The rumors have been confirmed: LG on Sunday said that it will indeed reveal a WebOS-based HDTV at CES.
In a press release posted on its Korean website, LG tipped a set with easy connection, conversion, and navigation. The TV operating system will also include voice and gesture controls, as well as an animated character called Bean Bird who will serve as the user's guide through various on-screen features, LG said.
The company expects WebOS to be integrated into more than 70 percent of its 2014 lineup.
Though LG has not revealed a launch timeframe or price tag for WebOS TV, it is expected to debut the system in Korea, before reaching the U.S. and Europe. Eventually, it will roll out to the rest of the world.
More details are expected from LG's morning press conference at CES, which kicks off at 11 a.m. ET.
Reports of a WebOS-based TV started just before the New Year, tipping multitasking "cards" that allow users to swap between live TV, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, AccuWeather, Skype, and the Internet. The television is expected to run on a 2.2GHz dual-core processor with 1.5GB of RAM and additional apps based on the WebOS Enyo platform.
This marks LG's first use of WebOS, which it purchased from Hewlett-Packard in February 2013 for integration into portable electronics. The platform, developed by Palm, was well-received, but struggled to compete once Apple's iPhone and iOS came on the scene. Ultimately, WebOS was sold to HP, which opted to open source the OS before handing it over to LG.
Stay tuned to PCMag this week for full CES 2014 coverage, including a look at LG's 105-inch Ultra HD curved TV, as well as its 77-inch 4K Curved OLED HDTV. The company is also expected to reveal an activity tracker dubbed the Lifeband Touch, and will have its new all-in-one Chromebase desktop on display.
For more, check out PCMag's tour of the LG booth at CES in the video below.