HP’s intentions according to then CEO Leo Apotheker was to use WebOS to run tablets, smartphones, printers and a raft of consumer devices ‘WebOS will power everything’. It launched an orphan tablet that had a very poor ecosystem (too few apps) which it ultimately flogged for $99 to clear stock.

Apotheker was keen to port WebOS to X86 as well and gain as much Windows functionality as it could. His primary intent must have been as a bargaining chip with MS to reduce Windows OS costs - that too failed.

Now LG has picked up this Linux based OS for its smart TV’s and at least that makes sense. LG is not particularly strong on software innovation and the work already done will give it a leg up in the field. In particular WebOS has a lot of good work done on interfaces, HTML5 compatibility and peripherals (like connecting to routers etc). There is no mention of what it paid HP but take it as a given that its stuff all.

LG currently relies on the nearly free Google Android OS for its smart phones and it would not surprise me if it developed WebOS further for this use – providing that it maintained compatibility with Android apps.