When you think of major success in the tablet world, you certainly don’t think of HP in the same breathe. From Windows tablets to their failed WebOS HP TouchPad, HP hasn’t had a lot of luck in the very lucrative mobile market. That’s not stopping them from jumping all in and shifting their attention from the PC industry over to the tablet industry.

The first step in this direction is the modest HP Slate 7, a $169 budget tablet that is catchy enough in the looks department but under the hood? You are probably better off spending a few extra bucks and getting a Nexus 7.

Okay, one tablet does not a directional shift make. So where is the proof that HP is slowly shifting away from the PC? The proof is directly from HP’s CEO Meg Whitman, speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, “We’re shifting resources from PCs to tablets. The market moved very fast to tablets and smartphones, and we’ve got to now manage that transition.”

“And it’s not that HP didn’t try to manage that transition — they did with the acquisition of Palm. But as you know under the previous [management] that took a little detour to nowhere.” Meg also spoke about how quality with their upcoming devices is going to be an important focus area, and ends by stating, “Innovation is not dead at this company. So, what I did is I increased RD spending…we have to get these products that are close to market to market fast,” she said.

Can HP finally find success with mobile devices?

That’s a great question, and one with no easy answer. Let’s take a look at both the company’s Windows and Android efforts and where they stand.

Windows 8 Tablets

In the Windows 8 world, HP’s current offerings are solid enough, but not exactly exciting. Nor or they really particularly innovative or different from the crowd. They have the hardware, but Windows 8 PCs and tablets from Lenovo, Dell, Asus and Microsoft seem to be taking more of the attention at this point.

Of course this could change. If HP truly is cranking up the quality, innovation and overall effort, perhaps we could see more from their next generation Windows 8 offerings?

Android Tablets

Okay, what about Android? When the HP TouchPad firesold for just $99, it did excellent.

Many of these  buyers then turned around loaded up Android once it was properly ported to the hardware. This is probably why HP went after the low-end with the HP Slate 7. The problem was that targeting the low-end WAS an excellent idea back then. In fact, HP’s sales of the TouchPad at discount probably inspired many of the companies selling $250 (and lower) tablets today. Unfortunately, HP waited too long.

The low-end market is crowded and with Google unafraid of selling its Nexus devices at-cost, it is hard to compete here. The HP Slate 7 is a good start, but I just don’t see it gaining major traction. Of course it does have brand recognition and many consumers buying a tablet for the first time will recognize HP even over names like Asus.

What about the mid and high-end? On the mid and high-end, Android has to fight against the iPad and now even Windows 8 devices. This is an equally crowded space. That said, rumors indicate HP is working on an Nvidia Tegra 4 tablet that could have some serious oomph. If they market it right, it could certainly appeal to some.

Conclusion: It’s an uphill battle, that’s for sure.

None of HP’s tablet efforts on the low, high or mid-end (Windows 8, Android or otherwise) seem to have enough hype to sell like hotcakes alone, but is that the only way to find success? Part of HP’s success in the PC world is attributed to the fact that it has a wide range of different devices that reach the low, mid and high end crowd at very competitive pricing.

No one tablet by HP will probably generate the hype or sales to take on the iPad, Kindle Fire or Nexus 7. But combined? That’s probably the strategy that HP is banking on, though its unclear at this point if it will be enough. HP also needs to tread carefully.

HP is currently the best-selling PC manufacturer, and while it is fine to transfer some of their attention to developing the tablet market and away from the PC, they also need to remember their roots and the fact that the PC is their primary source of bread and butter. The world is heading towards mobile devices and HP is wise to head in that direction as well, but it won’t be easy.

What do you think of HP’s tablet efforts? Can they finally find a wider range of success in the tablet world?

The post HP Shifting Resources from PC to Tablets, Can They Finally Find Success? appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Let’s face it, the last few years haven’t exactly been easy for HTC. While 2011 was awful, 2012 certainly looked a bit more optimistic and ended on a high note with the release of the HTC Droid DNA and HTC Butterfly.

Now it is 2013, and that begs the question – can HTC regain lost glory with the release of its next generation HTC One handset?

HTC One – What We Know

The HTC One, aka HTC M7, isn’t exactly a well kept secret. We’ve seen leaked photos, benchmarks and just about everything under the sun. In fact, today’s HTC event might only bring us confirmation of the handset and nothing else new, considering just how much has been leaked already.

Okay, so what kind of firepower does the HTC One pack? More than likely, we are looking at a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM. Other specs include 32GB of storage, 13MP rear-cam, 2MP front cam and a 2,300 mAh battery. As for the display, a 5-inch 1,920 x 1,080 display will grace the device.

There is no denying that these specs are solid, but is it enough?

HTC One – Tough Competition Ahead

HTC has arguably always done a good job when it comes to aesthetics. They have solid phones that have very pleasing designs, whether you like other aspects like HTC Sense or not.

Phone designs don’t seem to be the company’s problem. Their problem is that they have ran into pretty serious competition that tends to hog the spotlight and push them aside. Unfortunately, 2013 doesn’t seem to be any different.

With continued rumors of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the recently unveiled LG Optimus G Pro, the HTC One might have a hard time standing out. Let’s also not forget about the strong hype surronding the Sony Xperia Z and ZL.

HTC One – Confusion in the Name

Competition might not be the only problem for the HTC One, marketing confusion could also lend to the struggle. While I think the name HTC One sounds fitting enough, it has been used by quite a few HTC models already.

When an average consumer goes to the store, will they understand that the HTC One is BETTER than the HTC One X? Good advertising through television and other sources can certainly help remove some of that confusion, but nonetheless it could be an issue.

HTC One – Standing Out

The big question is whether or not HTC can get past the confusion of the name, the mixed reputation of their Sense UI and find a way to stand out above the competition. That’s a tough question to answer.

Even if the HTC One looks suspiciously like what would happen if the Blackberry Z10 and iPhone 5 had a baby, it’s a sexy handset. Knowing HTC, it will also be solid when it comes to build quality, and the specs are pretty cutting-edge, even if not utilizing next-gen Qualcomm or Nvidia chips.

But what does HTC have that can make it stand out against Apple, Samsung or even LG? These brands have more marketing power and plenty of hype on their side, but ultimately I think that HTC has what it takes with the HTC One to make a fairly big splash. The groundwork is laid, now it comes down to presentation. HTC needs to deliver a great — no epic  – show today.

They need to get the press excited, and by extension get the online readers buzzing about it as well. From there, they need to be very aggressive about marketing.

If HTC can do that, all while bringing the phone out far enough ahead of the Optimus G Pro, Galaxy S4 and next iPhone – they have a shot. Even with the Galaxy S4 around the corner, there are many HTC fans (and former fans) out there that truly want the HTC One to be everything we hope it is, and these folks would be more than willing to purchase the One, if HTC can sell it to them with enough passion and conviction.

Even if the HTC One is a homerun for HTC, will it instantly recover the company? No, even the recent success of the Nokia Lumia line hasn’t completely turned Nokia around, but it has helped them get back on the right path. Now is the time for HTC’s star to shine bright, or to dim out for good. Your call HTC.

What do you think, can the HTC One and the company’s other offerings in 2013 help set the company back on the path to a comeback or is to late for HTC to regain what has been lost?

The post Can HTC Reclaim What Has Been Lost with the HTC One? appeared first on Mobile Magazine.