• rim

    BlackBerry PlayBook Next Up for Deep Discounts?

    September 16, 2011 /

    With today’s revelation that RIM has only sold 200,000 BlackBerry PlayBooks in the last quarter.

    During the conference call to discuss RIM’s performance, co-CEO Jim Balsillie “noted that the company plans to offer price cuts on the not-so-popular BlackBerry PlayBook in the form of rebates, and an incentive program for enterprise sales.”

    Could the BlackBerry PlayBook be the next tablet that will under go a fireside sale like the now discontinued HP TouchPad tablet?

    I won’t buy another tablet for $300, but I will buy a $99 tablet to play with.

    [Via BoyGeniusReport.com…]

    Read More
  • hp,  touchpad,  web

    Rumor: Second Wave of TouchPads Due Late October

    September 6, 2011 /

    According to a new article up on PreCentral, HP is planning to produce a second wave of TouchPads with an order for between 100,000 – 200,000 units.

    HP has said that this second run of units is intended to fill unexpected customer demand, but DigiTimes, via PreCentral, suggests that this second run it to use up the spares that have been produced, but not yet assembled into TouchPads.

    “[W]e’ve suspected from the start that there were other forces at play here. True to form, Digitimes claims to have the details, stating that HP’s plan is for the second wave of TouchPads to land in late October (and you thought it was outdated when it launched in July), with somewhere between 100,000 and 200,000 units to be produced. 

    The line about unfulfilled demand is only part of the story – HP also has to deal with parts suppliers who were stuck in a lurch when HP cancelled the TouchPad, not to mention the financial consequences of breaking their order contracts with said suppliers.”

    Are you planning on being one of the up to 200,000 people trying to get in on a TouchPad?  I will be because it will be the perfect bookend to my Palm Foleo.

    Keep checking the HP Online Store to purchase your closeout TouchPad.

    [Via PreCentral.net…]

    Read More
  • Uncategorized

    Rumors Suggest iPhone 5 On Schedule for “Fall” Launch

    September 4, 2011 /

    A pair of iPhone 5 launch rumors suggest that the new Apple phone is on track for an October launch.  Both This Is My Next and Boy Genius Report have documents suggesting that iPhone 5 will go live in October.

    BGR has gotten their hands on an Best Buy document that says that the iPhone 5 will become available for pre-order the first week of October.  The same notice indicated that Sprint will be included along side AT&T and Verizon when the phone launches.

    Along the same lines, another Best Buy document indicates that stores will be receiving a new Apple fixture according to This Is My Next.

    “To be clear, this isn’t a run-of-the-mill installation for the big box — our tipster tells us that the request that a manager be on-hand at 6AM is out of the ordinary (they usually show up at 7AM for inventory), and that a similar arrangement was scheduled for the iPhone 4 launch.”

    It looks like things are still on track for a “fall” release of the iPhone 5 this year.  (By the way, “summer” ends on September 21.)  Could we be looking at an end of September reveal, followed a week later of pre-sales, followed two weeks later by a full on AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint retail launch?  Let’s hope so, because my Palm Pre Original is starting to look really old.

    [Via This Is My Next.com, BGR.com…]

    Read More
  • hp,  rumors,  samsung,  web os

    Rumor: Samsung Looking to Buy webOS from HP? [UPDATED]

    August 30, 2011 /

    Palm employees and fanatics alike have lived through many near death experiences with their company, hardware, and software.  The latest rumor, if true, may give webOS a new lease on life after HP announced a drastic cut back on webOS hardware, canceling the HP TouchPad and greatly reducing the markets the HP Pre3 would be released in.

    Now, according to DigiTimes, via AllThingsD’s blog, Samsung may be talking to HP about acquiring webOS.

    “The latest: That Samsung is mulling a bid for webOS as a way of reducing its reliance on Google’s Android OS and competing more effectively with Apple. Samsung could conceivably pick up where HP left off, bringing the operating system not just to phones and tablets, but to PCs as well. Added bonus: the accompanying IP would likely prove helpful in the company’s patent battle with Apple.”

    Publicly, at least, HP has pledged to continue to develop webOS for use on the company’s PCs; which they are also looking to spin off, in a move similar to the one that IBM made a few years so.
    Update:

    “Samsung CEO Gee-Sung Choi has struck down any such thoughts (and unlike Leo Apotheker, Choi has a firm grasp of what’s going on in his company), saying outright to reporters at the IFA conference in Berlin that Samsung would “never” pursue a purchase of webOS. Bloomberg reported that a Samsung spokesperson confirmed the statement. He went on to say that “It’s not right that acquiring an operating system is becoming a fashion,” and that creating an OS is “harder than people outside think.”

    Read More
  • facebook,  hp,  web os

    Facebook for webOS Updated

    August 30, 2011 /

    HP’s Palm unit has released an update to their Facebook application.  The maintenance update includes an Exhibition update for webOS smartphones running webOS 2.x.  (If you are one of the many webOS users who are locked into webOS 1.4.5, this update will do little for you.)

    To get the Facebook for webOS 1.5.562 update for your webOS device, use the Software Manager application, or use the HP App Catalog to search for the Facebook application.

    Read More
  • apple,  itunes,  mac,  mac os x,  macbook pro,  windows

    Apple Releases iTunes 10.4.1 Update

    August 29, 2011 /

    With all the fun and excitement that we’ve been experiencing here on the east coast (earthquakes, hurricanes, and power outages) you may not have seen that Apple has released a maintenance updates to iTunes 10.

    The maintenance update to iTunes 10.4.1 fixes issues with things like the addition of artwork, unresponsiveness when purchasing HD movies, issues launching iTunes after waking your Mac, VoiceOver support, and issues between iTunes and some third-party keyboards with multimedia controls.

    The 12MB update is available now via the Apple Software Update control panel.

    Read More
  • apple

    A Letter from Steve Jobs

    August 25, 2011 /

    To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

    I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

    I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

    As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

    I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

    I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

    Steve

    I wish both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook the best of luck.

    Read More
  • apple

    Steve Jobs Steps Down as Apple CEO; Tim Cook Promoted to CEO

    August 25, 2011 /

    Earlier today, the leadership of Apple, Inc. passed from co-founder Stephen P. Jobs to former Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook.

    “CUPERTINO, California—August 24, 2011—Apple’s Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, as the company’s new CEO. Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.

    “Steve’s extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world’s most innovative and valuable technology company,” said Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple’s Board. “Steve has made countless contributions to Apple’s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple’s immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”

    “The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO,” added Levinson. “Tim’s 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does.”

    Jobs submitted his resignation to the Board today and strongly recommended that the Board implement its succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO.”

    [Via Apple PR website…]

    Read More
  • hp,  pre,  touchpad,  veer,  web os

    HP Halts All webOS Hardware Sales

    August 20, 2011 /

    Earlier this week, HP announced during their quarterly earning call that they will halt the sale of all webOS devices, including the recently launched HP TouchPad tablet and the Pre3 smartphone.

    “HP will discontinue operations for webOS devices, specifically the TouchPad and webOS phones. The devices have not met internal milestones and financial targets. HP will continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward.”

    This is yet another sad day for fans of the Palm product family, but, unfortunately, not a surprising one.  The sell through of webOS devices has not risen to the levels to allow HP and webOS to compete against the likes of Apple iOS and Google Android.  HP executives where quick to point out that they had not killed the webOS operating system, but with the OS not available on any new devices and a dwindling customer install base, I don’t see how HP will hope to attract third-party developers to their platform if HP themselves are not fully committed to it.

    The good news, if you are a die hard fan of Palm and webOS, HP is suppose to be starting a fireside sale on their remaining inventory of HP TouchPad tablets.  The 16GB TouchPad is suppose to go on sale for $99, while the 32GB TouchPad will sell for $149.

    Keep and eye on the HP online store for your last chance to pick up a TouchPad before they disappear.

    Read More
  • apple,  lion,  mac,  mac os x

    Apple Releases OS X Lion 10.7.1 Update

    August 17, 2011 /

    Today, Apple released Mac OS X Lion 10.7.1 as a maintenance update the latest version of the Mac operating system.

    Even with today’s minor bug fixes to Lion, many Mac users are waiting for OS X Lion 10.7.2 to arrive.  It is widely expected that OS X 10.7.2 will include the updates necessary for using upcoming iCloud software.

    To download and install the software, simply use the Software Update control panel in Mac OS X Lion.

    Read More