webOS is now open source

[the.weavster]

http://developer.palm.com/blog/

I hope one of the larger manufacturers now takes a punt on a device or two to test the market.

[Kuron]

Very good news and as Google has shown, it is the only way to really compete with the Apple behemoth. I just hope it is not too late for webOS to get some traction.

[the.weavster]

Maybe LG should give it a go, Android hasn't worked out too well for them so far: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/20 ... ne-funding, that's despite the fact they make nice hardware.

[Kuron]

I may have been the only one, but I was actually looking forward to this: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/09/webo ... -says-ceo/

[Tenaja]

Ideally, someone will ditch the OS part, and just port the UI to Android. I love the UI, but other than that, I don't care.

[the.weavster]

Ideally, someone will ditch the OS part, and just port the UI to Android.

The advantage being?

Personally I'd prefer someone to get Alien Dalvik working seamlessly on webOS so we don't have to listen to the 'ecosystem' drivel and webOS can be compared on merit.

[Tenaja]

Well, with over 500,000 new android devices every day, there is no way WebOS will catch up. This late in the game, it will be just like Linux is on the desktop...the 3% open source solution. However, I really like their card UI, a LOT better than any Android interface I've seen.

[the.weavster]

Well, with over 500,000 new android devices every day, there is no way WebOS will catch up.

It doesn't need to catch up with Android in order to be viable. Also remember by far the biggest beast in the Android jungle is Samsung and they are already looking at alternatives, just Google 'Tizen' for instance. Samsung were rumoured to be negotiating with HP to license webOS before deciding to partner with Intel and pick up the pieces of MeeGo instead.

This late in the game, it will be just like Linux is on the desktop...the 3% open source solution.

Assuming the 3% figure is correct (which even M$ don't, they think it's around three times that) you have to remember desktop PCs all come with Windows pre-installed and nobody markets the advantages of Linux to end users, only people with an interest in it are ever likely to try it. I only tried Linux because I had an XP machine crippled by a virus. Furthermore you wouldn't have to install webOS yourself replacing the existing OS. I would suggest this is a false comparison.

Anyhow, covering the range between M$ estimate and yours, here are the smartphone manufacturers currently at that level of market share:
RIM - 9%
Sony Ericsson - 7%
LG - 5%
Motorola - 4%
Huawei - 4%
ZTE - 3%

I'm willing to guess you've heard of a few of those.

[skywalk]

The question is how much shake-down money must be paid to M$ if your smartphone uses webOS.
Currently, all Android deployments must pay a 'get out of patent court' fee to M$.
Don't remember the numbers but ~$6 / phone depending on the companys' patent swaps.
No chance for this if using webOS which is Palm rich in patents.

[the.weavster]

The question is how much shake-down money must be paid to M$ if your smartphone uses webOS.
Currently, all Android deployments must pay a 'get out of patent court' fee to M$.

But for how much longer? Barnes & Noble refused to buckle to M$ patent threats and now their lawyers seem to be having a great time compiling a huge list of prior art: http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?stor ... 6222255905

[Kuron]

Well, with over 500,000 new android devices every day, there is no way WebOS will catch up. This late in the game, it will be just like Linux is on the desktop...the 3% open source solution.

This is not stopping MS from trying to make a dent in the market with their forthcoming offerings.

[IdeasVacuum]

I think WebOS would have had a great future if HP had made it open, but continued to fully support it. I think it's demise has been brought about by the business strategy of Léo Apotheker, who in the end clearly found it difficult to keep HP dancing to his music. Now, it might well gain a cult following, but commercially it's probably already dead.

[Tenaja]

Well, with over 500,000 new android devices every day, there is no way WebOS will catch up. This late in the game, it will be just like Linux is on the desktop...the 3% open source solution.

This is not stopping MS from trying to make a dent in the market with their forthcoming offerings.

The difference is that MS has 90% of the desktop market to support integration and ensure compatibility, and a big budget to advertise it. On top of that, the specialty of MS is software, and they will make a reasonable os.

WebOS, on the other hand, has no advantage over Android. They are both Linux, and open source. The specialty of HP is hardware, and their software, while innovated (because it was designed by an Apple guy), is lacking everything desirable... with the exception of one aspect that can "easily" be implemented in Android.

[the.weavster]

WebOS, on the other hand, has no advantage over Android.

How about: It's nicer and it's not owned by one of your competitors?

Samsung and HTC are both already looking into alternative OSs, they'd be remiss not to consider webOS now.

[Kuron]

The difference is that MS has 90% of the desktop market to support integration and ensure compatibility, and a big budget to advertise it. On top of that, the specialty of MS is software, and they will make a reasonable os.

This argument would have held up back in the 90s, but it really falls flat now. Microsoft is not the company it once was and no longer has the stroke it once did. Microsoft has fallen from grace and is no longer the number one company for a reason. Anybody who thinks Windows 8 will be successful in the tablet market is only fooling themselves and is intentionally ignoring Microsoft's 10 year history of failure in the tablet market.

I am not sure why you bring up the desktop market and compatibility when Microsoft has made it clear that the ARM version of Windows 8 will not run x86 code. The lack of compatibility between the versions of Windows 8 will be a huge stumbling block for EUs and developers. Developers will have to maintain two different versions of their software and EUs will have to buy two different versions of the software if they want to use it at home and on the go.

As to advertising, now that Microsoft is the number 3 or 4 company (depending on the day), they simply don't have the budget they once had. Like Windows 7, you will see a brief initial marketing campaign and some periodic ads through the year with an increase near Christmas. Gone are the days of massive marketing campaigns like when Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows XP debuted.

That said, I have to admit I liked some of the prime-time infomercials they did back in the day, if only for the cheese factor and the drinking game that went along with them. Anthony Edwards doesn't seem very busy these days, I am sure he would be up for coming back to host a Windows 8 infomercial.

WebOS, on the other hand, has no advantage over Android. They are both Linux, and open source. The specialty of HP is hardware, and their software, while innovated (because it was designed by an Apple guy), is lacking everything desirable... with the exception of one aspect that can "easily" be implemented in Android.

WebOS has a huge advantage over Android because it is not made by Google and it is not Android. WebOS also has a major advantage over iOS and the forthcoming Windows 8 because it is not made by Apple or Microsoft. Whether anybody will capitalize on those advantages remains to be seen.