WebOS has had a strange plus troubled lifetime. After surviving an purchase, cancellation, plus an open-source rebirth, the upcoming section inside the WebOS story has been created now. LG, a South Korean electronics giant, has officially bought the mobile working program from HP, yet not for smartphones. Instead, LG is ordering WebOS for utilize about smart TVs.

In 2009, Palm introduced WebOS found on the Palm Pre to significant important acclaim. A limited months into 2010, HP acquired Palm, plus began function about many brand-new projects. New phones, a pill, plus even an x86 port of the OS were set inside motion, however it wasn’t lengthy lived. Less than 2 months following the release of the WebOS-based Touchpad pill, HP discontinued all equipment running the quirky mobile working program. Because then, Léo Apotheker was ousted because CEO of HP, plus Meg Whitman has taken charge. WebOS was open-sourced, along with a possible relaunch of WebOS equipment was even hinted at by HP. Clearly, which isn’t going to result today.

According to CNET, this deal involves the source code, technicians, plus connected sites for the platform. Additionally, LG is certified to employ WebOS-related patents which HP occurs to have. While LG has pledged continued help for active WebOS consumers, it’s obvious it doesn’t intend to revive the brand about mobile equipment. While LG absolutely can’t revoke any introduced open-source code, it’s secure to assume Open WebOS is effectively dead.

The WebOS team can merge with LG’s active analysis plus development places inside Silicon Valley to spearhead future smart TV items. The WebOS team has satellite offices inside San Jose plus Chicago, however, it wouldn’t be shocking to find all those consolidated into a single place. While you don’t understand what LG ended up paying for WebOS, it’s apparent it wants the technologies plus skill for a certain cause. While smart TVs may not be what WebOS fanatics want deep down inside their hearts, at minimum it has a real future today. Frankly, it’s greater for WebOS to be absorbed into a bigger project than for it to die gradually inside open-source obscurity.

Having watched a few of the very lackluster smart TVs accessible now, I’m hopeful which LG usually really pull this off. WebOS has had countless issues, yet which team usually aimed for the fences. If this accomplishes nothing else, let’s hope which this at minimum inspires LG’s competitors to up their game inside the smart TV area.

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[Image credit: Aaron Parecki]