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Neo1
May be Firefox should have just stuck to making the best browsers for any ...
Frank Eory
It seems it was a wise choice for Mozilla to aim Firefox OS first at feature ...
Firefox goes mobile, LG buys WebOS
Rick Merritt
2/26/2013 9:46 AM EST
HTML 5 gets and loses mobile proponents
Firefox OS is built on HTML 5, a fact Mozilla hopes will distinguish it from other platforms that take a more mixed approach to supporting the standard. Ironically, HP’s WebOS also based its differentiation on a deeper embrace of HTML5 than its competitors.
LG Electronics will fold the WebOS technology and engineering staff into its smart TV efforts. LG acquired the WebOS source code, documentation and engineering teams. Ironically, LG also is one of the companies committed to making handsets with Firefox OS.
LG will get licenses for WebOS patents HP acquired from Palm for the OS and user interface. HP will retain ownership of Palm’s cloud computing assets, including source code, talent, infrastructure and contracts, and it will continue to support Palm users.
The WebOS team will become “the heart and soul of the new LG Silicon Valley Lab,” said Skott Ahn, president of LG Electronics Inc., speaking in a press statement. Specifically, LG will add Sunnyvale, Calif., and San Francisco sites to its global R&D locations, in addition to its existing U.S. sites in San Jose and Chicago.
The new software assets come at a time when LG is also ramping up its efforts to design its own family of SoCs for its smart TVs.
The companies did not disclose terms of the deal but said they were not material. HP bought Palm for $1.2 billion in early 2010 to acquire its WebOS for mobile devices. The company is now edging toward a mixed portfolio of Android and Windows systems.
Related stories:
HP to buy Palm for $1.2B
The Feature phone rises (again?)
HP will make WebOS open source
Firefox OS is built on HTML 5, a fact Mozilla hopes will distinguish it from other platforms that take a more mixed approach to supporting the standard. Ironically, HP’s WebOS also based its differentiation on a deeper embrace of HTML5 than its competitors.
LG Electronics will fold the WebOS technology and engineering staff into its smart TV efforts. LG acquired the WebOS source code, documentation and engineering teams. Ironically, LG also is one of the companies committed to making handsets with Firefox OS.
LG will get licenses for WebOS patents HP acquired from Palm for the OS and user interface. HP will retain ownership of Palm’s cloud computing assets, including source code, talent, infrastructure and contracts, and it will continue to support Palm users.
The WebOS team will become “the heart and soul of the new LG Silicon Valley Lab,” said Skott Ahn, president of LG Electronics Inc., speaking in a press statement. Specifically, LG will add Sunnyvale, Calif., and San Francisco sites to its global R&D locations, in addition to its existing U.S. sites in San Jose and Chicago.
The new software assets come at a time when LG is also ramping up its efforts to design its own family of SoCs for its smart TVs.
The companies did not disclose terms of the deal but said they were not material. HP bought Palm for $1.2 billion in early 2010 to acquire its WebOS for mobile devices. The company is now edging toward a mixed portfolio of Android and Windows systems.
Related stories:
HP to buy Palm for $1.2B
The Feature phone rises (again?)
HP will make WebOS open source
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selinz
2/26/2013 12:12 PM EST
I think this is good news. They can leverage the front end of their set technology (and perhaps even some tv specialized tablets) to fund development.
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selinz
2/26/2013 12:14 PM EST
I was referring to LG and WebOS. The Firefox announcement seems like another me too, too late.
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DrQuine
2/26/2013 9:56 PM EST
The story of the collapse of PalmOS will make a cautionary business case lesson for anyone in the world of Internet innovation. How did the leading PDA interface manage to decline into a "hot potato" for HP to hand off?
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chanj
2/27/2013 2:26 AM EST
"Hewlett-Packard sold WebOS to LG Electronics, which will re-purpose it for its smart TVs."
It is very interesting. What's so good in WebOS for Smart TV application that Android is unable to offer?
Firefox goes mobile is interesting. There might be a lot of attention and developers would like it. Ubuntu tablet will draw a lot of attention too. I wonder when I can download and build my own Ubuntu mobile or Firefox mobile.
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eewiz
2/27/2013 1:36 PM EST
exactly.. I feel Android would have been a better choice for LG because of the app eco system
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rick.merritt
2/27/2013 8:55 PM EST
Yeah, I guess this is a backhand comment on Android for smart TVs
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docdivakar
2/28/2013 3:00 AM EST
Rick, what ever happened to B2G at Mozilla? That was supposed to be its savior for mobiles... I will try to dig into this!
MP Divakar
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Frank Eory
2/28/2013 4:41 PM EST
It seems it was a wise choice for Mozilla to aim Firefox OS first at feature phones in developing markets. They have a good chance against Symbian, but maybe not so much against Android and iOS.
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Neo1
3/5/2013 2:19 AM EST
May be Firefox should have just stuck to making the best browsers for any platform instead of jumping into the game over arena for OSes. As far as WebOs goes I think LG could turn it into something useful for non-handset devices where the space is still open.
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