What is LG WebOS? - Everything You Need to Know

In 2014, LG launched its in-house smart TV operating system called LG WebOS. By 2022, LG WebOS has already captured around 13.8% of the global smart TV market. And now, LG is planning to increase the market presence of WebOS further, as it is in talks to provide its OS environment to around 200 smart TV makers. This list includes some of the leading smart TV makers like KMC, Walton, Seiki, and Croma.

So, there is no doubt that LG WebOS is set to rise even higher in the coming years. In such a scenario, every OTT content creator must be fully aware of LG WebOS TV, as they might need to develop LG WebOS apps for their platforms in the near future.

In this blog, we will discuss the technical details of the LG WebOS OS environment, its origin and history, its market scope and growth projection, and how you can develop your own LG WebOS app in a few simple steps. So, let’s begin!

LG WebOS is a Linux-based smart TV OS environment. According to the official website of LG, WebOS is basically a smart signage platform that allows easy integration and expansion with intuitive UX. In layman’s language, this OS allows you (the end users) to control and operate the functionalities of your smart TV through a Graphical User Interface.

LG WebOS TV consists of a built-in player and embedded CMS that comes with easy customization and app execution functionalities. Also, it is proven to deliver high performance as it can execute several tasks at once and ensure smooth streaming of content.

WebOS has a long history. This history comprises almost 15 years and more than 3 owners.

It was first developed by Palm as a successor to Palm OS in 2009-2010. At that time, it was known as Palm WebOS.

But, later, when Palm itself was acquired by HP in April 2010, the fate of WebOS changed too! Initially, HP expressed its intention to further develop WebOS so that it could be used by different devices including smartphones, tablets, and printers. Hence, WebOS 2.0 and WebOS 3.0 came into existence.

By the end of 2011, HP decided to release the source code of WebOS under an open-source license. From then onwards, it came to be known as Open WebOS.

In 2013, this open WebOS was bought by LG, and hence it became the present-day LG WebOS.

Palm was acquired by HP

HP starts developing WebOS as a universal operating system

Release of HP WebOS 3.0

The last version of HP WebOS, version 3.0.5 was released

December 2011 – February 2012

Release of Open WebOS

WebOS gets sold by HP. Hence, it now becomes LG WebOS

LG released the open-sourced edition of LG WebOS

LG WebOS was developed by LG for using it in their smart TVs. However, it is a multipurpose OS environment. As a web-based platform, it can be used for different types of solutions. It can be used to network with other LG devices and stream the content simultaneously on different LG devices. And over the years, WebOS has been used to build different types of devices.

In between 2009 to 2023, multiple devices were b