LG has officially announced its new webOS interface for its 2014 TVs, during the CES 2014 technology show.
LG President Scott Om said that the reason for using the webOS software as the base for its new TV interface was its “ability to prove the simplest and most intuitive user experience.” He claims it “simplifies the way you connect you your TV, the way you switch between content”
The WebOS interface is based around a Launcher window, which gives you access to the various content portals the system offers. These include Twitter, the web browser, Skype, LoveFilm, Facebook and Netflix. In the US the system will also offer Hulu streaming.
The system is designed to be navigated using the LG Magic Remote, which acts as a wireless pointing device, comparable with a mouse.
WebOS first came to the public in Palm mobile phones, which were praised for their attractive interface but failed commercially. Palm was acquired by HP in 2010, which owned the rights to the webOS system until February 2013. At this point, LG bought out HP’s webOS division for use in its new smart TVs.
The webOS interface will initially appear in LG’s high-end 4K for 2014, but LG President Om confirmed the company’s intention to bring the system to other devices in the future. However, it seems unlikely that the system will simply be grafted onto previous, or current, models. LG says 56 per cent of the 2014 line-up will be the new interface.
It is rumoured that the LG webOS TVs will run on a 2.2GHz dual-core processor with 1.5GB of RAM.
Read more: Best TVs of 2014
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
