WebOS isn’t dead! After much fiddling and tinkering, a pre-alpha of a WebOS running as an Android app has been shown in a working state. Previous attempts to make Open WebOS run on Android haven’t been able to get past the lock screen, but the folks at Phoenix International Communications (PIC) have finally built a functional version. The performance is absolutely awful, and nobody sane would want to use it in its current state. Still, this is an important first step to making this a reality.

As you can see from the video below, PIC has the WebOS UI and applications running inside of Android on a 4G Nexus S. This is a very early state, and simple actions stutter like crazy, but this is no small task. It took about a year for HP to release Open Web OS 1.0, and it’s only been available for about two months. The fact that we’re already seeing companies showing proof of concept implementations of Open WebOS components running on other devices and operating systems is heartening.

WebOS is something worthwhile, and it was far too close to death for comfort. Back in 2009, while Android was still in its infancy, WebOS had a beautiful and highly functional user interface. Even more impressively, the apps were written mainly using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Sadly, WebOS’s entire lifespan at Palm and later HP was dogged by underpowered hardware that couldn’t keep up with the high-level applications. Now that its components have been open-sourced, it isn’t hamstrung by the business and management failures of its progenitors.

Provided companies like PIC can actually execute on the promise of WebOS-on-Android, we could be in for a WebOS renaissance. Think of the possibilities this could open for the Android market. If the latest and greatest Android tablet or phone could be purchased and made to utilize all of the benefits of WebOS while retaining the ability to run the huge library of Android apps, Apple would really have to scramble to compete. As a heavy iPad and iPhone user, I would seriously consider switching away to an Android/WebOS hybrid if it was executed well. We’re still a long way off from that becoming a possibility, but it is worth drooling over.

While it’s too early to tell, WebOS‘s biggest impact might be yet to come despite its near-death at the hands of the bumbling HP management. It lives on as Open WebOS, and users will hopefully soon be able to benefit from the great technology and design that came out of the death of Palm.

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