Palm

Business
July 11, 2011
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HP shakes up webOS team; moves Jon Rubenstein to product, puts Stephen DeWitt in charge

By on July 11, 2011 at 6:01 PM.

HP shakes up webOS team; moves Jon Rubenstein to product, puts Stephen DeWitt in charge

While HP didn’t exactly hit the ground running following its Palm acquisition, webOS is still one of our favorite mobile operating systems and we can’t wait for the Pre3 to drop at some point this summer. With that said, it looks like HP is moving some executives around, and for good reason. Jon Rubenstein, who was vice president and general manager of HP’s webOS global business unit is moving into an executive role as senior vice president of product innovation for the Personal Systems Group. Stephen DeWitt, who formerly occupied the role Rubenstein is taking over, will replace him as head of the webOS global business unit. Hit the break for HP’s press release.

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mobile
July 5, 2011
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Android market share jumps as BlackBerry slides; smartphones now owned by 1 in 3 Americans

By on July 5, 2011 at 4:55 PM.

Android market share jumps as BlackBerry slides; smartphones now owned by 1 in 3 Americans

According to a new report from comScore, 1 in 3 Americans now own a smartphone. Google’s Android OS is ahead of the pack with a 38.1% share of the market during the 3-month period ending in May — up 5.1% from the last report in February. Apple’s iOS operating system jumped 1.4 percentage points to a 26.6% share, and RIM’s BlackBerry OS fell 4.3% to a 24.7% share of the market. Microsoft also dropped from a 7.7% share to a 4.8% share, and HP’s webOS fell from a 2.8% share to a 2.4% share in May. Manufacturer mobile subscriber market share remained relatively flat: Samsung still has a 24.8% share of the market according to comScore, followed by LG (21.1%, down 0.2 percentage points), Motorola (16.1%, down 1 percentage point), Apple (8.6%, up 1.2 percentage points), and RIM (8.1%, down 0.5 percentage points). Read on for the full release from comScore. More →

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Software
June 30, 2011
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HP ponders Windows 8 tablets

By on June 30, 2011 at 11:30 PM.

HP ponders Windows 8 tablets

On Friday, HP’s brand new webOS-powered TouchPad tablet will make its debut in the United States. Even though HP purchased Palm for $1.2 billion last year so that it could stray away from the Windows-powered tablet market by owning webOS, the company may soon build tablets running Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system. In a recent interview with Fast Company, HP’s president and chief technology officer Phil McKinney suggested that Windows 8 tablets could be in the pipeline. “I’m limited to what I can talk about with Windows 8,” McKinney says. “We’re working very closely with [Microsoft], and I’m going to leave it at that or I’m going to start getting myself into trouble.” We could take McKinney’s statement two ways. First, HP is already a Microsoft partner on Windows 7 powered devices, so to deny Microsoft support for Windows 8 could be a blow to the Redmond-based company. Or second, HP does have a Windows 8 powered tablet in the works, but doesn’t want to start spreading rumors, especially during the launch of the company’s new flagship TouchPad device. We’ll have to wait and see what HP decides to do, but it seems like a confusing move — at least from the customer perspective — for HP to offer both operating systems on its tablet devices. More →

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Review
June 29, 2011
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HP TouchPad review

By on June 29, 2011 at 8:30 PM.

HP TouchPad review

It has been exactly 140 days since Hewlett-Packard first unveiled the TouchPad, and I think of it as the first device to emerge from a post-acquisition Palm team that has really been tested over the past few years. To be fair, it will actually be the third webOS device to launch since HP took over Palm, but the the Pre 2 was a leftover from before the deal went through and the Veer never should have been been released. But yes, the Palm team has been through a lot: from botched acquisition talks, to the brink of collapse, to resurrection through Elevation Partners’ investments, to a brilliant new web-based mobile operating system, to the announcement of the phone that would save the business from the brink of collapse, to BGR exclusively reviewing the phone that would save the business from the brink of collapse before any other site on the planet, to the launch of the phone that would save the business from the brink of collapse, to the failure of the phone that would save its business from the brink of collapse, and finally, to HP. Can a company that once lead the industry come back to regain mind share, market share and profit share following a roller coaster ride like that? Hit the break to find out if the TouchPad pushes the company’s mobile business in the right direction or if it is another dud from a company that could be dominating the market.

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107 Comments
Tablets
June 29, 2011
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HP TouchPad hands-on!

By on June 29, 2011 at 7:07 PM.

HP TouchPad hands-on!

While our full review of the HP TouchPad is going up any minute, we wanted to give you guys a first impression overview of the first webOS tablet. From a hardware perspective, it’s actually a little shocking how the device looks and feels like an iPhone 3GS that’s gone under a rolling pin a couple times, or even a steamroller. From the glossy black plastic (which doesn’t help — the device feels pretty hollow, much like the 3GS) to even the placement of the power / lock / unlock and volume keys, this really is a tablet version of the iPhone 3GS casing-wise. While we appreciate the dual speakers on the HP TouchPad, they can get in the way when holding it one-handed. The tablet certainly has some decent specs, though we noticed a bunch of lag when using the device and jumping in and out of apps, scrolling through emails, zooming into webpages, and even flicking through contacts. All in all… well, check back for our review — it’s on the way! In the meantime, hit the break for our hands-on video.

UPDATE: Don’t forget to check out our full HP TouchPad review! More →

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mobile
June 21, 2011
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Screenshots reveal webOS Skype integration

By on June 21, 2011 at 6:10 AM.

Screenshots reveal webOS Skype integration

HP’s webOS is already tightly integrated with a number of services but now it appears that the OS will soon offer Skype integration, too. According to leaked screenshots, users will soon be able to choose to route their calls directly through Skype from the phonebook application, an option that will no doubt save international callers a big chunk of change. Similarly, users may also be able to place Skype video calls, allowing them to use the front-facing camera on the Pre 3 for video chats. It’s unclear when the integration will be introduced, but this has us more excited than ever for the Pre 3 to finally hit store shelves. More →

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mobile
June 16, 2011
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HP Pre 3 appears on U.K. retailer website, July 8th pegged as release date

By on June 16, 2011 at 8:40 AM.

HP Pre 3 appears on U.K. retailer website, July 8th pegged as release date

Hewlett-Packard finally announced details surrounding the launch of its first webOS tablet last week, but nary a peep was made about its upcoming flagship smartphone, the HP Pre 3. The TouchPad tablet will become available in the U.S. on July 1st starting at $499.99, and now it looks like the Pre 3 could launch exactly one week later on July 8th. U.K. retailer £349.99 (about $565) unlocked and contract-free, which is very reasonable for a brand new smartphone. On this side of the pond, we’re still expecting the Pre 3 to launch at $199.99 with a new two-year carrier agreement, and the availability of unlocked units is unknown. We’ve been waiting to get our hands on a production Pre 3 ever since we first saw the sleek smartphone back in early February, and it looks like the wait might almost be over. More →

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Breaking
June 9, 2011
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HP TouchPad launches July 1st, starts at $499.99

By on June 9, 2011 at 9:10 AM.

HP TouchPad launches July 1st, starts at $499.99

HP on Thursday announced that its HP TouchPad tablet will become available on July 1st. The TouchPad, which was first unveiled at a media event this past February, is the first webOS-powered tablet offering from HP. It features a 9.7-inch XGA display, a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and NFC capability that facilitates unique interactions between the slate and HP phones. Two versions of the TouchPad will be available initially: a 16GB version for $499.99 and a 32GB version for $599.99. HP also said a 3G model for AT&T will be available later this summer, though pricing has not been announced. Pre-orders for the Wi-Fi only models begin June 19th. HP’s full press release follows below. More →

28 Comments
Featured
June 8, 2011
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Apple’s iOS 5 notifications are great, but webOS is still better

By on June 8, 2011 at 11:30 AM.

Apple’s iOS 5 notifications are great, but webOS is still better

When Apple finally added cut, copy and paste support to iOS, it made the long and painful wait its customers endured completely worthwhile. Apple’s implementation was so much better than competing platforms, it really wasn’t even in the same league. The UI was fantastic and the operation was both intuitive and precise. This is what we have come to expect from Apple when it corrects its past mistakes and omissions. And yet with the introduction of a completely revamped notification system in iOS 5, the Cupertino-based technology giant took a different approach: it did not lead, it followed. I’ll elaborate… More →

251 Comments
mobile
June 3, 2011
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HP Veer 4G review

By on June 3, 2011 at 2:45 PM.

HP Veer 4G review

When Palm first introduced webOS in January 2009 and subsequently launched the Palm Pre, I called the innovative operating system the best thing to happen to smartphones that year. To this day, webOS holds a special place in my heart for taking a novel approach to smartphone operating systems and making it beautiful. It was refreshing, it was capable, and it was not received at all well by consumers. But webOS’ problem was never the software. Perhaps the lack of available apps has been a bit of a hindrance, but I view Palm’s release strategy, its horrible marketing strategy and its sub par hardware as having played the biggest roles in preventing webOS from finding stardom. In terms of hardware, I had high hopes when HP announced it was buying Palm; webOS might finally have a vessel worthy of consumers’ attention. Discounting the Pre 2, which should never have been allowed to ship, the Veer is HP’s first webOS smartphone to reach store shelves. The phone is undoubtedly unique and it features the latest version of the Palm team’s software platform, but is it the vessel webOS needs so desperately? Hit the break for my review of the HP Veer 4G — or, as I have come to call it, the Palmagotchi.

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mobile
May 24, 2011
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HP Veer 4G giveaway

By on May 24, 2011 at 5:40 PM.

HP Veer 4G giveaway

Want to get your hands on the smallest full-fledged smartphone in the world? Want a touchscreen device and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard? Well, HP has given us a Veer 4G to give away, so here we go! If you’d like to enter, make sure to follow the giveaway contest rules below:

  • To enter, simply post a comment below letting us know why you want to win an HP Veer.
  • Follow us on Twitter and check us out on Facebook.

We’ll run the content for a week, until May 31st at 11:59 p.m Eastern Time and the winner will be contacted directly following the end of the contest. Also, note that we’re giving away a brand new HP Veer 4G for AT&T in black, not white like the one pictured above. Good luck!

P.S. If you want to follow individual BGR staff on Twitter, you can follow @boygenius, @robotodd and @zacharye

619 Comments
Tablets
May 20, 2011
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HP TouchPad to cost $599 from Walmart

By on May 20, 2011 at 8:31 AM.

HP TouchPad to cost $599 from Walmart

According to a purported screenshot of an internal Walmart inventory system, the retail giant will soon offer HP’s first webOS-powered tablet at its stores across the country. The screenshot, which was obtained by enthusiast blog PreCentral.net, shows a 32GB Wi-Fi model priced exactly in line with Apple’s iPad 2 at $599. The price point might make it a tough sell over Apple’s popular offering, but webOS fans eager to get their hands on the HP slate at least know what they’ll likely have to spend when the tablet finally does launch. Walmart will also supposedly carry the TouchPad’s Touchstone charging dock for $79.88, a Bluetooth keyboard for $69.88 and an AC charger for $29.88. We took a hands-on look at the TouchPad when HP unveiled the tablet at its Think Beyond event this past February, and we were very excited to see webOS shine on a large-form device. The integration with webOS smartphones was impressive and we can’t wait to get our hands on a review unit. Until then, we’ll all just have to sit tight and wait for HP to make launch details official. More →

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