HP confirms legacy webOS apps will run on webOS 3.0, TouchPad keeps its Mojo

HP confirms legacy webOS apps will be runnable on webOS 3.0, TouchPad keeps its Mojo

We know the original Palm Pre models and Pixi won’t get upgraded to webOS 2.0, and we also know all about the new Enyo app development framework. But what about running those apps written in the older Mojo framework on webOS 3.0 devices, like the TouchPad? They’ll be supported, so says HP Developer Relations and Framework Engineer Ben Combee. A first tweet indicated that “On webOS 3, Mojo apps will run in an emulation window with back and forward buttons at bottom.” He went on to say this won’t be a traditional emulator in the “check out my Super Metroid ROM, yo” sense, rather “a smaller card with gesture area chrome.” So, good news for existing apps continuing to be supported going forward, but of course it remains to be seen what the experience will look and feel like. It seems we’ll have to wait a bit to find that out.

HP confirms legacy webOS apps will run on webOS 3.0, TouchPad keeps its Mojo originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 08:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Interview: Jon Rubinstein and Steven McArthur talk webOS on PCs, ‘Music Synergy,’ competition, and more

We had a chance to sit down with HP’s Jon Rubinstein and SVP of applications and services Steven McArthur just after the company’s device-filled event yesterday, and the conversation was rather revealing. Besides being extremely upfront about some tough issues (timing, legacy support), both execs were more than willing to tackle questions about HP’s current deficiencies in the consumer electronics space. We’ve put together a rough transcript of the chat below, and it touches on a lot of issues currently facing HP and its user base — namely, developer support, future versions of webOS, where the company is headed with devices, and what the overarching strategy will be in the coming weeks and months. We highly suggest you take a look… after the break.

Continue reading The Engadget Interview: Jon Rubinstein and Steven McArthur talk webOS on PCs, ‘Music Synergy,’ competition, and more

The Engadget Interview: Jon Rubinstein and Steven McArthur talk webOS on PCs, ‘Music Synergy,’ competition, and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gadget Lab Podcast: HP TouchPad and Android Honeycomb

          

This week’s Gadget Lab podcast is all about touchscreens. That’s how you know you’re really living in the post-PC era.

Special guest Duncan Geere of Wired UK joins Dylan Tweney to talk about this week’s big news from Hewlett-Packard. The hardware giant on Wednesday launched its answer to the iPad, the TouchPad, which has a 9.7-inch touchscreen, a dual-core processor, a front-facing camera for video-conferencing, stereo speakers, a gyroscope and accelerometer sensors, Bluetooth compatibility, and support for Adobe Flash.

Despite that list of compelling features, Duncan can’t imagine buying one for one reason: the lack of apps. Plus, Apple’s iPad 2 is probably right around the corner.

HP also launched two new smartphones, the Veer and the Pre 3. Both phones include a 5-megapixel camera and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and both include support for Flash. The smaller Veer has a 2.6-inch touchscreen, and the bigger Pre 3 has a 3.6-inch display.

We move on to another tablet OS: Android Honeycomb. Due for release this year, Honeycomb specializes in 3-D acceleration to drive hardcore gaming and snazzy user-interface features. Several manufacturers have already signed up to make Honeycomb-powered tablets.

Duncan closes the podcast with his experience using the iPhone in Britain. It turns out that back when the iPhone was just on one carrier, reception was terrible there, too, but it’s much better now that it’s shared on multiple networks.

Maybe that gives us hope in the United States, as the Verizon iPhone just went on sale Thursday, officially ending AT&T’s exclusive grip on Apple’s handset.

You can listen to the audio-only version of the show here:

Gadget Lab audio podcast #103
http://downloads.wired.com/podcasts/assets/gadgetlabaudio/GadgetLabAudio0103.mp3

Or download the OGG version of Gadget Lab podcast #103.

Like the show? You can also get the Gadget Lab video podcast via iTunes, or if you don’t want to be distracted by our unholy on-camera talent, subscribe to the Gadget Lab audio podcast. Prefer RSS? You can subscribe to the Gadget Lab video or audio podcast feeds


HP Pre 2 available to pre-order for $100 on Verizon, shipping out February 17th

If you just can’t think beyond next week and need to get your new Pre fix as soon as possible, HP’s got you covered. As promised by Jon Rubinstein yesterday, the Pre 2 (sans the lovely Palm branding) is today available to pre-order at $100 on a two-year Verizon contract. Unsubsidized and contractually liberated pricing is $450. webOS 2.0, a “Vivid” touchscreen and, of course, that familiar portrait slider keyboard await those brave enough to own a HP smartphone.

HP Pre 2 available to pre-order for $100 on Verizon, shipping out February 17th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Qualcomm gets official with TouchPad-powering Snapdragon APQ8060 processor

HP already put out the first official word about Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon APQ8060 processor yesterday when it revealed that its TouchPad was based on it, but Qualcomm’s now also come out and properly announced the new processor itself. That’s, of course, a dual-core processor, and comes paired with an Adreno 220 GPU that Qualcomm says helps to deliver “unprecedented processing and 3D graphics performance.” What’s more, while the TouchPad is the first device to use the processor, it obviously won’t be the last, and Qualcomm has now also given us an idea of what sort of capabilities those devices (including smartphones in addition to tablets) might have — namely, cameras up to 16 megapixels, and the ability to capture and display 1080p stereoscopic 3D video or 8 megapixel stereoscopic still images. Head on past the break for the complete press release.

Continue reading Qualcomm gets official with TouchPad-powering Snapdragon APQ8060 processor

Qualcomm gets official with TouchPad-powering Snapdragon APQ8060 processor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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webOS Enyo framework free to developers today, brings pixel density agnostic apps to phones, tablets and PC (video)

Development frameworks don’t make for exciting gadget news, but HP’s Enyo is kind of a big deal. It’s the little dealie that allows new webOS apps to stretch between vastly disparate screen resolutions — say, tablet and phone — and still work just fine, and since it’s based completely on web technologies, they can also run in a PC browser with no formal emulator or OS install required. While dev team lead Matthew McNulty pitched the browser functionality as a debugging boon, we’re starting to wonder if that’s how HP could bring webOS to PCs to start — rather than a dual-boot or a UI layer, it could simply make your favorite apps available in a web store. Sound like fun? HP says you can download the basic package right now for free if you’re a member of the webOS developer early access program, and start cracking on some apps of your very own. We’ll have video of an Enyo-powered app on PC in just a tad, so keep your eyes glued to this post.

Update: Video after the break!

Continue reading webOS Enyo framework free to developers today, brings pixel density agnostic apps to phones, tablets and PC (video)

webOS Enyo framework free to developers today, brings pixel density agnostic apps to phones, tablets and PC (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former Lucasfilm CTO Richard Kerris takes over as head of webOS developer relations

HP’s having a blowout webOS developer event here in San Francisco to bookend its big product announcements from this morning, and it kicked things off with a personnel announcement — Richard Kerris is taking over as head of webOS developer relations. Don’t recognize the name? Richard was formerly the chief technology officer at Lucasfilm, where he was named one of Variety’s “Top 10 innovators to Watch,” and before that he was a senior director of developer relations for a little company called Apple. That’s quite a pedigree — and Richard told the crowd here that he views developers as his primary customers, so it’s clear he’ll be working hard to win their favor. That said, we think he’s got quite a challenge evangelizing developers to support a platform that won’t have compelling new products out for months — let’s all wish him luck.

Former Lucasfilm CTO Richard Kerris takes over as head of webOS developer relations originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original Pre, Pre Plus, Pixi and Pixi Plus won’t get updated to webOS 2.0

We had a chance to sit down with Jon Rubinstein after HP’s webOS event today, and he confirmed some unfortunate news for us: older Palm devices like the original Pre, the Pre Plus, the Pixi, and the Pixi Plus won’t receive that previously promised update to webOS 2.0. Jon was pretty candid with us, saying that Palm had “missed a product cycle” in the midst of its financial troubles and subsequent acquisition by HP last year, and that the older products simply don’t have the horsepower to properly run webOS 2.0 and beyond. That said, it’s clear that he wants to do right by customers — he told us that HP would do “something special” for owners of older hardware when the Pre 3, the Veer, and the TouchPad hit the market. We’ll see what that entails — and whether or not anyone actually sticks it out on webOS 1.4.5 until the new gear ships sometime this summer.

P.S.- We have lots more from our talk with Jon coming up — including some actually good news — so keep an eye on this space.

Original Pre, Pre Plus, Pixi and Pixi Plus won’t get updated to webOS 2.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP posts complete ‘Think Beyond’ event video

It may not have provided a live stream, but HP has at least quickly turned around a complete video of today’s nearly two hour-long “Think Beyond” event in San Francisco. Head on past the break to see the announcements of the TouchPad, Pre 3 and Veer as they happened, along with few other surprises. Unfortunately for those watching at home, it seems HP wasn’t able to think beyond 360p.

Continue reading HP posts complete ‘Think Beyond’ event video

HP posts complete ‘Think Beyond’ event video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP’s webOS keyboard hands-on

HP confirmed that slick webOS keyboard we saw leaked a while back during its event today, and we got a quick chance to check it out. It’s really, really thin — and the battery compartment is tucked under the curve, so from most angles it looks like it’s not even there. Apart from that, it’s just a really nice keyboard, albeit one with a webOS function key next to the space bar. No price or availability yet, unfortunately, but we’ll keep digging.

HP’s webOS keyboard hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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