Last week, we saw what appeared to be a legit leak of HP’s Topaz and Opal webOS tablets, previously known under the moniker Palmpad. Pre Central has gotten hold of some slightly less exciting, yet still interesting, design documents showing off potential UI ideas. → Read More
Sorry, HP. The ruthless Internet just ruined your February 9th event with a set of webOS tablet pics and a whole bunch of info. But you know what? It might be for the best. I’m at least interested now.
It’s kind of hard to write this up without drawing the iPad comparison. Not only do the renders physically look like the current iPad — sans the home button at least — but the specs line up with what most assume are going to be on the next iPad build. There’s a set of speakers, front-facing camera, and a micro-USB port, which will no doubt handle the charging and file transfer duties. But the one place where this tablet sets itself apart is where it counts most: The OS. → Read More
Who’s ready for 2010 to expire? Man, we are. It’s not that 2010 was a bad year or anything, but it was all iPad-this, iPhone-that with a bit of Android news bits scattered here and there.
With the products in the following list lined up for release, 2011 is set to be a much more balanced year. Of course Apple will still be a major part of the news cycle, but everyone from Nintendo to HP to even start-up companies like Notion Ink should be able to enjoy a fair share of the spotlight too. → Read More
Hello, PalmPad! Well, maybe. Clayton Morris over at FoxNews just posted images of what is labeled as the PalmPad that’s set to debut at CES 2011. But I’m not so sure. I mean, sure, Clayton could have seen the PalmPad but these exclusive photos are not it. That’s the HP Slate. → Read More
HP’s working on new webOS hardware. That’s a fact, but that’s about all we know so far besides the Palmpad trademark. The company is doing a damn fine job keep things under wraps. Well, I guess there was that insignificant leak the other week that caused HP to go somewhat ballistic just because someone found that webOS 2.0 finally has a virtual keyboard as expected. But other than that, we know jack about HP’s webOS hardware.
Rahul Sood, founder of VoodooPC and now CTO of HP Gaming after HP’s acquisition of VoodooPC, went on a tweeting storm today and while he didn’t really reveal any details about hardware, there are some nuggets in here about HP’s overall webOS philosophy. Spoiler: It’s about the hardware, not the apps. → Read More
Can you hear that? It’s the sound of war. Better choose your side soon, too. The tablet wars are going to get nasty. Apple’s army is prepped, already backed by over 3 million zealous iPad owners. But the Google Android horde is quickly banding together and will soon offer countless weapons from several major CE houses and dozens of smaller camps. Google is also quietly forming the stealthy Chrome OS platoon that will likely enter the battle a bit late, but shouldn’t be forgotten, ether. Then there’s the suit & tie brigade with their trusty BlackBerry holstered on their hips, ready to be tethered to the coming BlackPad. Don’t forget about the wildcard: The HP-produced, webOS-powered PalmPad no doubt has a couple of tricks, enough to put up a decent fight. Then there’s the battle-tested Windows that might still be able to fire a few direct shots. The tablet wars are coming and not everyone is going to survive. There simply isn’t enough market share to support the five or more upcoming tablet platforms. → Read More
HP has at least a couple of tablets in development; that’s a fact. There is the HP Slate 500, the Palmpad, the Android printer thing, and probably a few proper tablets not yet leaked along with the already-available convertible notebook line. So it only makes sense that the new form factor gets its own dedicated section on HP.com. Previously the convertible models were slumming with the normal laptops but are currently the only models in the new Tablet section. Chances are that’s set to change real soon. → Read More
Nothing really new besides the little tidbit of info that confirms that the HP Slate is coming soon and the Palmpad will launch in early 2011. Todd Bradley confirmed the dates — and the rumor he started — on HP’s Q3 earnings call today. Will the Palmpad get a CES 2011 announcement? I’d take that bet. [PreCentral via Engadget] → Read More
Want an ebook reader in the states? You have two choices: the Kindle or the Nook. That’s it about. Either other manufacturers are pulling out of the US market or they’re avoiding it altogether. Samsung introduced its ebook reader with much fanfare at CES 2010, but now it’s not going to be released here. This isn’t exactly a bad thing as both the Kindle and Nook are well-polished devices and are about as good as the form factor gets. Still, the lack of competition will eventually be a bad thing as there won’t be clear motivation for innovation or competitive pricing.
It’s a different story in Euroland or Asia. There are many ebook readers available, as two devices backed by content providers don’t dominate the market. This creates true consumer choice and opportunities for new ebook readers. Now, the Kindle is still huge everywhere, but at least manufacturers haven’t totally given up on the market like they have in the US.
But did Apple just destroy the US tablet market in the same way? Are manufacturers really going to invest millions upon millions of dollars in R&D and marketing when consumers are buying the iPad by the millions? Is the US tablet market dead? → Read More
HP revealed most of its tablet strategy yesterday at the Fortune’s Brainstorm conference. The Windows 7 HP Slate is headed to the enterprise sector this fall while the webOS-power Palmpad will go head-to-head against the iPad later. The plan itself really isn’t that surprising as I saw this coming shortly after Palmpad was trademarked. But what I didn’t expect was the outcry from consumers who actually want a Windows 7 Slate. It’s clear HP should take a long look a limited consumer market release for the Win7 Slate.
I’ve said it over and over and over. Windows 7 is horrible via a touch interface. It’s simply not meant to be used with your fingers. However, the HP Slate is said to come with a stylus and if said stylus is an active digitizer like Wacom tablets, it could be awesome and what’s been missing from Windows tablets for so long. I still believe webOS has a better chance to catch on as Windows tablets have been around longer than Apple has been making the iPod and have yet to sell well, but why not have both options available and let the market decide? At least our readers want it. → Read More
Great news, Internet. The Windows 7 HP Slate isn’t dead. According to HP’s site, the Slate is very much alive — all 8 variations of it — and it seems like HP will indeed put it head-to-head against the Palmpad like I thought.
Don’t too excited just yet. These models are anything but official as they were simply found on some random HP product listing. However, the brief description — embedded below — should make some people’s day. It seems like the original HP Slate complete with Windows 7, 8.9-inch screen, dual cameras, and — this is new — some sort of stylus/pen input. → Read More
Palmpad, eh? That sounds nice and could signal a sort-of departure from the normal slate business model. HP might be prepping more than one tablet product line. Perhaps the Windows 7 Slate project isn’t dead after all. We all know the story. HP bought Palm for a billion dollars, partly for the webOS mobile phone platform. Said operating system will soon be found in other HP devices, including printers and tablet computers. However, HP is unlikely to rest its tablet’s future on someone else’s defunct brand name. There will be more than one tablet model from HP right from the beginning. → Read More
A short time ago, HP applied to the USPTO for a trademark. “Palmpad.” I can’t be the only one who just gets a good feeling from this.
We knew that HP was going to get their money’s worth from Palm when they nixed their Android plans and downplayed their Windows 7 tablet. While reports still have them making the latter in at least some form, statements from HP and Palm indicate that webOS is going to be the focus for HP’s portable computer business. → Read More
