for mobile devices
Available in 32 languages; vary by country
Package manager Google Play (excludes Mainland China) / Market / Mi Appstore (Mainland China) / APK
Platforms 32-bit ARM, MIPS, x86, x64
Kernel type Monolithic, modified Linux kernel
Default user interface GUI (multi-touch)
License GNU General Public License v3
Apache License 2.0
Proprietary
Official website en.miui.com

MIUI (which stands for Mi User Interface and pronounced "Me You I", a play on the common abbreviation of the words user interface as UI),[3] developed by Xiaomi, is a stock and aftermarket firmware for smartphones and tablet computers[4] based on the Google Android operating system.[5] MIUI includes various features such as theming support.[6]

Xiaomi has released various smartphones, all of which come pre-installed with a complete version of MIUI.[7] This includes various apps and features not available in the aftermarket version of MIUI.

Other than supporting their in-house smartphones and tablets, Xiaomi also offers MIUI to be flashed on other smartphone brands such as Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG, One Plus and Nexus.

On February 24, 2016, Xiaomi said that the MIUI ROM had over 170 million users worldwide, and was supported on over 340 handsets.

Development[edit]

The original MIUI ROMs were based on the Android 2.2.x Froyo and CyanogenMod 6 sources, and was initially developed in the Chinese language by Chinese startup Xiaomi Tech.[8] Xiaomi added a number of apps to enhance the basic framework; those include Notes, Backup, Music, and Gallery.[9]

Updates are usually provided over-the-air every Friday.[10] MIUI is then translated and ported into unofficial versions in other languages by independent developers and groups of fansites.

MIUI and Google Play Services[edit]

Google has had disagreements with the Chinese government, and access to many Google services is blocked. MIUI does not ship with Google Play Services in mainland China. However, Xiaomi has expanded its operations outside China; MIUI releases for Android devices outside mainland China (e.g. in Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia) have Google Play Services and Google Apps such as Gmail, Google Maps, Google Play Store pre-installed and functioning as on any other Android device. MIUI global versions are certified by Google.

Direct downloads for country-specific releases also contain Google Play Services and Apps.

Criticisms and controversies[edit]

MIUI's kernel was proprietary, and in breach of Linux kernel's GPL.[11][12] Due to criticisms, source code for certain components was released to GitHub on October 25, 2013.[13] Kernel sources for a limited number of devices including the Mi3, Mi4, MiNote, and Redmi 1S were released in March 2015.[14]

MIUI has been heavily criticized for being visually similar to iOS's UI and as Samsung's TouchWiz UI.[15]

Since MIUI V4, based on Android Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean, Xiaomi added a virus scanning engine from partner company Tencent (formerly from Kingsoft, whose previous CEO was also Lei Jun) despite the opposition of many users. Methods of removing it were published in the MIUI's Chinese forum,[16] since the engine was not found to be helpful.[17]

Also during the development of MIUI V4, Xiaomi started to remove Google services from their ROMs because of Chinese government policies that arose in response to Google's disagreements with the Chinese government. The government blocked access to all Google services in mainland China, and all phones for the Chinese market are required not to allow installation of Google services. In order to raise funds for the company, MIUI has its own environment of Xiaomi, including cloud services, paid themes and games (featuring MiCredit currency).[18] Later, during development of MIUI V5, nearly all Google services had been removed from the Chinese versions.[19]

Version history[edit]

Version Android version Last Beta release Date of release Last Stable release Notable change
Old version, no longer supported: MIUI V1 Up to Android Froyo
 Old version, no longer supported: 0.8.16 16 August 2010 Initial release
Old version, no longer supported: MIUI V2 Up to Android Froyo
 N/A N/A Redesigned user interface
Old version, no longer supported: MIUI V3 2.3.x
 Old version, no longer supported: 2.4.20 20 April 2012 Redesigned user interface
Old version, no longer supported: MIUI V4 4.0.x – 4.1.x
 Old version, no longer supported: 3.2.22 22 February 2013 Added anti-virus
Old version, no longer supported: MIUI V5 4.1.x – 4.4.4
 Old version, no longer supported: 4.12.5 5 December 2014 All Google Services were removed from Chinese Version
Old version, no longer supported: MIUI 6 4.4.2 – 5.0.2
 Old version, no longer supported: 5.8.6 6 August 2015 6.7.2.0.LXIMICH Redesigned user interface
Old version, no longer supported: MIUI 7 4.4.4 – 6.x
 Old version, no longer supported: 6.5.26 26 May 2016 7.5.x.x Yours by Design
Current stable version: MIUI 8 4.4.4 – 6.0.1
 Current stable version: 6.10.27 27 October 2016 8.x.x.0 Simplify Your Life

Xiaomi MIUI 7.5 New Features[edit]

  • System

Optimization - System stability (06-23)

  • Messaging

New - Added card design for notification & service messages (04-12) Optimization - Improved layout for message bubbles with S and XS-sized text (04-20)

  • Lockscreen, Status Bar, Notification Bar

Fix - In some cases pre-installed wallpapers blocked Wallpaper Carousel (06-23)

  • Backup

Optimization - Mi Mover transfer speed (05-09)

  • Weather

New - New white design (04-27)

  • Settings

New - Introducing Shortcut menu. Check out the new MIUI 8 feature early. You can turn it on in Additional settings. (05-17)

  • File Explorer

New - Upload small videos directly from Explorer (05-12) Optimization - Sorting algorithm for small videos (05-12) Fix - Couldn't use hidden folders (05-12) Fix - Issues with KuaiPan (05-12)

  • Downloads

New - Card design for Downloads (04-26)

  • Mi Account

Optimization - Simplified sign-in process and creating Mi Account (04-19)

  • Cleaner

New - New design for Cleaner (04-27)

  • Optimization - Accessibility support (05-24)

Fix - FC issues (05-24)

  • Security

New - Fingerprint support for App lock in Redmi 3 Pro (04-27) New - Added on/off switch for App lock (05-03) New - Customized settings for App lock (05-03)

  • Mi Cloud

New - Added "Back up now" feature for fast backups (05-19)

  • MI Wallet

New - ID verification (05-10) Optimization - Improved the display of available payment methods during checkout. (04-13) Optimization - Mi Wallet start page opened by default. (04-13) Optimization - Improved display for the payment page which appears after scanning a QR code. (04-13) Optimization - Reasons and help for unsuccessful attempts to add cards (05-10) Fix - Fixed the issue with recurring notifications after a successful credit card cash back. (04-13) Fix - Fixed account error which appeared after resetting the password in some cases. (04-13) Fix - The app crashed after an unsupported credit card was added in the English version. (04-13) Fix - Checkouts were unsuccessful in some cases. (04-13)

  • Other

New - Custom Xiaomi keyboard by Sogou with support for Mi Account (05-26)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ http://en.miui.com/thread-399755-1-1.html
  2. ^ http://en.miui.com/thread-388964-1-1.html
  3. ^ About MIUI Video on YouTube
  4. ^ [Announced]50 Beta Testers Wanted for Official MIUI for Nexus 7 II. Apply here, MIUI, 2014-02-26, retrieved 2014-03-05 
  5. ^ http://tech.sina.com.cn/t/2011-07-28/01255847379.shtml
  6. ^ MIUI Official English Site, en.miui.com, retrieved 2014-02-01 
  7. ^ Xiaomi Phone with MIUI OS: a $310 Android with 1.5 GHz dual-core SoC and other surprises, Engadget, 2011-08-16, retrieved 2012-01-17 
  8. ^ Jason Lim, MIUI, Lei Jun, TechNode, retrieved 2012-01-17 
  9. ^ MIUI Official English Site, retrieved 2014-04-12 
  10. ^ "Introduction to MIUI" (Press release). Xiaomi. Retrieved 2014-01-31. 
  11. ^ "小米的MIUI被指违反GPL许可证" (in Chinese). Solidot. 21 Nov 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2013. 
  12. ^ "MIUI is accused of non-compliance with free software license, users request MIUI to be free software (MIUI被指责不遵守开源软件协议，网友要求公开源代码)" (in Chinese). tech2ipo. 21 Nov 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2013. 
  13. ^ "Commits". GitHub. October 25, 2013. 
  14. ^ GitHub MiCode/Xiaomi_Kernel_OpenSource, GitHub, 2015-03-31, retrieved 2015-04-08 
  15. ^ Install MIUI Gingerbread Custom ROM On Google Nexus S 4G, Redmond Pie, 2011-05-24, retrieved 2012-01-17 
  16. ^ "Search Results for virus scanning engine". 
  17. ^ "【实机亲侧】MIUI自带病毒扫描无任何安全防护作用！". 
  18. ^ "删除谷歌，内置杀毒，MIUI终于突破底线". 
  19. ^ "Find all the Google Apps in Google installer!". Xiaomi Tech. June 9, 2013. 

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MIUI&oldid=747471719"