Next year, LG Electronics is planning to making Smart TVs a lot -- well, smarter, as well as more user-friendly. The company just announced its "webOS 2.0" Smart TV platform, which will be on display next month at the 2015 International CES in Las Vegas.
Building upon the webOS system introduced earlier this year, the update promises to be smart, but simple to operate. The company's motto is "Make TV Simple Again," which focuses on three features: Simple Connection, Simple Switching, and Simple Discovery.
Besides being simple, the platform also promises to be faster. LG says that the initial boot time when the TV is turned on has been reduced by up to 60 percent. Users will also see a 70-percent improcement in the time that it takes to get from the home screen to YouTube.
Speaking of streaming services, those will be plentiful and pretty eye-popping, in some cases. The company is working with Amazon and Netflix, in order to make sure that 4K TV is part of the webOS 2.0 offering.
There will also be a new app called "My Channels." This allows users to customize live TV or set-top box channels on the Launcher Bar. Other features include Quick Settings for adjusting the TV without interrupting viewing, as well as an Input Picker that recognizes devices for immediate use.
"By updating webOS with new and smarter features, users will experience a next-generation Smart TV platform that's simpler, easier and more intuitive than ever before," said In-kyu Lee, senior vice president and head of the TV and monitor division at the LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company. "The webOS 2.0 platform is another example of LG's commitment to taking a leadership role in the next generation TV market with an innovative Smart TV solution."
While LG has yet to announce specifics on the models that will receive webOS 2.0, they have high hopes -- and for good reason. The webOS-equipped LG Smart TVs initially sold 1 million units in the first two months and went on to sell more than 5 million within eight months.
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