# webOS

> Linux-based mobile operating system

**Wikidata**: [Q305873](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q305873)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebOS)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/webos

## Summary
webOS is a Linux-based mobile operating system originally developed by Palm, Inc. and later acquired by HP before being open-sourced and maintained by LG Electronics. It is primarily used in LG smart TVs and other consumer electronics devices.

## Key Facts
- webOS is a Linux-based mobile operating system with its inception tied to the Linux family (1991-09-17)
- The current stable version is 2.27.0 (released November 5, 2024)
- webOS is developed by LG Electronics and primarily used in LG smart TVs
- The operating system is licensed under GNU General Public License and Apache License
- webOS Open Source Edition (OSE) has its own website at https://www.webosose.org/
- The platform runs on ARM architecture
- webOS has 31 Wikipedia sitelinks across multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, and Russian
- The system has derivative works including LuneOS, a mobile operating system based on webOS

## FAQs
### Q: What devices run webOS?
A: webOS runs on HP TouchPad tablets, Palm Pre and Palm Pixi smartphones, and is primarily used in LG smart TVs and other consumer electronics devices.

### Q: Who currently develops webOS?
A: LG Electronics currently develops webOS, having acquired and open-sourced the platform after HP discontinued its webOS hardware.

### Q: What is the latest version of webOS?
A: The latest stable version of webOS Open Source Edition is 2.27.0, released on November 5, 2024.

## Why It Matters
webOS represents a significant chapter in mobile operating system history, originating as Palm's innovative smartphone platform before evolving into a smart TV operating system. Its card-based multitasking interface and web-centric design philosophy influenced mobile UI design patterns. The open-sourcing of webOS by HP allowed the technology to live on through LG's adoption, making it one of the few mobile OS platforms to successfully transition from smartphones to smart TVs. This evolution demonstrates how operating system technologies can find new life and applications beyond their original intended use cases, contributing to the convergence of mobile and television computing experiences.

## Notable For
- Being one of the few mobile operating systems to successfully transition from smartphones to smart TVs
- Introducing innovative card-based multitasking interface that influenced later mobile UI designs
- Having an open-source version (webOS OSE) maintained by a community after HP's discontinuation
- Running on ARM architecture, making it suitable for mobile and embedded devices
- Supporting multiple languages including English, French, Russian, and others

## Body
### Origins and Development
webOS was originally developed by Palm, Inc. as a Linux-based mobile operating system. The platform's development is rooted in the Linux family of operating systems, which began in 1991. After Palm's acquisition by HP, the operating system was briefly used in HP's TouchPad tablets and webOS smartphones before HP discontinued its hardware business.

### Current Status and Usage
LG Electronics now develops and maintains webOS, primarily using it in their smart TV lineup. The operating system has evolved from its mobile phone origins to become a sophisticated smart TV platform. LG has continued to develop and release new versions, with the current stable version being 2.27.0 as of November 2024.

### Technical Specifications
webOS runs on ARM architecture, making it suitable for mobile and embedded devices. The operating system is licensed under both GNU General Public License and Apache License, allowing for open-source development and modification. The platform supports multiple languages including English, French, Russian, and several others.

### Community and Ecosystem
The webOS Open Source Edition maintains an active community with its own website, GitHub repository, and social media presence including a Twitter account (@webos_ose) and YouTube channel. The platform has derivative works such as LuneOS, which is based on webOS technology. The community maintains documentation, releases updates, and provides support through various channels including Reddit and other platforms.

### Versions and Releases
The operating system has seen multiple version releases, with version 2.19.0 released on December 2, 2022, and the current stable version 2.27.0 released on November 5, 2024. These releases include updates to the core operating system, improvements to the user interface, and support for new hardware platforms.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "name": "webOS",
  "description": "Linux-based mobile operating system developed by LG Electronics, primarily used in smart TVs",
  "operatingSystem": "Linux",
  "applicationCategory": "OperatingSystem",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "LG Electronics"
  },
  "url": "https://www.webosose.org/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q328",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebOS"
  ]
}

## References

1. [2022](https://www.webosose.org/blog/2022/12/02/webos-ose-2-19-0-release/)
2. [2024](https://www.webosose.org/blog/2024/11/05/webos-ose-2-27-0-release/)
3. [2024](https://github.com/webosose/build-webos/releases/tag/v2.27.0)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Quora
6. YouTube API