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Price on HP TouchPad tablet plummets to $99.99

Michael Kwan — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 01:28:03 +0000

Mere days after HP announced that it was getting out of the webOS game, it seems that just about every retailer has opened up a fire sale on the TouchPad tablet and other webOS devices. If you’re lucky enough to find one in stock, the 16GB Wi-Fi TouchPad can be yours for just $99.99.

Unfortunately, just about everyone is out of stock. I tried calling around to a few different stores last night — Best Buy, Future Shop, The Source — and they all had the same response: we’re out of stock. I even tried to do the clever thing and get a price match done at Staples, which was still listing the TouchPad at its already reduced $399.99 price point, and get 10% of the difference… but I was clearly not the only one to come up with that hare-brained scheme.

Even if you’re willing to bump up to the 32GB model, which has been universally slashed down to $149.99 from $499.99, you’re still going to have a really hard time finding one in stock. People had absolutely no interest in the TouchPad when its price was on par with other tablets, but now they can’t stock enough of them at this ridiculously low price.

And I can’t blame the consumers, really. The TouchPad is still a decent device, webOS is great (even if it may not get the full HP support), and this price is unbelievable. Some stores even have webOS phones like the Veer and Pre3 at bargain bin prices. Good luck hunting down a cheap TouchPad, but there you have it. Now that webOS has a larger established user base, maybe HP’d be interested in licensing it out to other companies?

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HP internal testing reveals webOS running twice as fast on iPad

Michael Kwan — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:07:02 +0000

Most folks in the know will agree that webOS was is one great operating system and it never got the right kind of push that it needed. I think we can blame it on the hardware. Apparently, some internal testing at HP led to the loading of webOS onto an Apple iPad and, well, it blew the TouchPad out of the water.

The precise details are quite scarce, but we’re hearing that webOS ran “twice as fast” on the Apple iPad hardware than it did on the HP TouchPad. This leads us to believe that it’s the hardware, and not the software, that led to the ultimate demise of webOS at HP. After all, the actual hardware for the TouchPad was already in place before HP acquired Palm. It’s two year old tech with a spanking new OS.

The wording is a little unclear, but it seems that webOS was run both natively on Apple’s hardware as well as being run through the mobile Safari browser as a web app. Even in the latter, where two operating systems were almost being run in tandem, webOS was “running many times faster in the browser than it did on the TouchPad.”

So, what does this mean moving forward? If HP does indeed go ahead with licensing webOS out to other manufacturers, the platform could get the push that it needs and deserves. The Google-Motorola deal might lead guys like Samsung and HTC away from Android and into the webOS fold. Maybe.

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HP TouchPad 4G from AT&T rocks upgraded 1.5GHz processor

Michael Kwan — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:02:33 +0000

What’s that? You just picked up the HP TouchPad and you think you’re the new king of the tablet kingdom? Think again. HP has already one-upped itself, because an upgraded version of the webOS tablet has been formally announced and it comes with two notable bumps on the spec sheet.

First, this isn’t just a regular TouchPad; it’s the HP TouchPad 4G. That signifies connectivity with AT&T’s 4G network. Unfortunately, it’s 4G as in HSPA+ and not 4G as in LTE. Secondly, they’ve bumped the processor from the stock 1.2GHz unit to a faster 1.5GHz CPU.

I imagine that’ll give you an edge in performance, but it might bite away at the battery life. Rounding out the feature set are the same things you find on the regular TouchPad, like the 9.7-inch display, GPS, and 32GB of storage. Pricing and availability have not yet been revealed, but if they want to stay competitive, the TouchPad 4G can’t come at much (or any) of a premium over the regular one. I don’t think it’s the speed or connectivity that’ll hurt the TouchPad 4G; it’s the relative lack of apps in the HP App Catalog.

HP TouchPad 4G to Launch on AT&T Mobile Broadband Network

Connected webOS tablet is a productivity powerhouse for businesses and consumers

PALO ALTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced that the HP TouchPad 4G(1) will be available exclusively in the United States on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T, in time for back to school.(2)

With a faster 1.5-GHz processor, 32 GB of internal storage(3), integrated GPS(4) and AT&T wireless mobile broadband capabilities built in, the connected version of HP’s first webOS tablet lets users browse the web, check email and get more done in more places – not just Wi-Fi hotspots.

“TouchPad 4G is ideal for anyone who needs maximum flexibility for productivity on the go,” said David Gee, vice president, Marketing and Enterprise Solutions, webOS, Personal Systems Group, HP. “It’s particularly well suited for users who rely on connectivity in the field – from large corporations to small businesses and self-employed mobile professionals.”

“Consumers and small business customers are seeking cutting-edge mobile computing devices that offer easy access to the web and the ability to stay in touch with friends and clients on the go,” said David Haight, vice president, Business Development, Emerging Devices, AT&T. “The TouchPad 4G is a sharp, multifunctional device that delivers the perfect set of features. Pairing it with the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network and most extensive Wi-Fi network gives TouchPad 4G users the best mobile broadband experience in the market.”

AT&T’s fast mobile broadband network will enable HP TouchPad 4G users to download large files quickly, stay on top of emails, and access favorite websites with ease. With AT&T’s DataConnect Plans for Tablets, users can buy the prepaid or postpaid mobile broadband data service that fits their needs, whether they’re an occasional user or want to stay connected all the time. HP TouchPad 4G users also will be able to take advantage of unlimited access to more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide with qualifying data plans.(5)

With support for Adobe® Flash Player Beta; video calling capabilities; the ability to print wirelessly to compatible networked HP printers; Quickoffice to view Microsoft® Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files; and Adobe Reader to view PDFs, HP TouchPad is a true productivity powerhouse. It automatically syncs personal and work emails, contacts and calendars from sources such as Microsoft Exchange, Facebook and Google into a single view.(6)

With webOS, TouchPad users also have a next-level multitasking experience, integrated access to their information with HP Synergy, the ability to find information on the device or the web using the Just Type feature, and unobtrusive notifications. HP TouchPad is designed to help users accomplish more, letting them connect, play, surf and share more easily.

Optional accessories for HP TouchPad include the HP Touchstone Charging Dock, the HP TouchPad Wireless Keyboard and the HP TouchPad Case.

U.S. pricing and availability

The HP TouchPad 4G on the AT&T mobile broadband network will be available through HP commercial channels, AT&T Business Services and major retailers. Specific pricing and dates will be available at a later date.

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Official: HP TouchPad WebOS tablet

Fabrizio Pilato — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:55:29 +0000

The HP TouchPad has been announced today at the HP/Palm Think Beyond webOS event. It’s the companies first jointly created tablet to run purely on the webOS platform, and the first of a family of slate devices to emerge into the market.

The TouchPad is a 9.7-inch 1024×768 multitouch slate measuring just 13.7mm thick and weighing 1.5lbs. It will have a “bright display” for easy viewing indoors and outdoors. Video calling support with a 1.3 megapixel webcam, 802.11 B/G/N, 16/32GB storage space, 1GB of RAM, with a dual-core 8660 1.2Ghz CPU. Gyro, accelerometer and compass, but no barometer.

The packaged software will be Google Docs, QuickOffice, Dropbox, box.net and VPN. A virtual keyboard with number row should be popular. A bunch of configuration options for email, from single panel, dual and triple panel inbox control. Multitasking is “true multitasking” and a lot more. This version is Wi-Fi only, with a 3G version coming later on. No pricing information as of yet, expect a “summer” release.

First webOS Tablet Works the way you do, Introduces Fun, Mobile Productivity on Larger Scale

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 9, 2011 – HP today enlarged the HP webOS world with the first webOS slate – the HP TouchPad – the breakthrough webOS user interface fully realized in the tablet experience.(1)

With its vibrant 9.7-inch diagonal flush capacitive multitouch display, virtual keyboard, instant-on access, support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 beta in the browser and access to thousands of webOS applications,(2) TouchPad works the way you do and is designed not just for fun but for mobile productivity. It’s ideal for anyone who wants the benefits of the amazing webOS platform on a much bigger scale.

TouchPad is one of the products HP announced today to introduce a unique experience for customers around connected mobility, offering a unified experience for the first time across a variety of devices. It’s one of the building blocks in HP’s vision to seamlessly connect all your worlds through the power of HP webOS.

“Today we’re embarking on a new era of webOS with the goal of linking a wide family of HP products through the best mobile experience available,” said Jon Rubinstein, senior vice president and general manager, Palm Global Business Unit, HP. “The flexibility of the webOS platform makes it ideal for creating a range of innovative devices that work together to keep you better connected to your world.”

Designed to be used alone or as a digital companion to your webOS phone, TouchPad connects you and your devices through the elegant webOS experience. Never miss an important call or SMS message – they can be answered and viewed right on your TouchPad.(3,4) Plus, HP’s exclusive new touch-to-share feature will let you simply touch an enabled webOS phone to your TouchPad to share web URLs.(1,5)

With the HP Synergy feature, you simply have to sign in to your Facebook®, Google, Microsoft® Exchange, LinkedIn and Yahoo!® accounts and your contacts, calendar and email automatically populate your TouchPad.(6)

TouchPad works the way you do
The TouchPad user interface is a visual representation of your workspace, so you can manage your workflow in a naturally intuitive way that’s easy and fun. The power of webOS true multitasking lets you have multiple applications running at the same time. webOS shows you your activities in the form of cards, not a sea of application icons on numerous home screens.

This helps you do all the things you want to do, all at once, so you can listen to music, update your status on Facebook, read email and chat on IM at the same time.(4,7) As you launch new activities, webOS will automatically group related cards – for example, an email and an associated web page – together in a card stack, so you can easily track all related items together.(6)

TouchPad also features a webOS communication suite powered by HP Synergy that keeps you connected and creative, making all of your communications simpler, richer and in your control. It’s a complete solution, including email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar, videos and a front-facing camera for video calling.(6) Connected photo albums make it easy to share and view your pictures directly from popular services such as Facebook, Snapfish and Photobucket. It works seamlessly with TouchPad’s user interface for a natural and efficient experience.

Around the house or on the go
TouchPad offers a great internet experience around the house or on the go, so you can manage your busy life, be productive wherever you are and stay connected with work, friends, family and social networks. It keeps you connected anywhere there’s Wi-Fi for easy access to the web and entertainment.(8)

At home, whether you’re watching TV, relaxing on the sofa, at the kitchen table or in bed, you can check in with friends, surf the web, play games or read a book, magazine or newspaper.(2) Amazon.com today announced that it will launch a free Kindle app for HP webOS tailored for TouchPad that will give you access to more than 810,000 titles from Amazon’s Kindle Store. You also can subscribe to popular magazine titles, such as Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune and People, and download movies and TV shows through the HP Movie Store. The TouchPad music app lets you transfer and play all your favorites from your personal music collection,(9) with amazing sound quality by Beats Audio™. You can start an email, create a message, update your status, search your favorite websites – all before you’ve even opened an application. Whenever you want to do something on your TouchPad, Just Type.

Buy and sell on Amazon.com, do your banking, buy movie tickets from Fandango or check the news. Whether your thing is Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, IM, video calling or email, TouchPad brings it all together with thousands of available webOS applications and the convenience and power of HP Synergy for integrated contacts and calendar to keep your busy life on track.(6)

It’s great for road trips, on a plane, while commuting, in public places, while visiting friends and on vacation. It’s easy to pack, has a long-lasting battery and integrated GPS (3G only), and posting vacation photos is a snap.(1,10)

Mobile productivity
When productivity is key, TouchPad makes an excellent companion. You can read and write email, view your work and personal inboxes together, or easily toggle between them. Integrated messaging conveniently combines all your text messages, picture messages and IM conversations with one person into a single view, and you can connect through SMS, Google Talk, AIM and Yahoo! Messenger.(4)

TouchPad’s virtual full QWERTY keyboard includes a number row, which reduces keyboard switching, making typing easy and fast. It powers on instantly and brings you back to exactly where you left off, whether you were in the middle of composing an email, playing a game or browsing a web page. With webOS true multitasking, it’s like you never left.

For maximum productivity, HP is working with Quickoffice to include the Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite, which lets you view and edit documents, such as Microsoft Word and Excel. It also comes with VPN support to connect to corporate networks.

With its 1.3-megapixel front-facing webcam, TouchPad offers video calling capability.(11) It’s also compatible with HP’s industry-leading printing solutions, so you can wirelessly print documents, photos and emails to compatible wireless and networked HP printers.(12)

TouchPad has built-in HP Touchstone technology for easy charging, so it’s compatible out of the box with the HP Touchstone for TouchPad (sold separately), and you can charge in either portrait or landscape mode, even without removing the TouchPad case (sold separately). The webOS Exhibition feature lets you run applications designed specifically for Touchstone. Set your TouchPad on Touchstone and Exhibition launches automatically, showing you anything from today’s agenda to a slideshow of your photos.(13)

TouchPad is one of three webOS products announced today (see separate announcements for HP Veer and HP Pre3). Each product plays a distinct role in the growing webOS family, designed to meet the varying needs of customers in a rapidly evolving mobile landscape.

Availability
HP TouchPad is scheduled to be available in the summer. Exact pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.

HP TouchPad features and specs

* HP webOS

* High-speed connectivity(1)

* Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-CPU APQ8060 1.2-GHz processor

* 9.7-inch diagonal XGA capacitive, multitouch screen with a vibrant, 18-bit color, 1,024 x 768 resolution display

* The option of either 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage(14)

* High-performance browser with full access to the web, including support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta for access to rich, Flash-based web content(1)

* Wireless connectivity:

o Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n with WPA, WPA2, WEP, 802.1X authentication(1)

o A-GPS (3G only)(10)

o Bluetooth® wireless technology 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support

* Multimedia options, including music, photos, video recording and playback, and a 3.5 mm headset/headphone/microphone jack

o Internal stereo speakers and Beats Audio

o Front-facing 1.3-megapixel webcam for live video calling(11)

* Email, including EAS (for access to corporate Microsoft Exchange servers) and personal email support (Google Gmail push, Yahoo!, POP3, IMAP)(6)

* Robust messaging support(4)

* Light sensor, accelerometer, compass (magnetometer) and gyroscope

* Rechargeable 6,300 mAh (typical) battery

* Micro-USB (Charging and PC Connect) with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed

* Built-in HP Touchstone technology for easy charging (HP Touchstone for TouchPad sold separately) and HP touch-to-share to share web addresses between TouchPad and compatible webOS phones(5)

* Dimensions: 190 mm x 242 mm x 13.7 mm (7.48 inches x 9.53 inches x .54 inches)

* Weight: approximately 740 g (1.6 pounds)

More information about HP TouchPad is available at www.palm.com/TouchPad.

About HP
HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

[Pre Central, Mashable]

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HP PalmPad tablets with specs, pics and unlimited cloud storage

Michael Kwan — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:24:29 +0000

We’re still referring to the yet unreleased Palm tablet as the HP PalmPad, but the Opal and Topaz names have made their way onto the Internet too. The smaller of the two is the Opal with its seven-inch 1024×768 resolution TFT LCD, while the larger of the two is the Topaz with its nine-inch display of unknown resolution.

Four new tidbits about these upcoming Palm tablets have also leaked themselves onto the world wide web. First, it seems that HP is leveraging its “Beats” audio processing platform onto the PalmPad too. You might remember the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, for example, as well as the Beats Audio on the HP Envy laptops.

Second, cloud computing is becoming quite a big buzzword (buzz term?) these days and HP is no exception to that. Instead of limiting you to the on-board storage of the Opal and Topaz, it’s being reported that the PalmPads will have “tens of gigabytes” available to them through cloud storage. This is being “offered” to tablet owners, though it’s not clear whether it’ll be “included” with the price of the device.

Third, it sounds like HP wants to do the Touchstone wireless charging thing for the PalmPad, just as you can already do with the Palm Pre smartphone. And fourth, they’re working on a “bump”-like technology for sending media and documents between tablets and phones. Just tap and go.

Considering the onslaught of Android tablets we saw at CES, HP will have lots of big shoes to fill if it wants to wow us with the PalmPad Topaz and Opal. Remember how excited people got about the first Pre? Recognize where the Pre fits into the marketplace now?

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HP webOS-powered PalmPad tablet specs leaked

Michael Kwan — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:33:00 +0000

Can’t wait until next month’s Consumer Electronics Show to learn about HP’s consumer-geared alternative to the Apple iPad? Well, you just so happen to be in luck. The cleverly named webOS powered PalmPad has apparently had its specs and features leaked all over the Internet. Someone bring the mop.

This comes by way of a report from Fox News, which is revealing that there will be no fewer than three variations on the HP PalmPad at time of launch. A fourth version is being planned around Q3 of next year, targeting univeristy and college students as they get ready to hit the books again… or maybe they’d rather them hit the e-books on the PalmPad instead.

What exactly can you expect from the PalmPad? Well, it’s a tablet and it’s going to be powered by webOS. HP is reportedly leveraging much of the original specs from its less than successful HP Slate and updating them for the webOS 2.5.1 PalmPad. The report from Fox News also cites dual cameras: a 3MP and a 1.3MP, the latter of which presumably for video calling. And yes, the camera has flash.

The real juicy details — like the processor (probably Tegra2), screen size (probably a 7-inch and/or a 10-inch), and storage capacity (at least 8GB) — have not been leaked just yet, but CES is just a fortnight away. You can wait that long, can’t you?

[Wired]

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webOS 2.0 coming ‘later this year’, HP Slate is for the enterprise

Bob Bounila — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:40:04 +0000

In an interview with Fortune, HP’s Jon Rubinstein, former CEO of Palm, stated that webOS 2.0 is slated to be released “later this year.” That’s a good indication that we can look to expect a few different devices coming from the Palm and HP camp; since they are working on developing new hardware “aggressively.” I personally would love a Palmpad, or even a revamped Pre 2. We’ll see what ends up happening, but that time frame sure sounds better than our previous 2011 estimate. For all we know we could have a Slate in our hands by Christmas.

Speaking of the Slate, HP Personal Systems Group VP Todd Bradley added that the tablet will be “more customer-specific than broadly deployed,” and that it would launch the Microsoft-based tablet with an aim towards “the enterprise” later this year. What it sounds like is that Windows-tablets will be focused for corporate customers, with the webOS division geared towards consumers.

[Fortune]

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