We’re still trying to wrap our heads around yesterday’s sounding of what will most likely be the death knell for webOS. The fine folks over at The Next Web have offered some insight, and it seems that hardware was the problem. It’s no secret that the TouchPad was released with a single-core chip in an age of dual-core tablets and super phones. As we noted in our review, the device simply couldn’t keep up with the competition. According to TNW’s sources, developers actually managed to port webOS over to the iPad 2 for testing purposes, and it ran “over twice as fast.” It’s not terribly surprising that Apple’s dual-core A5 chip was able to outpace the single 1.2GHz core found inside the TouchPad, but It may seem strange that the 1.2GHz chip inside the TouchPad was so easily outclassed by the slower clocked A5, but Apple’s chip is sporting faster Cortex-A9 architecture, while HP relied on Qualcomm’s slower A8-based Snapdragon. It seems that the hardware constraints were ultimately what did in the Linux-based mobile OS.
Update: This article incorrectly stated that the TouchPad shipped with a single-core processor. It was in fact a dual-core Snapdragon APQ8060.
WebOS, where did things go wrong? One moment you’re worth a “double-down” investment by HP valued at $1.2 billion, and the OS of choice for future tablets, computers and even printers; the next, you’re discarded like yesterday’s crusty old oatmeal. Today, HP announced — among other things — that it’s chosen to discontinue operations for its webOS lineup, and that the company “will continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward.” So what does this all mean for the future of webOS? Have we seen the last of webOS? Join us past the break for our thoughts.
The awesome little phone that could, webOS, is dead. Discontinuing all phones and tablets, HP intends to “explore options to optimize the value of webOS software.” If that’s not murder, then it’s certainly lobotimizing, de-limbing and leaving webOS in the middle of an ocean. Tragic. More »
HP has officially killed webOS. Offed it with two dinky sentences in a dinky little press release. It’s sad, sure. But what about everyone who bought the $500 (then $450, then $400) hunk of now-scrap metal that’s called TouchPad? Updated.More »
HP has officially killed webOS. Offed it with two dinky sentences in a dinky little press release. It’s sad, sure. But what about everyone who bought the $500 (then $450, then $400) hunk of now-scrap metal that’s called TouchPad? More »
HP announced it will no longer produce hardware running its webOS mobile operating system, discontinuing operations on future TouchPad tablets and the Pre smartphone devices.
“HP plans to announce that it will discontinue operations for webOS devices, specifically the TouchPad and webOS phones,” the company said in a statement. “HP will continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward.”
“Our WebOS devices have not gained enough traction in the marketplace with consumers,” said HP CEO Leo Apotheker in a conference call on Thursday. “Continuing to execute our current device approach in this space is no longer in the interest of HP or its shareholders.”
In its first major push into mobile in years, HP launched its TouchPad tablet in June. The tablet runs the webOS mobile operating system. The company also launched its Veer smartphone earlier this year.
But HP’s proprietary mobile platform, acquired from Palm just over a year ago for $1.2 billion, hasn’t taken off. Major competitors Apple and Google dominate the smartphone arena with their respective iOS and Android platforms, while RIM’s BlackBerry OS and Nokia’s Symbian round out the competition. Along with Microsoft’s puny Windows Phone OS, HP trails behind all the other leading platforms in market share.
“It’s obvious that they were using the TouchPad as a make or break event for webOS devices,” said Ben Galbraith, former director of developer relations for webOS, in an interview.
The news comes in the wake of a huge announcement from Google earlier this week, when the Mountain View company announced its acquisition of hardware company Motorola Mobility Holdings for $12.5 billion. Traditionally a software-only company, Google is making its first foray into the hardware business. (The company did test the waters slightly with recent partnerships with Samsung and Acer, which both make the Chrome OS-powered Chromebook.)
The news of the Motorola acquisition set the technology world abuzz, with pundits speculating that Google would alienate its other hardware partners — HTC, Samsung, LG and Sony Ericsson. The new relationship between Google and Motorola could make Google’s partners wary that competitor Motorola may be privy to inside information on Android, cutting others out of the loop.
Tech pundits speculated that rivals HP and Microsoft could potentially capitalize on Google’s acquisition by licensing webOS and Windows Mobile OS out to these manufacturers.
“OEM’s like Samsung, HTC, and LG are looking to hedge their smartphone strategy in the wake of Google’s Motorola acqusition,” said Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps in an interview. “They’re looking at Windows, but potentially webOS is now in the mix.”
HP CEO Leo Apotheker said recently that the company had plans to license its software to third-party manufacturers.
“We’re looking at all business models, from licensing to any other possibility for webOS,” Apotheker said in a conference call on Thursday.
HP’s TouchPad tablet arrived DOA, despite an extensive TV ad campaign that features actor and comedian Russell Brand and Glee star Leah Michele (seen below). Best Buy retailers offering the tablet for sale are reportedly sitting on hundreds of thousands of unsold units, according to AllThingsD.
It’s also possible that HP could follow in Motorola’s footsteps, putting its patent portfolio on the market for a hefty sale. Google claimed multiple times that its acquisition was important for Motorola’s valuable trove of software patents, which would help protect Google from the deluge of lawsuits the company is currently facing.
“They made the first official mass-consumer smartphone. I’m sure they hold some very valuable patents,” said Galbraith.
In the wake of this week’s news, all eyes are now on key mobile players Microsoft, Nokia and RIM — the three major companies trailing clear mobile industry leaders Apple and Google — to see which OS will take on iOS and Android.
“There’s absolutely room for three operating systems out there,” said Rotman Epps. “The question was whether there was room for a fourth or a fifth. HP just answered that question.”
And just like that, Palm’s baby was abandoned. Among the “other announcements” in today’s press release about the potential spinoff of its entire Personal Systems group (PCs, mobile devices, storage) is a note that the webOS ecosystem HP snagged for $1.2 billion a year ago is already being ditched.
“In addition, HP reported that it plans to announce that it will discontinue operations for webOS devices, specifically the TouchPad and webOS phones. HP will continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward.“
Among slightly lowered estimates for its 2011 revenue, HP confirms it’s in talks with Autonomy Corporation plc about a “possible offer” for the company. It’s clear that a separation of HP the services / software company and HP the hardware manufacturer leaves no room in the lifeboat for the Pre and TouchPad family, but what happens next? We’re sure there will be more pointed questions about what “optimizing the value of webOS software going forward” means — we vote for a quickie sale to one of Google’s disgruntled hardware partners or better yet, opening it up for some community hackery — on the conference call scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern.
Update: HP CEO Leo Apotheker confirmed on the company’s earnings call late this afternoon that the Autonomy acquisition is considerably further along than just a “possible offer,” and that it’s expected to be completed by the end of 2011. He also made it clear that any possible spin-off of the PC business won’t happen soon, and said that the company will take 12 to 18 months to consider its options, further adding that he is “taking ownership” of all of these decisions. As for webOS, Apotheker expectedly offered few specifics, but suggested that just about all options, including licensing, remain on the table.
Word ’round the campfire is, HP may be prepping to spin off its PC business. Though Hewlett-Packard is the world’s largest computer company, desktops and laptops are a relatively low profit margin business. Obviously, there’s no confirmation yet that such a split will happen, but with the recent focus on tablets and smartphones, and CEO Leo Apotheker’s own admission that he’d like to expand into software and services, the move would make sense. According to Bloomberg the announcement could come as soon as today, during the company’s quarterly earnings call, where it’s also expected to reveal a $10 billion purchase of software company Autonomy Corp. We’ll be listening in live later, so check back this afternoon to see if HP sets its PC business free.
Guess it’s official, yanks: HP loves the old continentmore than you. A mere 24 hours after beginning sales of the Pre 3 — still unavailable to US folk — comes wind of another treat for residents of the EU. Making an appearance on HP’s French website is a 64GB permutation of the WiFi TouchPad, which curiously makes do with the faster 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon we first saw in its 4G brother. The supercharged variant will set Europeans back €599 (or roughly $860 including tax) and will also be available in “lacquer white,” when it ships in “one to two weeks.” Will the company have the audacity to launch another Euro-first device tomorrow? It won’t take long to find out, but in hindsight, July’s leaked memo is looking pretty legitimate right about now.
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We’re still trying to wrap our heads around yesterday’s sounding of what will most likely be the death knell for webOS. The fine folks over at The Next Web have offered some insight, and it seems that hardware was the problem. 
