WebOS is the next-generation operating system from Palm, replacing the aging PalmOS (“Garnet”). The OS is designed around XHTML, CSS, and Javascript. Basically, the application-visible OS is a browser, with the hardware abstracted and controllable via Javascript. Applications are “cards” which are similar to Mac OS X’s dashboard widgets. Underneath the WebKit-based application layer is a Linux-based OS. It is doubtful that Palm will allow developers access to the base OS, it’s also unclear how much that will be necessary, given (if) the hardware can be directly accessed via the applications layer and Javascript.

The first hardware to use the WebOS is the Palm Pre, released in January 2009. Comparisons with Apple’s iPhone are inevitable. In the days following the Pre’s release, Apple apologists said that the Apple should not be worried, while some said that Palm is suddenly back on top of the handheld/smartphone market.

Links

• Palm strikes back with new OS
• The Palm Pre takes on the iPhone
• EngadgetMobile’s Gallery of the Pre UI