webOS, also known as LG webOS, is a Linux kernel-based multitasking operating system for smart devices, such as smart TVs, that has also been used as a mobile operating system. Initially developed by Palm, Inc. (which was acquired by Hewlett-Packard), HP made the platform open source, at which point it became Open webOS.
The operating system was later sold to LG Electronics, and was made primarily a smart TV operating system for LG televisions as a successor to NetCast. In January 2014, Qualcomm announced that it had acquired technology patents from HP, which included all the webOS and Palm patents; LG licenses them to use in their devices.
Various versions of webOS have been featured on several devices since launching in 2009, including Pre, Pixi, and Veer smartphones, TouchPad tablet, LG's smart TVs since 2014, LG's smart refrigerators and smart projectors since 2017.
History
2009–2010: Launch by Palm
Palm launched webOS, then called Palm webOS, in January 2009 as the successor to Palm OS. The first webOS device was the original Palm Pre, released by Sprint in June 2009. The Palm Pixi followed.[2]
2010–2013: Acquisition by HP; the launch of Open webOS
In April 2010, HP acquired Palm. The acquisition of Palm was initiated while Mark Hurd was CEO, however he resigned shortly after the acquisition was completed. Later, webOS was described by new HP CEO Leo Apotheker as a key asset and motivation for the purchase. The $1.2 billion acquisition was finalized in June. HP indicated its intention to develop the webOS platform for use in multiple new products, including smartphones, tablets, and printers.[3]
In February 2011, HP announced that it would use webOS as the universal platform for all its devices.[4]
Features
The webOS mobile platform introduced some innovative features, such as the cards interface and the gesture navigation, that are now standard in mobile operating systems such as iOS, Windows Phone, and Android.[38][39]
HP/Palm webOS
Multitasking interface
Navigation uses multi-touch gestures on the touchscreen. The interface uses "cards" to manage multitasking and represent apps. The user switches between running apps with a flick from left and right on the screen. Apps are closed by flicking a "card" up—and "off"—the screen. The app "cards" can be rearranged for organization. webOS 2.0 introduced 'stacks', where related cards could be "stacked" together.
Synergy
Platform
Underneath the graphical user interface, webOS has much in common with mainstream Linux distributions. Versions 1.0 to 2.1 use a patched Linux 2.6.24 kernel.
The list of open-source components used by the different releases of webOS, as well as the source code of and patches applied to each component, is available at the Palm Open Source webpage.[51] This page also serves as a reference listing of the versions of webOS that have been publicly released.
In 2011, Enyo replaced Mojo, released in June 2009, as the software development kit (SDK).[52]
Hardware
See also
- List of smart TV platforms and middleware software
- Enyo
- Mobile platform
- Access Linux Platform
- LuneOS
- List of WebOS devices
External links
References
- QtWS15- Bringing LG webOS and Qt to millions of smartTVs YouTube, October 12, 2015^
- The Long and Winding Road of LG’s WebOS Display Daily, 2023-09-12, retrieved 2025-09-21^
- Ben Bajarin. HP Is Committed to Its 'webOS' Platform (and It Should Be)