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Android TV could have some serious competition ahead with LG opening up Web OS
- LG is opening up Web OS to third-party TV manufacturers.
- 20 manufacturers around the world have already committed to incorporate Web OS on their TVs.
- Licensees of Web OS TV will receive the familiar UX design of Web OS 5.0.
LG is opening up its Web OS TV platform to third-party TV brands, the company announced in a press release. The move could spell trouble for Google’s Android TV platform which is also found on many smart TVs and streaming boxes.
Even though you’ll find an Android TV device easier to procure on a budget, it’s not the most popular smart TV operating system. According to research firm Strategy Analytics, Samsung’s Tizen OS and LG’s Web OS succeed Android TV when it comes to connected TV devices in use worldwide. That said, cheaper Android TV sets from the likes of Xiaomi and other Chinese manufacturers have given Google’s platform a leg up on the competition in some markets.
With LG democratizing Web OS, it’s not only taking on Android TV and Samsung’s Tizen OS but also Roku and Amazon’s Fire TV. LG says its move has the potential to significantly grow “its presence and prominence in the global home entertainment market.”
The South Korean corporation claims that over 20 manufacturers around the world have already committed to incorporating Web OS on their TVs. These include brands like RCA, Ayonz, and Konka.
Licensees of Web OS TV will receive the familiar UX design of Web OS 5.0, the company tells The Verge. This means that the Web OS 6.0 redesign that LG introduced at CES this year will not apply to partner devices just yet.
Third-party Web OS TVs will also get key features of the platform such as voice search, access to LG’s superb magic remote, and support for popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and more. Besides this, the company will also be able to get more eyes on its ad-supported LG Channels.