IT Home (IT之家) updates iOS, Android and HarmonyOS apps — push notifications get avatars, Live Photos export improves

Update highlights

IT Home (IT之家) has rolled out a cross‑platform update to its mobile apps, upgrading the push notification experience and adding several detail improvements. The headline change: push notifications for private messages, @mentions and comment replies can now show the sender’s avatar on supported devices, making alerts more recognisable in a crowded notification shade. Live Photos can reportedly be saved as the Android Motion Photo format on some Xiaomi (小米) and OPPO devices, improving compatibility for animated captures.

Availability and device support

It has been reported that the new iOS and HarmonyOS (鸿蒙) versions are already live in app stores, while Android builds have been submitted to stores and are awaiting review — Android users can obtain the update via the app’s internal updater for now. Device-level support is uneven: avatar notifications are supported on HarmonyOS devices, iOS devices, and Android builds running on Huawei (华为) / Honor (荣耀) and OPPO devices; Motion Photo export is currently confirmed on certain Xiaomi and OPPO models.

Why it matters

Why does this matter beyond a better badge icon? In China’s fragmented mobile ecosystem — where Huawei’s HarmonyOS, multiple Android vendor stores and Apple’s App Store coexist — small UX improvements can materially change everyday use for millions. IT Home, reportedly one of China’s most visited tech news platforms by Baidu Index, serves readers across those ecosystems and pushes frequent updates to maintain parity. There’s also a geopolitical subtext: continued investment in HarmonyOS and vendor‑specific integrations reflects how Chinese vendors are deepening their software ecosystems amid broader trade and sanctions pressures that have accelerated alternatives to Google’s services.

Practical note

The update lists other minor fixes and a full changelog in the app’s store pages and in‑app release notes. Users on HarmonyOS and iOS should see the changes immediately; Android users should check the in‑app updater if the store versions are not yet available.