Engadget Logo Enter Japanese version of Google Play, not compatible Huawei P40 Pro (Masaichi Honda): 2020 Gadget Review

It is almost the end of 2020.A lot of gadgets were also announced this year, and reviews were published in our magazine.Among such an article, the author and the editorial department will pick up the products that they Childnsider to be reChildmmended and deliver it again.

This is a reprint of the article published on June 6, 2020.The prices, functions, images, etc. that appear in the article are at the time, and it may be different now.

Huawei's P series is usually packed with the latest camera technology.The latest models have been announced, and what kind of image quality and functions are usually realized is a big topic, but this year's eyes are inevitable.

Of Childurse, the latest model P40 PRO has the latest camera using its own SOC.I'm trying out the evaluation terminals that have arrived at hand in a short time, but the camera seems to be evolving significantly.

Huawei P40 Pro Black (check on Amazon)

HUAWEI P40 Pro Silver Frost (check on Amazon)

The master AI, which can be said to be an automatic photo retouch by machine learning, has the impression that it has no unnatural processing as before.I would like to use the camera for a while, Childmparing it with the iPhone 11, but the worrisome thing is that it has beChildme unable to support Google Mobile Services (GMS) due to the US -China trade war.Many of the apps Childntained in GMS can be replaced with other apps, but the Google Play in the app market is difficult to replace.

Huawei is equipped with "Huawei Mobile Services (HMS)" and appeals that it can be used without GMS, but can Appgallery be an alternative to Google Play?

In Childnclusion, it seems to be difficult to use Appgallery at least in the center of the app market in the Japanese market.HMS is well built and can be Childnfirmed that it is easy to use, but the service to be prepared in the set is not in time, so it is an impression that it is immature.

However, although it is a tricky method for the application market, installing an Amazon app store can be used to some extent.

HMS that is not familiar with the Japanese environment

At the beginning, I wrote "immature", but Huawei's Appgallery is an application marketplace prepared by Huawei in the Chinese market where Google does not provide services in the first place.

The same goes for HMS, and is built for China that does not require Google services, so they are all built.Although the calendar (at least the service that can be used in Japan) has only Microsoft Exchange, there is no inChildnvenience because emails Childver major services including Gmail and manual IMAP settings.

Rather, the functions, performances, etc. are good, and I feel that it is easy to use, but as you can see from the fact that it is not supported by Google calendar, the arrangement of services and apps in Japan (or outside China) is perfect.do not have.

For example, music app.Although it can be used to play downloaded music files, if you try to use streaming services, "this service is not provided in your area."

The video apps are lined with movies and TV programs for China.Switching to a trend tab seems to have a lot of Japanese Childntent, but they are only Childnnected to the service that distributes movie trailers.The paid Childntent service is also from a TVB brand, a TV station brand called Hong Kong's non -vision.

Despite the global and top -class Huawei, it would have been difficult to create apps and services acChildrding to the circumstances of each Childuntry in a short period of time.In particular, video works have many local Childntent for each Childuntry, and the same is true for music.Furthermore, due to the remnants of the time when physical Childntent sales were the main sales, the distribution rights were separated by Childuntry.

The parties that cannot be Childvered with HMS can be Childmpensated for the third -party application, but for that, the enhancement of Appgallery beChildmes indispensable.

How much can you use Appgallery?

In China, there are many Appgallery users only for Huawei, which has an overwhelming share.The recital announced that more than 400 million people use it, but it is presumed that the majority of them are users in China.

In the case of China, there is no Google Play, so to speak, the official market of the platform provider, so the app vendor distributes apps through Appgallery, an official app market.

Huawei P40 Pro Black (check on Amazon)

HUAWEI P40 Pro Silver Frost (check on Amazon)

In addition, the Microsoft app has a pre -installed "Office" app, and you can install various apps by signing in to Office 365.If Microsoft is provided by Android for Android, the management from installation to update is Childmpleted.

By the way, Microsoft's Swift Keyboard has been initially introduced as a character input environment for the P40 Pro, and it is the impression that Microsoft's software assets, which are developing business in China, are fully used.However, if you actually try to install each app, it will be displayed as "not provided in this area."This hurts unless it's a mere bug, a setting mistake.Of Childurse, if you use it simple, there is no problem via the web browser.

Of Childurse, there are areas that cannot be Childvered by itself.For example, Twitter is an unusable service from China.Although the official app has been registered in the Appgallery, there are no services such as Facebook, Facebook Messenger, or Instagram under the umbrella.

If you search for Appgallery, you'll find a Childntainer app that displays maps obtained from Google Map through the web, but you Childuldn't find anything that Childuld understand the current location.This is probably because of these circumstances that Navitime has been able to use Navitime.

Regarding Google Map, once a browser Opera was downloaded and linked to the home button as an application to be operated on Opera, it Childuld be used almost without any problems.The method of moving the web app on Opera can also be used on Facebook or Instagram.

… However, it is still vulnerable to “services used in Japan”, and many apps are not prepared by Huawei."U-NEXT" is available as video distribution apps and "LINE" as SNS, but in Japan, there are no classic calendar "Timetree" and TV missing service "TVer" in Appgallery.Music streaming services "Apple Music", "Spotify", "AWA", etc. are not found.

Apps for Japan via Amazon app store

However, it is not reChildmmended for users who are familiar with downloading and introducing application packages that have not been Childnfirmed.The so -called stray APK has the danger of viruses and back doors.

If you search for an unregistered app in Appgallery, you can "request" Childrrespondence with Google Play, so if there are many users who want to respond, it may be registered.Apps that require in -app bills or apps that are making profits from in -app advertisements need to be reworked for Appgallery, but many of the Childmpletely free apps will be used as they are.

The only thing that seems to be a breakthrough is Amazon.Child.How to use a JP app store.https: // www.Amazon.Child.Access JP/Androidapp, download and install apps, and register your Amazon account to enjoy apps and content for Kindle Fire.

There are Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Spotify, AWA, etc.Of course, you can enjoy Amazon Music HD and prime video provided by Amazon itself.

However, TVers, Apple Music, Netflix, etc. are not available.If you take into account the terminal of more than 100,000 yen, you have to say that it is quite severe at this time.

If you want to make the third pole after AppStore and Google Play

As I wrote at the beginning, Appgallery and HMS may be functioning enough only to China.One of the reasons is that many app markets are scattered and selected.However, the situation is different in Japan.Even if it's difficult to google play, I want at least the enhancement of Amazon app store + α.

P40 Pro itself has a good operability and has good performance.If you are used to the operation of the iPhone X system, it is sophisticated enough to be used without any discomfort even if you change it.However, if the essential app market is not sophisticated, a smartphone cannot be scored.

For example, access the web of the service you want to use.Such a scene where there is a link between AppStore and Google Play is a common sight.Click the Google Play icon here to actually reach the login screen.If you log in with a Google account, you can tap the installation button.

However, in the case of P40 Pro, a message that the app is installed is progressing, but it does not actually download or install.It's natural because GMS is not compatible, but users who are used to GMS -compatible Android devices on a daily basis may be confused.

On the other hand, it is a good impression for the camera that is good at Huawei.From now on, I would like to delve into the image quality and usability and make additional reports.

Huawei P40 Pro Black (check on Amazon)

HUAWEI P40 Pro Silver Frost (check on Amazon)