WebOS - I am Back
Post by: bond
LG WebOS - "A New Paradigm" for smart TVs
WebOS - A Linux based operating system for smart TVs, and formerly a mobile operating system. Initially developed by Palm, which was acquired by Hewlett-Packard, the operating system was later sold to LG Electronics.
The Korean company LG revealed the company's first webOS TV set in CES this month. This webOS-powered TV run a 2.2GHz dual-core processor with 1.5GB of RAM, which will allow for multi-tasking features.
The user interface (UI), which features sliding card graphics, is powered by software originally created for Palm smartphones, which the South Korean firm bought from its previous owner HP last year, LG said more than 70% of its smart TVs released this year would use webOS. Analysts had complained LG's earlier menu system had been too confusing.
The firm unveiled the new technology at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where many of its rivals are also showing off new televisions.
Card-based menus
The centre-piece of the new UI is Launcher - a scrollable menu that runs across the bottom part of the screen, allowing the owner to switch between content.
Different coloured cards are used to represent on-air programmes; internet-based movies and shows from firms including Netflix and Amazon; apps including Twitter and Skype; and media stored on other devices.
The idea, the company said, was to allow viewers to simultaneously watch a show, play a game or surf the internet while also searching for other content - removing the need to navigate to a home screen.
A second menu bar, Today, can be activated to run horizontally across the central part of the screen providing suggestions for popular shows and other content the software believes is likely to interest the watcher.
LG also highlighted that the software was designed to make it easier to set up the TV. For example, if you plug in a games console it is identified as such, rather than as an HDMI source.
It also suggested it would be relatively easy for developers to create third-party apps for the platform.
