No Open WebOS support for existing WebOS devices, no soup for you

[wraggster]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/02/hp-pre3-top-1.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/31/no-open-webos-support-for-existing-webos-devices-no-soup-for-yo/)Another day, another major blow to the webOS community. The Open webOS (http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/phoenix-project-webos/) project announced today in its blog that the fledgling OS won't support any of the existing hardware -- like HP's Pre 3 (http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/24/pre-3-for-atandt-review/) andTouchPad (http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/hp-touchpad-review/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews). While not completely surprising, this is disappointing for those who were hoping to wring a little more life out of their current webOS devices. Open webOS is targeting SoCs that support the Linux 3.3+ kernel and components with open source drivers. The blog post blames the existing hardware's "many proprietary components, including graphics, networking and lack of drivers for a modern kernel". Despite having access to these proprietary drivers, it appears HP isn't willing to make them available to the Open webOS project -- proof that sometimes you can have your cake, but not eat it too.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/31/no-open-webos-support-for-existing-webos-devices-no-soup-for-yo/