webOS

WebOS is an LG-owned, Linux-based, smart TV operating system that is set up to allow control and access of LG Smart TV’s more advanced features and connected devices through a graphical user interface (GUI).

WebOS was developed  by Palm as a mobile OS. The company released it  in 2009 as Palm webOS. Hewlett Packard acquired palm in April 2010. The operating system was used in a number of Palm and HP smartphones before being modified for use in HP tablet PCs, such as the TouchPad. After the TouchPad failed to gain market share, HP  made webOS open source. LG purchased webOS in February 2013 and modified it as a smart TV operating system.

Of particular interest to LG were webOS’s cloud integration and its easy adaptation to LG’s Magic Motion remote.  John I. Taylor, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications at LG Electronics, said LG intends to use webOS in other smart appliances.  LG has not ruled out future use in smartphones.