HP gives developers more parts of Open WebOS puzzle
HP has delivered more components of the Open WebOS platform, which include a new Isis web browser and extensions to the QtWebKit.
It is the second time the company has released parts of the Open WebOS platform since it decided to open source it in December 2011. The first stage of the process involved releasing the Enyo JavaScript framework under an Apache 2.0 licence.
The most recent component release, on Monday, takes this one stage further by providing extensions to the QtWebKit, integration with JavaScript core and details of the Open WebOS governance model.
"QtWebKit was originally open sourced by Nokia. We have been in the process of moving webOS to this port of WebKit for some time, with a goal of increasing web site compatibility and overall performance," HP said in a blog post on Monday. "Today we are ready to release the first part of this effort to the open source community—the Isis web browser."
The company said the browser was "extremely responsive" in its benchmark tests in comparison with other general purpose browsers, with particularly fast rendering and JavaScript execution profile.
"Developers look to standards-based web development as a way of deploying across the mobile landscape, maximizing the potential market. We're seeing proof of that with the adoption of Enyo, which has been downloaded 40,000 times in only three weeks."
In addition to clarifying the Open WebOS licensing model and adding extra components, HP also said it would deliver Enyo UI widgets before the end of February. It also said it was providing support for legacy products such as Adobe Flash 11 and Netscape Plug-in API plugins to allow them to run in non-X11 environments.
According to the Open WebOS roadmap, HP plans to deliver a beta version of the platform in August, to be followed by a general release in September.