LG will make its webOS software available to other companies.
The proprietary software on LG’s own handsets may be licensed by external TV brands, the company has announced Wednesday. In particular, TV brands that choose to bring LG software to TVs will also receive the Magic Motion remote control, LG very good cursor-like wand. It will also see the same voice control tools, algorithms and applications – including LG channels – included on these displays, the company said.
“By welcoming other manufacturers to join the webOS TV ecosystem, we are starting a new path that allows many new TV owners to experience the same UX and great features that are available on LG TVs. We look forward to bringing these new customers into the incredible world of webOS TV, ”said Park Hyoung-sei, president of LG Home Entertainment Company.
The news followed LG’s announcement during CES earlier this year that webOS had received a rather drastic redesign. The LG interface has in the past switched to a blade-like design, which kept the navigation menu in the lower third of the screen. But with webOS 6.0, that will be included on the company Televisions 2021, LG has given up the blade design for a more standard interface, which is much more like Google TV, which is also licensed to TV manufacturers and will appear on devices other than Chromecast this year, including TCL and Sony TVs.
More than 20 TV manufacturers have already logged in to bring webOS to their kits, according to the company, including RCA, Ayonz and Konka.