• hp,  web os

    Fate of webOS Still Hangs in the Balance

    December 1, 2011 /

    According to a new article on BGR.com today, the fate of webOS, the mobile operating system that HP acquired thru their acquisition of Palm, still hangs in the balance.

    After having burned through a staggering $3.3 Billion on webOS, HP has abandoned their plans for any new webOS smartphones or tablets.

     “HP CEO Meg Whitman has gone on record in stating that a decision regarding the fate of webOS will be made within two weeks. HP took possession of webOS when it acquired Palm for $1.2 billion in 2010, and that buy yielded one failed tablet that was discontinued shortly after launching, three failed smartphones and soon, perhaps, the death of webOS itself.”

    [Via BRG.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
  • 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
  • hp,  touchpad,  web os

    HP TouchPad – $100 Off This Weekend Only

    August 6, 2011 /

    HP is running a $100 instant rebate promotion this weekend only (Friday – Sunday) on their new webOS 3.0 TouchPad when you purchase the tablet online directly from the HP.com website.

    I have mixed feeling about the TouchPad.  In the time since I purchased my Palm Pre, the webOS market share has failed to catch on.  Then, once it became painfully clear that HP and Sprint would not bringing webOS to the Pre and Pixi smartphones, nor where they going to released updated models, HP “graciously” offered early Pre owners $50 off the TouchPad.  Now, less than 60 days after launch, HP is cutting the price of the TouchPads by $100.  This weekend only, the 16GB TouchPad is $299 and the 32GB model is $399.

    If you are inclined to get a tablet, and don’t want an iPad, or confused by all the various Google Android tablets, then the HP TouchPad is probably the device for you.  If you don’t need a massive selection of apps.

    Read More
  • developer,  hp,  pre,  sprint,  web os

    Meta-Doctoring: Part 5 – Sign of Life Check [Updated x2]

    July 30, 2011 /

    The installation of the meta-doctored webOS 2.1.0 install has completed!

    Now the hard part – making sure everything is still working!

    Update: All features and functions of webOS 2.1 appear to be working! Whoo-hoo!

    On the agenda for the post software load is to:

    1. See if I can log into one of my Palm profiles – Working!
    2. Verify that webOS is running as expected – Working!
    3. Connect to a Wi-Fi hot spot – Working!
    4. Verify developer mode is on or can be activated – Working! (webos20090606)
    5. Restore my Sprint PRL software – Working! (no update possible going forward)
    6. Install the latest build of Preware – Working!
    7. Apply some basic patches – Working!
    8. Apply software tweaks from the webos-internals.org webOS 2 upgrade wiki post – Working!
    9. Backup the Pre to my alternate Palm profile – Working!
    10. Access the HP App Catalog, install software – Working!
    11. GPS access – Working!

    Read More
  • developer,  hp,  pre,  sprint,  web os

    Meta-Doctoring: Part 4 – Building the New Doctor File

    July 30, 2011 /

    Continuing to play around with applying an unofficial version of webOS 2.1.0 to my Sprint Original Palm Pre smartphone, I’ve installed all the required tools to get the job done.

    I’ve also taken the precaution to backup my PRL software so I can continue to apply Sprint preferred roaming list updates once the upgrade to webOS 2.1.0 has completed.

    Now, I’m running the Unix command line tools on my Mac to download the webOS 2 doctor files, mash them all together, and churn out a new custom meta-doctored webOS doctor restore file.

    There is a lot of Unix “gook” scrolling across my Terminal window which, I have to admit, not being a Unix/Linux propeller head, I have no idea what it’s doing.  (I know my limits and I’m not a programmer nor am I a Unix geek.  I know just enough Unix and Linux to get myself in to serious trouble!)

    So, with Daft Punk’s Tron soundtrack thumping in the back ground, the lights down low, I’ll grab my eighth Diet Coke for this project, and get to installing the new webOS Doctor!

    Read More
  • developer,  pre,  sprint,  web os

    Meta-Doctoring: Part 3 – Sprint PRL Backup

    July 30, 2011 /

    In preparing to perform an unofficial webOS 2.1.0 upgrade on my Sprint Palm Pre, I have read that you need to backup your PRL software so I can restore it to my phone later on.  This is an important step because Sprint doesn’t offer webOS 2.1.0 for the Original Pre and you won’t be able to use properly update your PRL on a meta-doctored Sprint Pre if you fail to do this step first.

    What is PRL you ask?  Good question.  I don’t really know either.  PRL stands for Preferred Roaming List.  Is is a database that gets downloaded to a smartphone that uses CDMA radios just like the ones in Sprint and Verizon Pre/Pre+ phones.  The database has a list of network IDs that Sprint has network sharing contracts with to allow your phone to “roam” on other carrier’s network towers. (source)

    The good folks at webos-internals.org have a wiki page up on how to backup your PRL data before you go ahead and do the meta-doctor webOS 2.1.0 upgrade.

    Just an important note: You must use your own PRL data.  It is tied specifically to your phone!

    Read More
  • developer,  hp,  pre,  sprint,  web os

    Meta-Doctoring: Part 2 [Updated]

    July 30, 2011 /

    Last night I got the bright idea to “meta-doctor”my Sprint Palm Pre to run webOS 2.1.0.

    After spending hours researching, reading, re-reading, and lots of download, hard resetting, and rebooting…phew!…I think I’m ready to start on the process of “doctoring” a version of HP webOS 2.1.0 to run on my Palm Pre.

    Here is a little sample of what the process looks like so far:

    Unix commands being executed to install required software.

    Exciting, huh?

    Update:

    The Meta-Doctor and GIT tools have been installed successfully!

    Read More