The best news of the week is that HP is NOT killing off webOS. After months of deliberation, HP announced that it will release webOS as an open source platform and will continue to be a active player in developing and support the platform. That's great news for Touchpad owners!
Back in August, HP announced its plans to kill off webOS. The company quickly backtracked and clarified its statement saying it was only ending production and development of webOS-based hardware including the Pre 3 and the company's first tablet — the TouchPad.
Unable to find a buyer (Samsung and Amazon were rumored to be interested) for webOS, HP's new home for webOS appears to be to put it in the hands of anybody who wants to develop for it — like Android.
Outlined in its press release, HP's goals with the new move is as follows:
- The goal of the project is to accelerate the open development of the webOS platform
- HP will be an active participant and investor in the project
- Good, transparent and inclusive governance to avoid fragmentation
- Software will be provided as a pure open source project
Speaking to TechCrunch, HP CEO Meg Whitman said the company will likely develop webOS-based tablets again by at least 2013.
In the last few months, we've heard a lot about HP's plans to relegate webOS to a platform for its printers, but now we're relieved. All those people who snapped up a Touchpad (or will this Sunday) will have the chance to continue to get updates — whatever form that'll be in down the road.
Local
Via HP
