Tag Archive for 'webos'

Editorial: How to make a REAL iPad competitor

By Link Tamake at 2:03 am - 06/09/2010

Alright, there are a lot of tablets circulating around since Apple introduced the iPad. But are any of these tablets actually fit to compete? Absolutely not. Let me explain why.

Let’s talk Android. Android is indeed a wonderful, wonderful mobile operating system for smartphones. Let me emphasise that last phrase: for smartphones. Android isn’t fit whatsoever to be on a tablet and to compete with the iPad. The Market is great and all, but most of the apps are fit for phones. Unless the maker of the tablet decides to make some useful tools such as proper photo editing and a nice video player, Android tablets are doomed for failure.

Secondly, let’s go from Android to Windows 7. The HP Slate is going to fall flat on its face if HP decides to keep going on the 7 edition. Full-blown operating systems on a tablet are very, very bad, and Apple understood this with the iPad and even the iPhone. I can appreciate Microsoft trying to bring Windows 7 to more than one platform, but they should probably stick with Windows Phone 7 (we’ll touch on that later) and build on THAT mobile operating system.

Next, webOS: a fabulous mobile operating system that Palm whipped up for 21st century smartphones. I really love the multitasking features of webOS, and I think webOS tablets would be a great idea if Palm/HP were to modify it and include some productivity apps.

And Windows Phone 7? It’s a great mobile operating system, but in its current form, it’s not fit to be on a tablet. With no multitasking or cut/copy/paste, one shouldn’t even consider a WP7 tablet so early in development. If Microsoft were to create a tablet version of WP7 (Windows Tab 7 *tongue in cheek*), it would be a great tablet OS, especially considering the Metro UI and how it makes browsing a phone easy.

Overall, here’s the perfect tablet that I so dream of and hope someone makes someday. The tablet should run custom software (no Android or anything like that), should include things people do on the go (movies, music, photo editing, games, and so on), and should have a nice interface that is easily accessible without having to go through too much to access an app. The device should run open source software (make developers want to develop for it) and should have an app market that’s moderated strictly, but with no ridiculous restrictions. Team up with companies like Adobe to create simple but functional apps for the tablet, and be sure to work with developers to ensure that the tablet has a nice library of apps in every category.

Have your say in the forums!

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Jailbreakers and rooters rejoice, DMCA exceptions added for jailbreaking and rooting

By Link Tamake at 12:26 am - 27/07/2010

ipod-touch-iphone-jailbreak_firmware_30

Jailbreak your iPhone? Root your Droid? Worry about its legality? Worry no more! The Library of Congress in America has added a DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) exception that allows unapproved software on handsets: otherwise known as jailbreaking in the iPhone world, or rooting in the Android and webOS world.

Here’s the full statement by the LoC:

Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset.

Although this doesn’t mean that these companies will have to jailbreak your phone for you, it means that they won’t be able to sue you or file any legal action against you. So that means that you can jailbreak and unlock your iPhone, and Apple cannot call the practice illegal. And this also allows groups like the iPhone Dev Team and ih8sn0w to continue operating legally. Everyone wins!

As for the Android scene, there isn’t too much scrutiny regarding rooting in Google’s eyes, but maybe it makes the rooted users feel a bit better.

Even better, this means that ripping a DVD is completely legal, as long as you don’t distribute it.

[via LoC]

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HP files for “PalmPad” trademark, possibly a webOS tablet?

By Link Tamake at 1:54 pm - 19/07/2010

500x_hp-slate

According to myHPmini, HP has filed for the “PalmPad” trademark, meaning that we could see a webOS tablet very soon.

The USPTO trademark also includes the following descriptions:

Computers, computer hardware, computer software, computer peripherals, portable computers, handheld and mobile computers, PDAs, electronic notepads, mobile digital electronic devices

Palm’s really making a smart decision by sticking with webOS: a slim media tablet combined with Palm’s powerful and intuitive mobile operating system is a very powerful combination that could be the iPad competitor.

[via myHPmini]

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HP printers to be equipped with “print-by-email”

By Link Tamake at 9:23 pm - 07/06/2010

HP is planning to add a feature to its printers that allow printing through email. Maybe this is where that webOS deal comes in handy?

HP has said that it not only plans to load webOS onto tablets and netbooks, but also onto printers. We wondered what the point would be, but it appears that the time has come to reveal that.

The new HP printers will range from $99 to $400, and include their own email addresses, touchscreens, and a print-by-email feature, which seems handy if you send a bunch of pictures to an email address from, say, your iPhone. And since they’ll be running webOS, there will be an app store (though it may not be all that important or useful).

Stay tuned!

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Designer of webOS UI leaves Palm for Google

By Link Tamake at 11:36 am - 27/05/2010

Matias Duarte, the guy responsible for most of the webOS user interface (UI), has left Palm for…Google?

AllThingsD reports that Duarte left on his own decision, and he was leaving to go to Google and design for the Android mobile platform. It may become a huge problem for Palm, who was recently acquired by HP and is planning tablets. However, it’s a huge advantage for Google, who is obtaining a designer familiar with both true multitasking and multi-touch. Though Android 2.2 has these features, it may not be long before 2.2 is similar to webOS’s “card” design.

Before he worked at Palm, Duarte was responsible for creating the UI behind the (now defunct) carrier Helio. He was also responsible for most of the design of the Danger Hiptop (Sidekick).

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HP throws in the towel on the Slate

By Link Tamake at 8:28 pm - 30/04/2010

HP is rumoured to have cancelled the Slate tablet computer, according to TechCrunch.

The Slate was supposed to be a tablet computer running Windows 7 and competing with the iPad; in fact, it was announced at about the same time as the iPad. Steve Ballmer announced the tablet at CES 2010. Although a reason wasn’t stated, the cancellation could be because of poor battery life or bad user experience.

With the recent Palm aquisition, HP could be planning a webOS tablet, something that would be better than a full blown Windows 7 tablet. But only time will tell.

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