New Devices Means Windows Phones Might Not Be Dead After All

When it comes to the smartphone race not many people are using phones with Microsoft’s Windows 10 Mobile operating system these days. In fact, for most just finding a device that supports the fledgling OS can be a chore. Even then the pickings are very slim with only a few devices clinging to life. It looks like that may soon be changing however, and we are sure glad it is!

Windows 10 Mobile's market-share may just be a blip on the radar these days, hovering between 1-3%, but the operating system is gaining new signs of life thanks to key additions from some major industry players. HP, Acer and even Lenovo are releasing brand new high end device running Microsoft's latest mobile operating system.

HP Elite x3

Taking another stab at the smartphone market for the first time in years, HP will soon start shipping their new flagship phone the Elite x3. First announced at the Mobile World Congress trade show in February the Elite x3 will feature some rather impressive specs that will put it in the same class as powerhouse Android devices such as Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and LG’s G5. It has a 5.96-inch AMOLED screen that can display images at a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chip, which has a graphics processor capable of processing 4K video, 4GBs of ram and 64GBs of storage space.

HP Elite x3 Specifications:

• Dimensions: 83.5 x 7.8 x 161.8 mm 195g
• Screen: 5.96-inch AMOLED display with WQHD 2560 x 1440 px resolution, Gorilla Glass 4
• Processor: Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 @ 2.15 GHz
• RAM: 4GB LPDDR4
• Storage: 64GB expandable to up to 2TB with microSD
• 16MP rear camera
• 8MP front-facing camera
• Dual nano SIM or nano SIM + microSD via 3-in-2 card tray
• Iris scanner
• Fingerprint scanner
• IP67 rating for dust- and water-resistance
• MIL-STD-810 rating, assuring device protection for drops from up to 1 meter
• USB 3.0 port with Type-C connector
• 4150 mAh battery, non-removable

Lenovo SoftBank 503LV

Last year, when Microsoft first announced the release of Windows 10 for phones, it mentioned Lenovo as one of its hardware partners. However, we haven't hear anything about this from Lenovo - not until now. The company this week unveiled its very first Windows 10 smartphone the SoftBank 503LV. Unfortunately we have seen rumors this device might be available in Japan only, however one can hope that all this new interest and competition will mean it will make it to the US.

The SoftBank 503LV derives its name in part due to the fact that it is a collaboration with Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank, one of the biggest smartphone manufacturers in the world. Being Lenovo's first entry into the Windows 10 Mobile market the Lenovo SoftBank 503LV features some rather basic specs. which we see as rather unfortunate. It will have a 5-inch 720p display and is powered by a 1.5GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor (the same chipset that powers the Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus, and HTC One A9), coupled with 3GB of RAM and an internal storage capacity of 32GB that is expandable up to 128GB via a microSD card.

Liquid Jade Primo

Acer has been one of the few companies that has stood with Microsoft in partnership releasing multiple Windows Mobile phones dating back to early 2015 when they released their first Windows Mobile phone the Liquid M220. This year we have seen them step up their game, releasing not one but two new devices. Back in April we saw their first release with the Liquid M330, a $99 entry level device for the budget minded. This week they took things up another notch with the release of their newest 'flag ship device' the Liquid Jade Primo.

During the IFA conference at the beginning of September 2015, Acer first unveiled the Liquid Jade Primo, giving users a glimpse at what was at the time going to be the company's first Windows 10 Mobile handset. Featuring a Hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 5.5-inch Full HD (1920x1080px) AMOLED screen and 3GBs RAM the Liquid Jade Primo packs an impressive punch.

Acer Liquid Jade Primo Specifications:

• Hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
• 5.5-inch Full HD (1920x1080px) AMOLED screen
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB storage (plus microSD card support up to 128GB)
• 21MP rear camera with dual-LED flash and 4K (3840x2160px) video recording
• 8MP front-facing camera with Full HD (1920x1080px) video recording
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• USB Type-C connector
• 4G LTE connectivity
• Dual-SIM support
• 2800mAh battery
• 156.5 x 75.9 x 8.4mm; 150g

All three device will feature support for Windows Continuum, one of Microsoft's newest features which turns your phone into a pseudo-PC allowing you to run universal Windows apps directly from your phone on just about any large format screen. You can then connect a mouse and keyboard and use your phone just as though you would a laptop, tablet or desktop, all while keeping the full function of a phone.

Acer's Liquid Jade Primo and HP's Elite x3 will also features bundles that include a Desk Dock for not only Continuum support, but additional USB, power and networking connections as well. Pricing starts at $649 for the unlocked Acer Liquid Jade Primo with a dock, keyboard and mouse and $699 for HP's Elite x3 (though we don't believe that includes and extra peripherals).

I don''t know about my fellow geeks out there but I for one applaud Microsoft and their partners for continuing the fight for a 3rd smartphone platform. I'm a firm believer that competition brings innovation and right now we aren't seeing a ton of that coming from Apple or Google with iOS and Android. I think that should Microsoft succeed, in breaking into even a small portion of the market, we might see some great things. They definitely have a major mountain to climb and will need a lot of help from developers in getting apps made for the OS. I feel though once that is done they might have a chance.

What about you guys? Do these new devices get you excited for more Windows 10 Mobile, or do you think they'll just be another flash in the pan?

New Windows Based Convertible Laptop-Tablet Hybrids Debuting At IFA 2012

The 2012 IFA consumer electronics show is under way in Berlin, Germany with several top companies showing up to showcase their latest and greatest tech hardware. We only have a few more months before the official launch of Windows 8 and Windows RT, so it was expected that many of the major PC players would have next-generation Windows equipped hardware on display. And so far they have not disappointed!

So far this year we've seen an incredible influx of Windows based devices as many manufactures are looking to cash in on not only the expected release of Windows 8 and Windows RT but the largely successful tablet market. We are seeing a strong push for Windows based tablets, mainly convertibles or hybrids whichever label you prefer to slap on the laptop-tablet combination. Asus, Dell, HP, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba all had models on display.

Looking to build on the strong foundation that the ASUS Transformer and Transformer Prime have laid down Asus showcased a pair of Vivo Tab models. The first is running Windows 8 with a dual-core Intel Atom processor and the other is coupled with Windows RT and a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 chip. Not only do the two Asus offering offer a detachable keyboard dock but they also offer a pressure-sensitive stylus which would be perfect for note-taking and sketching. The Vivo Tab offers an 11.6-inch display while the Vivo Tab RT measures 10.1 inches. It’s also the thinnest and lightest of the bunch, measuring just 8.3mm thin and weighing 520g. (more details via Asus)

Dell’s offering comes int he form of the new XPS Duo 12 and XPS 10. The XPS 10 will run an ARM SoC and Windows RT. The XPS Duo 12 (which actually measures 12.5 inches on its display’s diagonal) will run Windows 8 and an unspecified Intel chip. Unlike most of the other models shown the Dell XPS Duo 12 is more of a clamshell laptop and a tablet in one. It offers a swiveling screen rather than the detachable keyboard. The XPS sticks with a more conventional design with the traditional tablet look and feel as well as a more traditional keyboard dock. (more details via Dell)

Dell XPS Duo 12

Looking to re-enter the tablet market after the much maligned HP Touchpad, HP has introduced the company's first Windows 8 hybrid the new HP Envy X2. The Envy X2 is powered by an Intel System-on-Chip (aka SOC) Atom based processor, features and 11.6-inch screen with 64GB of internal storage, microSD expansion, NFC support, and, of course, integrated Beats Audio. Its detachable keyboard also incorporates a giant powerpack, and it should comfortably provide all-day battery life. HP has also made sure that the dock won’t accidentally dislodge by building in a mechanical latch to supplement a pair of strong magnets. (more details via HP)

HP Envy X2

Samsung introduced the new Windows RT based ATIV Tab  which features a 10.1-inch display, 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 2 GB RAM, either 32 or 64 GBs of internal storage and a microSD slot for expansion. For those looking for the full Windows 8 experience as well as the option of a keyboard Samsung also revealed the Samsung ATIV SmartPC and the ATIV SmartPC Pro. Both feature an 11.6-inch HD display, S Pen integration, and a 60-day free trial of Microsoft Office, but the Pro packs a much more powerful platform. While the SmartPC boasts a 1366-by-768 display, 2GB of RAM, and a next-gen Intel Atom processor, the SmartPC Pro offers up a 1920-by-1080 display, 4GB of RAM, and an Intel Core i5 chip. (more details via Samsung)

Sony has opted to take its own approach the a "hybrid" laptop tablet combo with a slider type device it is calling the Sony Vaio Duo 11. You can either use it as a tablet or slide back the display up at an angle locking it in place to make use of the hidden keys. Sony has decided to pack the Vaio Duo with tons of fire power giving consumers  the choice of processor with options ranging from a Core i3 all the way up to an i7, up to 256GB of SSD storage, 1080P displays, NFC, GPS, HD-ready cameras, and stylus input. (more details via Sony)

Toshiba’s taking a similar approaching with the Satellite U920T slider. It’s matching the XPS Duo with a 12.5-inch screen, and options will include Core i3 or i5 processors and SSD storage up to 256GB. You’ll also get an HDMI port and SD card expansion with the U920T.

Conclusions

With all these devices coming down the line one thing is for certain, consumers are going to have a ton of choices and some tough decisions to make. I'm personally not a big fan of Windows 8 on a desktop, but some of these convertible tablets look amazing. In fact they are just what I've been looking for for the past couple of years. You get the portability and ease of use of a tablet along with the productivity of a full fledged laptop.

It looks like I might have to pony up some of that hard earned cash and join the portable revolution!

HP Replacing Motherboards In Some PCs

Hewlett Packard is offering some customers free motherboard replacement due to what has been identified as "a high rate of motherboard failures" in some of the company's most popular Pavilion line of desktop PCs.

According to a recent HP announcement, the affected machines include Pavilion Elite HPE-4xx, Pavilion P66xx and Pavilion Slimline S5660f desktops built in June and July 2010. "[These] computers may experience no video at start up and stop responding," said HP in its email to desktop owners.

HP is implementing a 1 year Limited Warranty Service Enhancement Program (LWSEP) for owners of HP Pavilion P66xx and S56xx and HPE-4xx Desktop Model that were purchased, leased, received as a gift or otherwise acquired in the United States and Canada (the “Program Models”). During the LWSEP, owners of the Program Models whose original HP Limited Warranty has expired and who have experienced or who, during the LWSEP period, experience a system board failure can receive, at no cost to them, a system board replacement by contacting HP before the 1 year LWSEP expires. Owners whose Program Model is still covered by HP’s Limited Warranty can receive any necessary repair (including any necessary system board replacement) free of charge pursuant to that warranty.

Instead of issuing a full blown recall for all the potentially affected machines HP has decided to extend their warranty for another twelve months. Customers who already have an expired warranty will have one year to report the problem. Either way, HP will replace the motherboard free of charge, and will even pay for round-trip shipping.

For more details about the models affected by the failure and information about getting your replacement visit the HP site here.

HP Merges PC And Printer Groups, What It Means To You

There have been a lot of headlines today regarding HP's confirmation of reports that the company plans to restructure their Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) (printing division) merging it into the Personal Systems Group (PSG) (pc division) and creating the new combined entity to be officially called the Printing and Personal Systems Group. From these reports several questions have spawned with many consumers concerned about what it might mean to them.

In short the blending of the two divisions will have almost no impact on consumers!

This move is a corporate restructuring and cost saving move only. Something that internal for HP is meant to unify and streamline certain key business functions such as go-to-market strategy, branding, supply chain and customer support.

"This will lead to a better customer experience and drive innovation across personal computing and printing," the company explained on Wednesday. "This realignment is expected to provide opportunities for cost savings and accelerate HP’s ability to pursue profitable growth and reinvest in the business."

What all this means is that at the consumer level not much will change. You'll still have support for your HP printer, ink and other supplies will still be available and you'll still see printers on sale. This isn't the same as the proposed spin-off of the PC business we saw last year. In fact its the exact opposite with HP becoming more committed to both divisions.

One area we may see some changes in is the further advancement of combination all-in-one printing units. HP has already suggested units based on WebOS and they already have devices with full functionality or detachable tablets like the HP Photosmart eStation. The combined efforts of the two teams might mean further integration of PC features right on your printer!

HP Opens Up webOS Gives The Code To The Open Source Community

HP has announced that webOS will live one as the company plans to "contribute" its fledgling operating system to the open source community. Which means the software, along with the companion ENYO application framework, will be available under an open source license to anyone who wants to use and further develop the mobile OS.

What does it mean to make webOS “open source”?
In short the term “open source” refers to a form of software licensing where the source code is available for use and improvement by anyone choosing to download and develop it. Developers can essentially modify the original software as they see fit and distribute it as their own. Developers typically share their enhancements with the rest of the community resulting in a product refined through community collaboration.

An example of popular open source software is the Firefox web browser, Linux, Open Office and the popular image editor Gimp.

What does this mean for the Touchpad?
This is really good news for you Touchpad owners. It means that users of webOS devices will not only continue to receive software improvements and updates from HP but it also means that developers might work on major improvements to the software themselves. It also means that we may see the software support more devices in the future.

HP said that it expects that making webOS open source will accelerate the development of the webOS platform and application ecosystem, which will benefit current and future users. The companyplans to remain active in the development and support of webOS.

Will wee see HP making webOS devices again or will we see more webOS supported devices?
Hp has not formally announced any plans to manufacture more devices or revamp the Touchpad project. However, HP's new CEO Meg Whitman was asked by  The Verge  about new webOS-based hardware. Her answer: "The answer to that is yes but what I can't tell you is whether that will be in 2012 or not. But we will use webOS in new hardware, but it's just going to take us a little longer to reorganize the team in a quite different direction than we've been taking it in the past."


HP's talked about putting webOS in laptops and printers, but so far we've only really seen the OS shine in tablets and smartphones. HP's answer continued, "In the near term what I would imagine - and this could change, in full disclosure - is I would think tablets, I do not believe we will be in the smartphone business again."

The company says that it believes that as webOS gains traction as an open source alternative you could see webOS on several different types of devices by any number of vendors.

My Thoughts:
Personally I think this is great news. I thought HP had a major player with webOS and thought some of the functions and features built into the operating system were great. This is also a big plus to all the consumers out there that jumped on the Touchpad fire sale. Open sourcing the project means that we could see developers supporting the software and hopefully adding in some extra feature support like the Android Market.

This makes me a bit more excited about the reports that HP will be selling more Touchpads over the weekend. According to TechCrunch HP has sent out an internal email stating they will offer more of the tablets starting Sunday, December 11 at 6:00 p.m. Central time. At that time 16GB and 32GB Touchpads will be available via HP’s ebay store (under 'laptops'). However, there is one catch: They're not brand new devices. Instead, HP is selling refurbs to those willing to shell out either $99 or $149 for the tablet.

$150 HP TouchPad Bundle Starts Tomorrow At BestBuy.Com

Starting tomorrow on BestBuy.com you can get your hands on the 32GB version of discontinued HP TouchPad for $149 with the purchase of a new HP or Compaq laptop, desktop, or all-in-one computer. For in store shoppers the deal begins November 4 with very limited quantities.

There is no mention of a pricing limitation (say $499 or above) but the offer does exclude netbooks, as well as computers sold via the BestBuy.com Marketplace, or those that are refurbished, in an open box, or from a Best Buy outlet center.

Best Buy said the deal is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Approximately one hour before your local Best Buy store opens, employees will hand out tickets for the HP TouchPad (assuming anyone shows that early). One hour after opening, any unclaimed, ticketed TouchPads will be released to those in line without a ticket.


Best Buy will only accept TouchPad returns for up to 14 days after purchase. If you decide to return the computer and keep the TouchPad, however, Best Buy will charge you the full price of the tablet, which is $599.99

News Release - BBY.com

No Spin-off For The HP Computer Business

HP has confirmed the company's plans to keep the PC decision as a part of the larger whole and not sale or spin it off.

Late last week HP announced that it had completed an enteral evaluation of its Personal Systems Group (PSG) and has decided the unit will no longer purse the option of selling or spinning off the division to its own company. Instead opting to keep the No. 1 manufacturer of personal computers in the world as part of the main company.

“HP objectively evaluated the strategic, financial and operational impact of spinning off PSG. It’s clear after our analysis that keeping PSG within HP is right for customers and partners, right for shareholders, and right for employees,” said Meg Whitman, HP president and chief executive officer. “HP is committed to PSG, and together we are stronger.”

Former CEO Leo Apotheker had announced plans to either sell or spin-off the division back in August. A move that left the company in serious turmoil and raised some serious questions. The market did not react well to the announcements and Apotheker was removed from his post by the board on Sept. 22.

HP has said thousands of hours were spent understanding how extracting the PC business would impact everything from supply chain to product development and brand image. The strategic review involved subject matter experts from across the businesses and functions. The data-driven evaluation revealed the depth of the integration that has occurred across key operations such as supply chain, IT and procurement. It also detailed the significant extent to which PSG contributes to HP’s solutions portfolio and overall brand value. Finally, it also showed that the cost to recreate these in a standalone company outweighed any benefits of separation.

HP Updates webOS Adds Performance And Functionality

HP may have discontinued the TouchPad and the company may eventually kill off webOS but for now at least they are still adding in some updates. The latest update, webOS 3.0.4, is now available as an over-the-air update and features several changes in functionality and performance.

Among the new functionality is a new native camera app that lets users take photos and videos. The ability to pair non-webOS phones to your TouchPad, so you can answer calls on your TouchPad. Streamlined airing with non-webOS Bluetooth keyboards. Support for OGG Vorbis music files and webOS 3.0.4 also includes online/offline messaging status support.


"In addition to new features, you'll also experience better performance, user interface improvements, and other enhancements such as support for accelerometer events in Adobe Flash Player, and more robust Skype video calling," HP's Jon Zilber wrote in a blog post announcing the changes.


For more details about the update, click here. For full details about how over-the-air updates work and how to update your TouchPad click here.

Meg Whitman Officially Named As CEO/President Of HP

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman has officially been named President and Chief Executive Officer of HP.

The change follows some rather odd moves by HP who has recently abandon their webOS hardware division after paying $1.2 billion acquiring Palm in 2010, announced it might be shopping its Personal Systems Group (PSG) division, later recanting the announcement stating the company may spin-off the PSG group.

Rumors had swirled in recent days that HP's board was about to part ways with Leo Apotheker, a former CEO of business software vendor SAP. Under his watch, HP's stock has fallen nearly 47 percent.

HP hired Apotheker last November after pinning its hopes on WebOS as a replacement system for the company's PCs and smartphones. WebOS' future culminated in the debut of the TouchPad earlier this year. However the tablet failed to grab users' attention and gain ay real traction in the market. As a result, the company began selling the tablets in a fire sale just months after they were unveiled.

Whitman has been on HP's board since January and while many know her by her track record of leading eBay to become auction powerhouse it is today she has never worked at a computer-maker before now does she have a proven track record in the tech sector.

She must now figure out how to right the ship and decide what to do with the company's controversial plans to kill webOS devices and spin off the PC unit. For webOS fans, Ms. Whitman's arrival could lead to a webOS revival, though that seems to be very unlikely.

Update:So it looks like plans for the spin off and continued exile of WebOS are still in place. During the HP conference call today regarding the company's decision to name Meg Whitman as CEO HP went into details about its plans over the next few months, and how it sees things going moving forward.

Whitman said during the call that HP and the board will decide on the spin off of the personal systems group before the end of the calendar year. Whitman also said that she supports the decision made in August to discontinue WebOS hardware and spin off PSG, and she believes that decisions previously made were "right." Whitman also said that the decision on PSG is "not like fine wine, will not get better with age" and it must be made as fast as possible.

TouchPad Hunters Check Your Inbox For 25% Off At HPDirect.Com

For those of you that are still holding out hopes of bagging a $99 HP TouchPad and have recently signed-up for updates from HP the company has sent out a coupon good for 25% off all printers, ink, HP accessories, and PCs starting at or above $599.

So check your inbox you should see an email with a unique coupon code. The code is one time use and valid through the end of the day tomorrow, Wednesday, August 31, 2011.

Here are the full details listed in the message:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your interest in the HP TouchPad and webOS. The overwhelming demand for this product in recent days has made it difficult to fulfill your request at the present time, and we are working to make more available as soon as possible. While we do not yet have specific details, we know it will be at least a few weeks before we have a limited quantity available again. We will keep you informed as we have more specifics that we can communicate, and we encourage you to join the conversation here for the latest information.

In light of this and other recent HP news, we want you to know that we remain committed to you. We will continue to honor our warranties now and in the future. We will continue delivering products that make a difference in your life and we will continue to provide the best possible service to you every day.

We are grateful for your patience and loyalty and to show our gratitude, we are offering you an exclusive one-time opportunity to save an additional amount on all of our products, valid through the end of the day tomorrow, Wednesday, August 31, 2011. You'll save 25% off all printers, ink, HP accessories, and PCs starting at or above $599. To take advantage of this offer, use your unique coupon code ,removed at checkout, and for more information on the details of this offer, please look at the bottom of this email.

Sincerely,

hpdirect.com

Valid for HP Direct (hpdirect.com) internet and call center purchases only. Coupon valid while supplies last. Any unused portion will be forfeited. Each coupon code is limited to one usage per customer; one coupon code per checkout. Offer void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Non-transferable. Not valid retroactively on previously purchased items. Not valid for any resale activity as defined by HP Direct. Coupons may not be used to purchase gift cards. May not be permitted with certain bundle offers. Products and support acquired by Customer under these Terms are solely for Customer's personal use and not for immediate resale or sub-licensing. Valid on: all printers, ink, toner, paper, HP branded accessories and all the following PCs: g7-1150us, dv6-6126nr, HP Pavilion dv6-3230us, dm4-2050us, dv6-6140us, dm4-2070us, HP Pavilion dv6-3240us, HP Pavilion dv7-4277nr, HP Pavilion dv6-3250us, dv6-6150us, dv7-6175us, HP Pavilion dv6-6091nr NB PC, dv6-6170us, dv7-6195us, dv6-6190us, p7-1020, AiO 200-5250, s5-1060, HPE h8-1010, HPE h8-1020, TS 610-1130f, HPE h8-1032, TS 610-1030f, TS 610-1150f, HPE h8-1041, TS 610-1190f, G7T, DV4T, DM4T, DM4X, DV6T, DV7T, DV6T SELECT EDITION, DV6T QUAD, DV7T QUAD, p7qe, s5xt, h8m, h8t, h8z, h8xt, h8qe, h8 select edition, Omni 100t, Omni 200t, Omni 200xt, Omni 200 Quad, 310z, 610z, 610t, 610xt, 610 Quad, Envy 14, Envy 14 Beats, Envy 17, Envy 17 3D. Not valid on: Friends and Family program, HP Academy and Employee purchase programs, HP Employee Purchase Program, Refurbished products. Not valid on purchases from HP download store (hp.digitalriver.com). Offer not combinable with Instant Rebates. For complete coupon conditions, see "Coupon Information" in the "Customer Service" section at www.hpdirect.com.

HP TouchPad Owners An Android Dual Boot Option Is Inevitable

The HP TouchPad may not have been all that popular at its original price tag of $499. However once HP announced they were discontinuing the product and dropped the price to $99 they sold like hot cakes. Following the fire sale of the TouchPads geeks everywhere snatched them. After all they are a very capable device.

The ability to grab a very cheap very capable tablet has the Android developer community buzzing with talk of porting its favorite OS to the devices. We love webOS but lets face it Android offers much more potential and who knows where HP and webOS are headed!

Enter the folks over at the CyanogenMod team. They've been working feverishly to port Android to the TouchPad. CyanogenMod has shared a video of its early efforts, which you can see above as well as a statement posted over at RootzWiki.

This build is currently in Alpha stage which means its just on the basics. In fact what you see is just the first boot but the goal is to deliver a firmware that allows dual-booting both webOS and an Android 2.3.X based version of CyanogenMod.

So if its so fresh why unveil it now? CyanogenMod said the move was a "blatant publicity stunt" intended to help it track down more TouchPads. The team said it needs at least four TouchPads because "we have talented and experienced developers who cannot contribute effectively due to a lack of hardware," CyanogenMod said.

If you do decide to donate, however, don't bug the Cyanogen team about when they will deliver a fully Android-ized TouchPad. They have no specific ETA in mind, and no they don't plan to share the code until its fully compiled.

5 Steps To Get Your HP TouchPad Running Again

Previously we covered HP TouchPad charging issues today we are going to give you some tips on how to recover a frozen device.

If your TouchPad isn't working the way you think it should, has stopped responding or perhaps just behaving in a odd manner these 5 tips should help.

1. Throw all applications off the top of the screen.
2. Do a reboot, turn your TouchPad completely off and the on again
3. Trigger a restart (more on this later)
4. Top off the battery, sounds odd I know but it helps
5. Your last ditch effort, tether your TouchPad to your computer and do a reinstall of webOS

The first two steps seem pretty obvious and the reasons you'd try them would be just as obvious. Shutting down applications could free up memory or other related issues. Completely shutting down your tablet frees up all your memory and reinitializes some of your services.

Triggering a restart is a bit different, in order to do this you need to press and hold the power button and then press and hold the center (home) button for at least 15seconds. This is best done if the screen isn't responding or if the device isn't powering on. Think of it as a hard reset button, that shuts everything down and forces a hard restart.

Topping off the battery seems like an odd idea. However sometimes the device will go into conservation mode if it thinks there isn't enough battery power and it won't power on. So charge it up for a few hours and try again.

The last step you'll want to take is forcing a re-install of WebOS. For this you'll need to tether your TouchPad to your computer, sign into your WebOS account at HPWebOS.Com/Account. From there you'll need to write down your product number and serial number. After that go to HPWebOS.Com/Rom and click the link to get WebOS Doctor. From there you enter your product and serial numbers and follow the prompts.

If you are still seeing problems you should probably call or contact HP and use their HP webOS Butler Service (866) 945-7256. Its free for the first 90days.

Best Buy Tells HP "We Want The TouchPad Gone"

According to a report by AllThingsD BestBuy is so unhappy with their overstock of HP's TouchPad that it has told HP it is unwilling to pay for all the TouchPads taking up expensive space in its stores and warehouses, and wants HP to take them back.

According to the report an unnamed source has seen internal HP reports stating that Best Buy has taken delivery of 270,000 TouchPads and has so far managed to sell only 25,000, or less than 10 percent of the units in its inventory. These less than stellar sales numbers of the WebOS based tablet have prompted HP to slash prices on the tablet down to $399 and $499 or $100 off from its release pricing of $499 and $599.

Rich Doherty, head of the Envisioneering Group, stated that sales aren’t only failing to catch on at Best Buy, but also at other retailers, including Wal-Mart, Micro Center and Fry’s. He full expects that we may see the TouchPad bundled alongside HP computers in back-to-school sales or potentially even a further price cut.

My Thoughts:

Sadly had HP had a tablet out late last year or earlier this year before some of the better Android tabs made their way to the market they would have been in a better position. Now however, they put themselves in a really bad up hill climb.
For starters they put out a device that doesn't have the same polish as some of the other offerings. As I mentioned in our hands on review WebOS is great, and will only get better but the fit and finish of the device just isn't there.

Had HP listened to consumers complaints about some of the other devices on the market and followed up with a better device out of the gate they might have had a chance. Add to that the TouchPad is lacking many of the features like hdmi, usb and micro sd slots that are part of the exodus away from Apple and they built their own recipe for disaster.

I applaud HP for what they've done with WebOS I really had hoped the TP would have done better and given a better showing for the new system. The thing is is that most people want something they are familiar with or something that has a competing number of applications. Not something that is going to be limited over the next few years.

HP Pushes Out Over-The-Air WebOS Update For TouchPad Owners

Following direct feedback from customers HP has rolled out an over-the-air webOS update for all TouchPads. The update, version 3.0.2, is said to contain hundreds of improvements to the functionality to several core webOS apps as well as increase system performance and stability and addresses a number of bugs.

A few highlights from the hundreds of improvements included in the update:

• The Email app offers faster scrolling and improved image rendering, as well as improved management of multiple emails in Draft and Outbox views
• You can now set your wallpaper from photos in the Photos app
• In the Calendar app, you'll notice improvements in layout, searching for events with Just Type, and more
• Can't live without "can't"? You'll appreciate enhancements in autocorrection of contractions.

You can find more information about how over-the-air updates work here. More details about the webOS 3.0.2 update can be found here.

The WebOS software comes directly on the heel of the company announcing a $50 install cash back deal. Dropping the price for the TouchPad down to $449 and $549 for the 16 and 32GB version.

As I mentioned in the previous post "hands on the TouchPad" I really like the look and feel of WebOS on a tablet. The operating system is fairly smooth when ran in short sittings. After a few weeks of testing I've noticed several of the bugs other users had mentioned. So hopefully this update will fix some of those.

HP TouchPad Charging Issues

 Update: We've recently added a new post with 5 Tips To Get Your TouchPad Running Again.

So you just got your new HP TouchPad home and it's not charging correctly, or perhaps you get an error box that says the connected charger isn't supplying enough power to charge the device. Well don't panic, you aren't alone, and the issue is actually pretty easy to remedy.

The TouchPad's North America Twist-to-lock plug adapter is actually a universal charging device. The top screws off so a second attachment for none US power prongs can be added. If the top isn't securely fastened your device will either show the aforementioned error box or simply won't charge. Right out of the box if you are having issues I'll almost guarantee the issue is the barrel connector.

How can you be certain its connected? Well that's the tricky part. Un-screw the top, and screw it back in, making sure it snaps into place. You might also notice some writing on the side of the connector. Make sure that is aligned correctly.

If it's still not working grab another micro USB charger and connect it to your TouchPad. Note: I've been told you can not charge your TouchPad via USB. USB ports do not provide enough power for charging (this might not include USB 3.0) we are waiting on confirmation of this!

If you are still seeing problems you should probably call or contact HP and use their HP webOS Butler Service (866) 945-7256. Its free for the first 90days.

Own A Palm Pre or Pixi Get A $50 Rebate On The 32GB TouchPad

For those of you that own a Palm Pre, Pre Plus, Pixi, or Pixi Plus now through July 31 you can get a $50 rebate on the purchase of a new 32GB TouchPad.

The deal is initially pen in the US or Canada only and there is no mention of any other phones being accepted into the rebate program. Palm also says "proof of ownership" is required, however the details of how to provide that proof are missing. According to a few tweets you won't need a receipt to claim the rebate -- for most people, a serial number will do the trick.

A bit surprising is the fact that Palm/HP seems to only be accepting some of the older phones for the program and none of the company's newer phones. I'm sure Veer owners would love to be apart of the offer!

You can read more at The Official HP Palm Blog: Early adopters: your new TouchPad just got $50 closer

We Got Hands On The HP Touchpad And WebOS

Come July 1st HP is going to launch their culmination of HP ingenuity and Palm innovation, the HP TouchPad. It blends HP's styling with Palm's WebOS functionality, ease of use and productivity to build a tablet that may in fact challenge the iPad.

I've had the rare chance to get hands on the TouchPad and I have to say from what I've seen I'm pretty impressed. I will say I'm more impressed with WebOS than the design of the TouchPad, or at least the feel of it.

So here are my thoughts.

WebOS is the big thing

• Just type is beyond belief, apps, email contacts whatever are right there with a few characters. You hit a few keystrokes and anything you might want to open is intuitively ready. It gives you suggestion based on what you typed.
• Real life multitasking, you can have 1,2 3..10 apps open and they are actually live. Nothing goes to stand by everything you see on your screen is ready to go. So if I wanted to play a YouTube video, go back and send an email its all set. No waiting, no switching back and forth. Big plus this is for any apps not "some"
• They have this really cool syncing feature that does calenders, photos and something else. Calenders is really cool, it syncs almost any services and it adds a color to each for easy distinction. So you have a business calender for GMail, personal for Yahoo! and something else. They all show up in colors. It also syncs photos from Facebook, Photobucket and a few other accounts.You get to see them all without having to actually go to the accounts.

HP Touchpad How Does It Feel?

• Hands on it feels pretty fast. From what I've seen you can run, or have open, at least 5 apps without it slowing down
• The screen looks top notch. It takes fingerprints like most but its bright, clear and it is Gorilla Glass so that's a plus.
• The backing sucks! Plastic these days is a bad call. It doesn't fell bad, just not my choice.
• Weight, that is always a big concern. Bigger screen, more weight! 10" tablets to me are two handers but even that holding it in me off hand and trying to type got tiresome.

So do I think the TouchPad will be iPad competitor? No not really. WebOS has a great deal of potential. It does so much in the way the way of integration. Its way above everything the Droid based tablets I've seen.

The down fall if any is the fragmentation for one and the overall design of the device.

• Fragmentation: We have the Android Market (Amazon's version and others), Apple AppStore, RIM MarketPlace, MS Market and now a WebOS market?
• Design: Personally I'm on the middle on this one. I think either go mid range 5-7" and ultralight or go bigger 10-12". You add some weight but you get some functionality. For me the screen size is ok but the weight is a bit much.

For all I've said I'm probably overly impressed with WebOS. I'd honestly buy a TouchPad just for that, it really is that good. I haven't seen a tablet that, functionality wise, performs anywhere close.

HP Confirms TouchPad Release Date And Pricing

HP has confirmed a July 1st release date for the company's first webOS based tablet the HP TouchPad.

Starting July 1st the HP TouchPad will be available from U.S. retailers, commercial resellers and direct from HP with the option of either 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage for $499.99 and $599.99, respectively. Preorders in North America and Europe will begin June 19.

HP also said today that it will be partnering with AT&T to introduce a connected version of HP TouchPad later this summer. No details yet, but stay tuned.

U.S. retailers and commercial resellers for HP TouchPad will include Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot, Walmart, Sam’s Club, OfficeMax, Amazon.com, Fry’s, Microcenter, other leading local and regional retailers, and HP’s online stores. Specific pricing and availability for HP TouchPad in Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom will be announced regionally. Details for Australia, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand, Singapore and Spain will be announced at a later date.

More information about HP TouchPad, including product features and specs, is available at www.hpwebos.com/us/products/pads/touchpad.

HP Recalls More Than 160k Laptop Batteries

HP has issued a recall on as many as 162,000 laptop batteries from models sold as far back as 2007. The newly listed models included the HP Compaq 6520s and a battery in the HP Pavilion which were reportedly sold between July 2007 and July 2008.

This latest recall is a continuation of a previous recall which originally affected more than 200k batteries. The previous recall was announced back in May 2010 and affected more than 21 different HP/Compaq models.


HP customers affected by this program will be eligible to receive a replacement battery pack for each verified, recalled battery pack at no cost. Both the HP website and the USCPSC provided a complete list of all of the affected units. The USCPSC advised affected consumers to immediately remove the battery and contact HP. It also advised that consumers who were previously not included in previous recalls should check again.

For additional information, visit the HP Battery Replacement Program Web site at http://www.hp.com/support/BatteryReplacement or call (800) 889-2031 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

Intel, Google, IBM Among The First To Join President Obama's "Startup America" Campaign

Today, President Obama announced the launch of Startup America, a national (public/private) initiative to celebrate, inspire, and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation. The core goals of Startup America are to increase the number of new high-growth firms that are creating economic growth, innovation, and quality jobs; celebrate and honor entrepreneurship as a core American value and source of competitive advantage; and inspire and empower an ever-greater diversity of communities and individuals to build great American companies.

Among the early companies to join the Startup America Partnership are familiar names Intel, IBM, Google, Facebook, HP and AOL co-founder Steve Case who will chair the partnership.

As part of this partnership, and in conjunction with its ongoing Invest in America initiative, Intel Capital, Intel Corporation’s global investment organization has pledged to invest another $200 million in American technology companies and joined the campaign’s board of advisors.

“Intel is dedicated to creating a culture of investment in the United States that supports American startups and the country’s future competitiveness,” said Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital and Intel executive vice president. “We are pleased to join the Administration in the effort to help new businesses succeed in the United States and consider this partnership an important opportunity to promote education, innovation and entrepreneurship to maintain a globally competitive economy.”


IBM will invest $150 million in 2011 to fund programs that promote entrepreneurs and new business opportunities in the United States. HP will be investing more than $4 million in 2011 in the HP Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs (HP LIFE). Facebook will be launching Startup Days, a series of events around the country that helps provide entrepreneurs with engineering and design support to build off the Facebook Platform. While Google is partnering with Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a nonprofit that provides entrepreneurship education for at-risk high school students from low-income communities, to offer a number of NFTE’s lessons and curriculum plans to Bay Area students. And startup incubator TechStars is rolling out “The TechStars Network,” which encourages and promotes regional organizations that operate start-up accelerator programs with models similar to the incubator.


Goals of Startup America
Startup America will:

• Expand access to capital for high-growth startups throughout the country;
• Expand entrepreneurship education and mentorship programs that empower more Americans not just to get a job, but to create jobs;
• Strengthen commercialization of the about $148 billion in annual federally-funded research and development, which can generate innovative startups and entirely new industries;
• Identify and remove unnecessary barriers to high-growth startups; and
• Expand collaborations between large companies and startups.

Learn more:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Obama Administration Commitments
• Private Sector Commitments
• National Innovation Strategy
• State of the Union Address
• Small Business Jobs Act
• National Entrepreneurs’ Day
• Startup America Partnership website