webOS, originally developed by Palm, is a Linux based multitasking operating systems with support for HTML5 and CSS3. It is now found in most (all?) new LG smart TVs, and the TV manufacturer has decided to expand the adoption of webOS by collaborating with the South Korean government and local startups, and released an open source version , webOS Open Source Edition, available publicly at http://webosose.org.
webOS Open Source Edition 1.0 is said to be optimized for the Raspberry Pi 3, and the company provides build instructions on the “setting up” page of the website to build the firmware image, which you can then flash to a micro SD card. The idea is to for a community around the open source version webOS, and let different categories of developers or users contribute to the project:
- System UI Developers – The System UI is based on Blink and Qt, and developers can add new features and integrate other open source technologies to enhance the user experience.
- Platform Developers – Nyx, the platform portability layer (PPL), is the basis for porting webOS OSE to new architectures and hardware, so capable developer can port webOS OSE to other platforms.
- App Developers can contribute improvements to Core applications, or submit new JavaScript applications for consideration.
- Users can help with documentation and testing
You can get a direct look at the source on webOS OSE github account. As the first illustration entails, LG envisions webOS not only for TVs, but also other products like home appliances, tablets, and other devices that may benefit from an HTML5/CSS focused operating system.
Via Liliputing
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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First off congrats on the new site design
Good news indeed, would be nice if more vendors did the same.
Really nice style, congratulation… The website is just getting better…
Currently, there is no Kodi for WebOS, but there is one for Raspberry Pi.
So, maybe now that there is WebOS for RPi, there would also be Kodi for WebOS?
I agree with Ron, hopefully this will make WebOS appliances like LG’s TVs more useful.
@Ron
WebOS don’t support native apps
they support just html/js apps
@m][sko
It’s an open-source OS with JS apps support — what will stop native apps?
It looks like they don’t care.
LG are selling TVs and that is all 🙂
Interesting. This could be beneficial to IPTV providers (indirectly) and STB manufacturers as long as they provide DRM (Widevine, Verimatrix…) support for Linux.
Reply from LG:
Because of DRM, apps on lgappstv.com8 cannot run on webOS OSE.
We have no plan at this moment to provide compatibility with webOS TV.
It would be nice if Samsung also follow this route…..
I have one and struggling to make it adfree and it’s browser is next to shit
It may be a Scam!
Qualcomm has patents on webos that it bought from HP.
LG has licenced to use the WebOS.
So all the people who use WebOS in their project without Rasberry Pi that uses Qualcomm’s Cpu; will have law suits from Qualcomm!
So this is just to get more law suit profit for Qualcomm!
and LG will get it’s code fixed by developers for free.
Qualcomm has to release it’s unfair patents on the software first, to be useful.
Are you serious?
I don’t think so, the Whole WebOS Open Source Edition is licensed Apache v2 so I can do as I please under the terms of this license. They may have stripped out of the open source edition whatever is patented.
Also @Stane1983 it is somehow possible to sideload some drm libraries into LuneOS, so maybe that’s possible with this as well , see https://pivotce.com/2017/10/11/luneos-browser-how-to-sideload-flash-widevine-plugins-netflix-amazon-youtube-red/
Patent system is Corrupt and heavily favors Patent trolls.
This is what is written in Wikipedia:
“On February 25, 2013, HP announced that it was licensing webOS to LG Electronics for use on its web-enabled smart TVs, replacing its previous NetCast platform.[28][29] Under the agreement LG Electronics is allowed unlimited access to the documentation, source code, developers and all related websites. However, HP would still hold on to patents underlying webOS as well as cloud-based services such as the App Catalog.[30] In 2014, HP sold its webOS patents to Qualcomm. ”
So LG and/or Qualcomm need to clarify the patent issue. Patent was claimed before the licensing. Software patents can be abusive, specially in our type of legal system.
Get your facts straight! Raspberry Pi uses Broadcom chips, so your whole conspiracy theory falls flat on its face. Doesn’t mean the code isn’t infringing any patents though, and even if it doesn’t, doesn’t mean you can’t get sued for alleged patent infringement for some vague broad software patent.
René, On the first part, you are correct. My apology; as I didn’t realize that the sale of
Qualcomm to Broadcom is stopped.
However the Patent issue is still a problem and needs to get cleared by LG. Qualcomm is famous for using and abusing the legal system for it’s patent troll habits.
There is No conspiracy theory as I quoted Wikipedia. and You can change the Wikipedia’s info; if you have documented info to the contrary.
As it stands now; Qualcomm has bought the patents from HP and LG has only license to use the software.
I am sure LG has an explanation; but so far has not responded to any of the requests for clarification.
Please cooperate and We should all push them to give legal statements and not to hide behind the confusion.
Thank you.