WebOS

webOS
Company type	Operating system
Industry	Software, Consumer electronics
Predecessor	Palm OS
Founded	2009
Founder	Palm, Inc.
Fate	Acquired by LG Electronics (2013)
Area served	Worldwide
Products	webOS operating system for smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, refrigerators, projectors, automotive systems
Owner	LG Electronics

webOS, also referred to as LG webOS, is a multitasking operating system built on the Linux kernel and designed primarily for smart devices, with its main application in smart TVs. It originally emerged as a mobile operating system. The platform was first created by Palm, Inc., which was later acquired by Hewlett-Packard. HP subsequently released the software under an open-source license, naming it Open webOS.

Following this, ownership transferred to LG Electronics, where webOS became the principal smart TV operating system for LG televisions, replacing the earlier NetCast system. In January 2014, Qualcomm purchased technology patents from HP, encompassing all webOS and Palm-related patents, which LG licenses for use in its products.

Since its debut in 2009, webOS has been utilized in various devices including the Palm Pre, Palm Pixi, and HP Veer smartphones, as well as the HP TouchPad tablet. Starting from 2014 and 2017 respectively, LG incorporated webOS into its smart TVs, refrigerators, and projectors.

2009–2010: Introduction by Palm

In January 2009, Palm launched webOS—initially named Palm webOS—as the successor to their previous platform, Palm OS. The first device to feature this operating system was the original Palm Pre, which was released through Sprint in June 2009, followed shortly after by the Palm Pixi.

2010–2013: HP Acquisition and Open webOS Emergence

HP acquired Palm in April 2010 for $1.2 billion. This transaction began under CEO Mark Hurd but concluded following his departure. The new CEO, Leo Apotheker, emphasized that webOS was a strategic asset justifying the acquisition. HP aimed to expand webOS across a range of devices including smartphones, tablets, and printers.

By February 2011, HP declared webOS would serve as a unified platform across all its devices. Despite earlier promises, HP decided not to provide over-the-air upgrades to webOS 2.0 for older Palm models such as the Pre and Pixi lines. Instead, HP introduced new hardware featuring updated versions of webOS: the HP Veer and HP Pre 3 smartphones running webOS 2.2, along with the HP TouchPad tablet equipped with webOS 3.0 launched in July 2011.

HP also announced plans to develop a Windows-compatible iteration of webOS by late 2011, intended for deployment on all HP personal computers in 2012. Although development of an x86-compatible port began at their Fort Collins facility in Colorado, this initiative was ultimately discontinued.

In August 2011, HP declared its intention to divest its Personal Systems Group and ceased production of webOS devices. The price of the TouchPad was drastically reduced to $99, resulting in rapid clearance of remaining stock. The HP Pre 3 saw only a limited release in Europe; planned US carrier launches were canceled and devices were sold unofficially without warranties or support. While HP committed to updates for both the Veer and TouchPad models, only the TouchPad received a final unofficial update—webOS CE—primarily aimed at developers rather than general consumers. The last official release from HP was version 3.0.5 in January 2012.

After abandoning both the TouchPad and PC plans by December 2011, HP announced it would make webOS source code available under an open-source license. In August 2012, device-specific code was published as webOS Community Edition (CE), supporting existing hardware from HP. Around this time, HP rebranded its webOS division as "Gram."

In February 2012, HP introduced Isis, a new browser designed for Open webOS that enhanced capabilities for both developers and users on the platform.

Expansion and contraction of the HP App Catalog

The HP App Catalog served as the application marketplace for mobile devices operating on webOS.

When it debuted alongside the Palm Pre on June 6, 2009, the Catalog offered 18 applications. This number increased to 30 by June 17, 2009, and reached a milestone of 1 million total downloads by June 27. By mid-July 2009, the store featured 30 official and 31 unofficial applications. The Catalog experienced rapid growth, boasting 1,000 official apps by January 1, 2010; expanding to 4,000 by September 29, 2010; and surpassing 10,000 by December 9, 2011.

Nonetheless, the app selection diminished over time as many developers removed their offerings, including prominent titles such as The New York Times and Pandora Radio. Following an announcement of deprecation on November 11, 2014, the HP App Catalog servers were permanently discontinued on March 15, 2015. At the time of shutdown, only a small fraction of apps remained functional due to the cessation of maintenance.

2013–2018: LG acquisition and launch of open-source version

On February 25, 2013, HP transferred ownership of webOS to LG Electronics to deploy it on their web-enabled smart TVs as a replacement for the NetCast platform. LG took over the source code, developer resources, documentation, and associated websites; however, HP retained control over Palm patents and cloud services such as the App Catalog. In 2014, HP sold its webOS-related patents to Qualcomm.

LG broadened webOS’s application beyond televisions into various Internet of things devices. Early in 2015, LG introduced a smartwatch powered by the LG Wearable Platform OS (webOS). During CES 2017, LG unveiled a smart refrigerator utilizing webOS technology.

On March 19, 2018, LG released an open-source edition of webOS, granting developers access to the platform’s source code and development tools through a dedicated portal. This initiative supports LG’s vision of fostering an open ecosystem that encourages collaboration and connectivity among smart devices.

Since 2019: webOS Auto and software expansion

In April 2020, LG extended webOS into automotive applications with the launch of webOS Auto. This system was first implemented in SUVs from Kia and Hyundai, including models such as the Kia EV3. This strategic expansion marked LG’s entry into connected vehicle software markets.

On February 24, 2021, LG broadened webOS availability to additional television manufacturers like RCA, Konka, and Ayonz. The platform also gained support from technology collaborators including Realtek, Nuance, and Universal Electronics, thereby enhancing its ecosystem and market presence.

Capabilities

The mobile iteration of webOS introduced pioneering elements such as a cards-based multitasking interface and gesture-driven navigation—features that have since become standard in leading operating systems like iOS, Windows Phone, and Android. These contributions underscore webOS’s impact on contemporary mobile user interface design.

Features across different webOS releases
Feature	LG webOS	Open webOS	HP/Palm webOS
Multitasking interface	Line cards	Cards
Gesture interface	Magic Remote	Touch screen and physical keyboard
App store	LG Content Store	No	HP App Catalog
Over-the-air updates	Yes
Service discovery	Free Connect SDK	No	Yes (zeroconf / Touch to Share)
Open source	Partial	Yes	Partial

Multitasking interface

The navigation system is based on multi-touch gestures performed on the touchscreen. Applications are managed through an interface using "cards" that represent each running app and facilitate multitasking. Users switch between active apps by swiping cards left or right, while closing an app is done by flicking its card upward off the display. Cards can also be rearranged to suit user preferences. With the release of webOS 2.0, a feature called 'stacks' was introduced, enabling users to group related cards together.

Synergy

Palm's "Synergy" technology consolidates data from various sources, allowing users to merge email accounts, calendars, instant messaging, and SMS into single unified lists for streamlined access.

Over-the-air updates

webOS supports operating system updates delivered wirelessly via carrier networks, eliminating the need for a PC connection.

Notifications

On phones, notifications slide in from the bottom of the screen and appear at the top status bar on tablets. The notification system integrates with Mojo and Enyo frameworks to resize active applications dynamically, minimizing interruption. Notifications persist as icons that can be expanded, dismissed, or interacted with by the user.

Sync

Cloud-based synchronization serves as webOS’s primary method for data syncing instead of relying on desktop clients. Initially, webOS could synchronize with Apple's iTunes by mimicking an Apple device; however, this capability was disabled in later versions of iTunes.

Third-party applications

HP webOS provides a selection of third-party applications vetted and distributed through the HP App Catalog.

To support backward compatibility with Palm OS applications, Palm engaged MotionApps to create the Classic emulator for webOS 1.0. This Palm OS emulation was discontinued starting with webOS 2.0. MotionApps ended its collaboration in 2010, citing disruptive practices from HP Palm.

Additional software is available from homebrew developers, though these apps are not officially supported by HP. Homebrew applications are typically installed using tools such as webOS Quick Install and Preware—a sideloaded app catalog. If problems occur after installing homebrew software, HP’s "webOS Doctor" utility can restore the device to factory settings and remove any modifications.

Developer mode

Developer mode grants unrestricted access to the device for development purposes and supports digital forensic analysis. Activation can be achieved by entering webos20090606 or, on certain devices, using the Konami code sequence upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart from the cards view. This mode allows full access to system partition data even if the device is locked.

Smart TV features

LG has revamped webOS’s user interface while maintaining the card-based design under the name "Simple switching," which allows users to navigate among open TV applications easily. The platform includes features such as an animated assistant named Beanbird that simplifies connection setup and enhances content discovery.

Platform

Beneath its graphical user interface, webOS incorporates many elements common to standard Linux distributions. Versions ranging from 1.0 through 2.1 operate on a modified Linux 2.6.24 kernel.

The Palm Open Source website provides lists of open-source components along with source code for different releases of webOS, serving as a resource for publicly available versions.

In 2011, Enyo replaced Mojo as the primary software development kit (SDK), offering improved capabilities for application development.

Hardware

webOS Version	Category	Device Name	Launch Date
HP/Palm webOS	Smartphones	Palm Pre / Pre Plus	June 6, 2009 / January 25, 2010
		Palm Pixi / Pixi Plus	November 15, 2009 / January 7, 2010
		Palm Pre 2	October 22, 2010
		HP Veer	August 18, 2011
		HP Pre 3	August 18, 2011
		Windsor (Cancelled)
		Mako (Cancelled)
	Tablets	HP TouchPad	July 1, 2011
		HP TouchPad Go (Cancelled)
		Sapphire (Cancelled)
		Twain (Cancelled)
LG webOS	Television Devices	LG Smart TV Models
	Television Devices	LG Smart Laser Projector
		FOX TVs (Serbia)
	Refrigerators	LG Smart Refrigerator Models
	Wearables	LG Watch Urbane LTE	April 27, 2015

This selection of hardware highlights the progression of webOS from its origins in HP/Palm smartphones and tablet devices to LG’s expanded ecosystem featuring smart televisions, laser projectors, refrigerators, and wearable technology.

External links