Background Information
webOS, also known as LG webOS and previously marketed as Open webOS, HP webOS, and Palm webOS, is a Linux-based embedded operating system developed primarily for smart televisions. webOS, initially launched in January 2009 under the name Palm webOS, served as a successor to Palm OS. The first device to run this version of webOS was the Palm Pre, followed by the Palm Pixi.
By April of 2010, HP aqquired Palm for $1.2 billion, and intended to develop webOS for new smartphone, tablets, and printers. Plans had also been made by HP to develop webOS to support x86 processors for HP Desktops and Notebook computers, however these plans were eventually scrapped.
On February 25, 2013, HP unveiled its decision to sell webOS to LG Electronics. The intention was to integrate webOS into LG’s web-enabled smart TVs, effectively replacing LG’s previous NetCast platform. As of March 19, 2018, LG announced an open-source edition of webOS. Developers can download the source code for free and access tools and guides for LG’s smart device platform.
Technical Specifications
General Information
- Developer: LG Electronics, previously Hewlett-Packard & Palm
- Licensing: Apache License
- OS Family: Linux (Unix-like)
- Initial Release Date: January 2009 (Under the name Palm webOS)
- Latest Release Date: November 5, 2024
Availability Information
- Languages: Multilingual
- Platforms: ARM
System Information
- Working State: Current
- Source Model: Open Source
- Update Method: Over the Air
- Package manager: OPKG
- Default User Interface: Luna