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It's really weird to call LG's webOS "a failed experiment" considering that everybody loves it (it's universally though of as the best SmartTV interface out the

It's really weird to call LG's webOS "a failed experiment" considering that everybody loves it (it's universally though of as the best SmartTV interface out there) and that their webOS TVs are selling like hotcakes. Sure, the road there may not have been pretty at all, but it's the end result that matters.

nerderloo 12y ago
1/3 webOS team has already quit. webOS as it currently is only the result of the CES deadline forcing LG to go with webOS rather than LG team. Even after success of webOS TV, LG is still going with LG team. webOS team's morale is low. They got lucky with launch. With the way things are, it's only going to get worse.
- kristofferR 12y ago
  Sure, the greatness of LGs webOS may be, if this article is accurate, a result of pure luck. However, from LGs advertising it seems like they are very aware that the simplicity is webOS' biggest asset. I don't see any reason why that focus would change, even with a Korean team.
- Nelson69 12y ago
  Anyone know more of the story? This sounds fairly one sided. I know nothing about this and I'm just guessing, but I'd imagine that after Palm sold to HP and then at various times under HP's reign, a lot of people left. Perhaps a few stuck around that were handcuffed, in fact I'm sure some did but I'd guess a lot of high quality probably left. Then when LG stepped up, it seems like it must have made for a somewhat difficult situation, HP's handcuffs would normally be paid out, right? So it's up to LG to renew as part of the sale, right? So I'd have expected another exodus but I'd also expect maybe some nice reasons for key people to stick around, no idea what these numbers would look like but I'd expect bigger than HP offered. Then as things under LG went on maybe those incentives didn't seem as appealing or something. Perhaps HP paid too much and the new incentives weren't as appealing. Ironically, I'd think as for putting the product in front of people, the LG situation would be as good as the WebOS team has ever had, LG sells a lot of well made hardware products, they're serious. What I'd really think happened is WebOS's core team was depleted under HP, they sold it to LG, never reloaded and now there are gigantic demands on them that they simply cannot satisfy. That's rough, LG should double down and help them get some new talent that's hungry. The idea that WebOS was going to "change LG" seems interesting...
mwfunk 12y ago
I don't think any success LG has had selling TVs has anything to do with the SmartTV stuff though. Anecdotal evidence and all, but I have yet to meet anyone where the SmartTV UI was even remotely a factor in which TV they bought. Heck, I have yet to meet anyone where the presence of SmartTV features was a factor in which TV they bought. I would think that anyone who cares at all about watching Internet video on their TV would just shell out the $35-$100 to get a Chromecast, Roku, or AppleTV, if they don't already get the same functionality from a game console that they already own. I have yet to see any SmartTV which is remotely competitive with these devices, and they have the added benefit of not being baked into your display so you can upgrade or replace them as needed.
- iand 12y ago
  I'm a happy owner of an LG SmartTV and would recommend and buy again. In fact I'm disappointed they don't sell them in TV's less than 28 inches because I want a small one for the kitchen. There is something very satisfying in having the Internet video services naturally integrated into the remote and just one button away. Not to say that LG can't screw it up, but what they have today is a great product.

nerderloo 12y ago

1/3 webOS team has already quit. webOS as it currently is only the result of the CES deadline forcing LG to go with webOS rather than LG team. Even after success of webOS TV, LG is still going with LG team. webOS team's morale is low. They got lucky with launch. With the way things are, it's only going to get worse.

kristofferR 12y ago
Sure, the greatness of LGs webOS may be, if this article is accurate, a result of pure luck. However, from LGs advertising it seems like they are very aware that the simplicity is webOS' biggest asset. I don't see any reason why that focus would change, even with a Korean team.
Nelson69 12y ago
Anyone know more of the story? This sounds fairly one sided. I know nothing about this and I'm just guessing, but I'd imagine that after Palm sold to HP and then at various times under HP's reign, a lot of people left. Perhaps a few stuck around that were handcuffed, in fact I'm sure some did but I'd guess a lot of high quality probably left. Then when LG stepped up, it seems like it must have made for a somewhat difficult situation, HP's handcuffs would normally be paid out, right? So it's up to LG to renew as part of the sale, right? So I'd have expected another exodus but I'd also expect maybe some nice reasons for key people to stick around, no idea what these numbers would look like but I'd expect bigger than HP offered. Then as things under LG went on maybe those incentives didn't seem as appealing or something. Perhaps HP paid too much and the new incentives weren't as appealing. Ironically, I'd think as for putting the product in front of people, the LG situation would be as good as the WebOS team has ever had, LG sells a lot of well made hardware products, they're serious. What I'd really think happened is WebOS's core team was depleted under HP, they sold it to LG, never reloaded and now there are gigantic demands on them that they simply cannot satisfy. That's rough, LG should double down and help them get some new talent that's hungry. The idea that WebOS was going to "change LG" seems interesting...

mwfunk 12y ago

I don't think any success LG has had selling TVs has anything to do with the SmartTV stuff though. Anecdotal evidence and all, but I have yet to meet anyone where the SmartTV UI was even remotely a factor in which TV they bought. Heck, I have yet to meet anyone where the presence of SmartTV features was a factor in which TV they bought. I would think that anyone who cares at all about watching Internet video on their TV would just shell out the $35-$100 to get a Chromecast, Roku, or AppleTV, if they don't already get the same functionality from a game console that they already own. I have yet to see any SmartTV which is remotely competitive with these devices, and they have the added benefit of not being baked into your display so you can upgrade or replace them as needed.

iand 12y ago
I'm a happy owner of an LG SmartTV and would recommend and buy again. In fact I'm disappointed they don't sell them in TV's less than 28 inches because I want a small one for the kitchen. There is something very satisfying in having the Internet video services naturally integrated into the remote and just one button away. Not to say that LG can't screw it up, but what they have today is a great product.