Since no one has posted this... CNET has pulled the article which was the only source of this deal. I'm guessing it was a hoax. We'll find out soon, I'm sure.
LG acquires webOS from HP, plans to use it in smart TV platform
31–40 of 73 posts
Re: LG acquires webOS from HP, plans to use it in smart TV platform
#32It actually makes a lot of sense and a great opportunity if you can take your eyes from that big screen. Palm as a remote.
Re: LG acquires webOS from HP, plans to use it in smart TV platform
#33Not using WebOS on smartphones is really a waste. Palm failed but I still think it was an OS ahead of its time.
Sometimes 'ahead of its time' is not such a good thing. Specifically, when the available hardware can't keep up with what the system design demands[1], e.g. a responsive smartphone touch interface created in an interpreter (as far as I can see without even having a JIT compiler) on a 500Mhz embedded CPU, without GPU acceleration[2]. It was ahead of its time alright.
[1]http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/12/01/02/0213204/insiders...
[2]http://forums.webosnation.com/webos-discussion-lounge/295123...
Re: LG acquires webOS from HP, plans to use it in smart TV platform
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
This just signals that there is a hole in the market for an open source smart TV platform. Is there, though? I'm pretty technical, and very interested in the whole FLOSS thing, and I'm pretty much of the `meh' contingent when it comes my TV's software's licensing. All I really care about is turning the damn thing on, watching what I want, when I want, and being able to afford to rent the stuff I want to watch. Now ta…
I think you missed my point. That consumers only care about their programming being available is precisely why an open platform is needed. If LG releases a smart TV that doesn't have Netflix, Hulu, MLB.tv, Amazon, etc. they look bad in the eye of the consumer. Those content providers are currently building out separate apps for each TV platform, or at least for the ones big enough to move the needle.
So what they want is an open platform, not necessarily an open source platform -- iOS being `closed' certainly hasn't stopped these broadcasters from building apps for it. What's made it a success is the installed base of users, which has meant it's worth the broadcasters' time and money to create apps to work on these devices.
As for availability of programming, that's basically what I said in my initial reply: *``all [the viewers] want from a TV is the ability to watch $PROGRAMME with as little pain and inconvenience as possible''.
If the ultimate goal is (as it should be) to get these broadcasters' programming everywhere, on all TVs, the last thing we need is another damned platform with a tiny userbase. We need some kind of consolidation, or (ideally) interoperable standard, that allows a ``write once, run everywhere'' ability for their apps.
Re: LG acquires webOS from HP, plans to use it in smart TV platform
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think you missed my point. That consumers only care about their programming being available is precisely why an open platform is needed. If LG releases a smart TV that doesn't have Netflix, Hulu, MLB.tv, Amazon, etc. they look bad in the eye of the consumer. Those content providers are currently building out separate apps for each TV platform, or at least for the ones big enough to move the needle.
So what they want is an open platform, not necessarily an open source platform -- iOS being `closed' certainly hasn't stopped these broadcasters from building apps for it. What's made it a success is the installed base of users, which has meant it's worth the broadcasters' time and money to create apps to work on these devices. As for availability of programming, that's basically what I said in my initial reply: *``a…
I think we're in fierce agreement here.
Re: LG acquires webOS from HP, plans to use it in smart TV platform
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
A lot of people use `TV' to refer to both the thing on the wall, and the industry that produces things to show on the thing on the wall. I think that's the case here. Assuming I've read the OP right, I don't agree with the assessment that the TV industry ``is bound to die''. The demand for high-quality, well-made programming remains relatively stable (maybe increases gradually over time), and even with the best will…
The more availability of internet-based programming, the more people will use it. The more people use it, the more strain is put on bandwidth, which in many areas is already strained. I think we're in for a rude awakening here; the TV industry is warming up to internet distribution faster than the broadband industry is advancing its tech. People run back to cable when Netflix buffers every 5 minutes.
I agree completely, but broadcasting their programming via the internet isn't a paradigm shift for anything except set viewing schedules. Whether I'm watching The Walking Dead over the air at a set time, or watching it over the internet whenever I feel like it, I'm still watching it, and the TV industry as we know it still needs to exist in a relatively similar form to produce it. The only real change is that they broadcast from a server instead of via a transmitter, and they can't guarantee to advertisers that I'll be sitting down at a certain hour to watch it, which may dilute their advert's effectiveness somewhat.
Re: LG acquires webOS from HP, plans to use it in smart TV platform
#37If LG uses its new ownership to pay one developer to release the update that was promised and in the pipeline for the HP Veer, but was never released (rumor was they simply forgot to switch a button), I promise my next TV will be a LG.
Re: LG acquires webOS from HP, plans to use it in smart TV platform
#38This just signals that there is a hole in the market for an open source smart TV platform. Google TV was supposed to be that, but it's pretty clear that they don't take it as seriously as they take Android. To manufacturers like LG, TVs are actually more important, and falling behind competitors is more serious. Forking Android for this purpose isn't really an option thanks to the recent "non-fragmentation agreement"…
This just signals that there is a hole in the market for an open source smart TV platform. Is there, though? I'm pretty technical, and very interested in the whole FLOSS thing, and I'm pretty much of the `meh' contingent when it comes my TV's software's licensing. All I really care about is turning the damn thing on, watching what I want, when I want, and being able to afford to rent the stuff I want to watch. Now ta…
Once licensing deals by the TV manufacturers force them to choose between a TV that supports Youtube, Netflix and HBO, but not NFL Gamepass and a TV that support Netflix and NFL Gamepass, but not HBO and Youtube then they will start to care.
Re: LG acquires webOS from HP, plans to use it in smart TV platform
#39Since no one has posted this... CNET has pulled the article which was the only source of this deal. I'm guessing it was a hoax. We'll find out soon, I'm sure.
According to Business Insider they broke an embargo: http://www.businessinsider.com/hang-oncnet-just-pulled-this-...
Re: LG acquires webOS from HP, plans to use it in smart TV platform
#40this tweet by Kontra sums it up:
WebOS has been targeted to mini-phones, larger smartphones, tablets, printers & now TVs. Won't stop until you see it on a LG refrigerator.
https://twitter.com/counternotions/status/306014344876023808