LG released an open source version of its in-house operating system webOS. Dubbed webOS Open Source Edition, the new operating system is available for download now with the company soliciting ideas on ways it can be further commercialized.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/LG-releases-an-open-source-version-of-its-webOS-platform.289882.0.html
A few corrections: HP-developed Pre 3 never really hit the market, so it couldn't have been badly received since it never shipped. FWIW, hardware was amazing, software concepts were great, but WebOS, like any alternative phone OS, was rough around the edges and there was no app ecosystem. Just a reminder: compact touch screen phone with pull-out qwerty keyboard and wireless charging back then: what's not to like?
I still proudly own a Pre 3 (and Pre Plus), since one could get the produced batch on eBay, but you had to hack the code to set up your 3g operator APN, and I've also hacked it to introduce Serbian keyboard layout.