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Appcelerator developers warm to Windows Phone, give BlackBerry the cold shoulder
As the year winds to a close, it seems that developer sentiments have shifted since we last checked in with Appcelerator and its opinionated community of coders. In a survey performed in conjunction with IDC, the results suggest a steady interest to develop for smartphones and tablets of the iOS and Android variety, but also reveal a punctuated surge in enthusiasm for Windows Phone. The platform experienced an eight percent uptick since last quarter, with developers citing Nokia's involvement as a primary motivating factor. While Microsoft's OS still lags significantly behind the front-runners, it has significantly separated itself from other competitors. For instance, interest in BlackBerry smartphones fell by seven percent, to roughly half that of Windows Phone. It should be noted that this survey doesn't reflect the development community as a whole, but merely of Appcelerator Titanium users -- if you're curious, the product is a cross-platform development environment for mobile apps. While the 2,160 respondents may not perfectly represent reality, we wouldn't be surprised if they were darn close.
HP TouchPad pops up on TigerDirect, refuses to roll over and play dead (updated)
Time and rapid inventory sell outs might've quenched the fury of late summer's TouchPad firesale. But if you were left outside of the webOS mourning soiree and are still keen to call that HP tab your own, TigerDirect's got a slew of the slates ready for the taking. You won't find that seductive sub-$100 price here, however, the web retailer is offering a rebate that'll cut the 32GB slate down to a very attractive $150. The future may still be uncertain for the mobile OS that was once was and could've been, but at least dual booting Android's a sure thing.Update: Looks like you need to purchase an HP laptop or desktop to take advantage of that rebate, otherwise you'll have to fork over the full $300.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
HP TouchPad Go gets stopped for more close-up photography
We're unlikely to ever get our grubby mitts on a final model, but that hasn't stopped a developmental flavor of this seven-inch slab getting another going over in China. Unceremoniously revealed as the TouchPad Go in FCC filings earlier this year, this seven-inch tablet packs in 32GB of Sandisk storage alongside 1GB of RAM, plus 3G bells and GPS whistles. Palm Joy notes that the tiddly TouchPad is flatter than the original, with the physical button centered on the longer side and an additional rear-facing five megapixel camera. The back of this tablet also has a Pre-esque matte finish, nixing the fingertip-magnet gloss of its bigger brother. You can grab another shot after the break, but if that doesn't quench your thirst there's plenty more at the source link.
HP gives webOS developers a chance to get a $150 TouchPad
The future of webOS may still be up in the air, but it looks like HP is at least still making a small effort to woo developers and keep its current ones in the fold. It's now giving registered devs in the US, Canada and Europe a chance to get a 32GB HP TouchPad for the blowout price of $150 (or €150 in Europe), for a limited time and while supplies last. Unfortunately, it's not clear how many TouchPads will be available, but HP is allowing applicants to request up to two TouchPads each at the discounted price, so we'd assume it's more than just a handful. Those interested will have to file their request before November 18th, and if they're accepted they'll receive a coupon that must be redeemed before November 27th. All the pertinent details are at the source link below.
HP Pre 3 death not exaggerated, FCC autopsy reveals Verizon life that never was
While we will never see the Pre 3 adorning the AT&T shelves of phone stores, the FCC at least had the courtesy to investigate HP's final webOS device in detail, though we doubt they were able to conclude the precise cause of death. The full devastating teardown reveals some Sandisk flash storage, and a tightly packed interior. There's another interesting detail found in those external images, too. As a previous leak had suggested, this model was destined for the Big Red, with a not-so enigmatic Verizon logo etched into the metallic slide-out backing. The full internal rundown is in the gallery below. Tissues are in that box to your right. %Gallery-138459%
webOS 3.0.5 clues point to integrated Twitter, better performance for your TouchPad
If you're the lucky owner of a rare 2011 TouchPad, the onus is on you to keep it clean, polished and updated. Sure, you've already got a decent Twitter client in the form Spaz HD, and you're getting extra snappy performance from webOS 3.0.4, but web chatter indicates that something even better could be on the horizon. Developers have started tweeting via 'webOS Synergy', possibly hinting that integrated Twitter could be on the way in 3.0.5. What's more, another TouchPad owner running that newfangled version has submitted an impressive score to Lithium BenchMark, suggesting it might deliver a performance bump too. The duck may be dead, but the dream lives on.
HP's Todd Bradley refutes webOS shutdown rumors
HP's Todd Bradley showed up on Bloomberg last night for a quick round of webOS damage control. Following a report from The Guardian, saying the company would in fact kill the webOS division, Bradley referred to the report as an "unfounded rumor." He went on to say that "accolades for the operating system are broadly known" and that the company is focusing on how to "effectively utilize that phenomenal software." Of course, there's always a chance that the best way to utilize the troubled OS is to sell it to the highest bidder, but Bradley said HP will weigh all the "data and information" before making "the right decision." For now, the operating system's still kicking it in limbo. The full interview awaits you at the source link below.
HP 'officially' out of TouchPads, Best Buy can still help you out
Looks like the tablet that wouldn't die is finally dead -- well, kind of sort, for now. HP sent out a note to let the world know that it's "officially out of stock" of the zombie TouchPad. It's not all bad news, however -- apparently you can still pick one up at Best Buy, so long as you buy an HP computer at the same time. Mourn another quasi-death for the webOS slate with Boyz II Men after the break.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
The Guardian: HP shutdown of webOS division said to be 'imminent'
Could the writing have already been on the wall for webOS when former VP of worldwide developer relations Richard Kerris left HP for Nokia this week? While nothing is yet confirmed, The Guardian is now reporting that HP will indeed finally shut down its webOS division, which could affect up to 500 jobs (either through reassignment or layoffs -- we've previously heard that some layoffs had already begun). That word comes from some unnamed internal HP sources, who reportedly expect an "imminent closure," with one employee adding that "there's a 95% chance we all get laid off between now and November." For its part, HP remained noticeably mum on any news about webOS when it announced that it would hang onto its PC business this week, and its decision to use Windows 8 on tablets certainly didn't do much to inspire the webOS faithful.
Richard Kerris moves from HP to Nokia, becomes Global Head of Developer Relations
Well, that certainly didn't take long. Just a couple of days after leaving HP to "pursue an opportunity outside of the company," ex-VP of Worldwide Developer Relations for webOS Richard Kerris has now turned up at Nokia, where he'll be serving as the company's Global Head of Developer Relations. As you may recall, Kerris only took on the HP job at the beginning of this year, having previously served as Chief Technology Officer at Lucasfilm. He's also not the first individual to chart this particular course -- designer Peter Skillman also left Palm / HP last year to take on a similar gig at Nokia, where he's since had a hand in the N9 and the company's new Lumia 800.
Richard Kerris leaves HP, ventures off into the land of outside opportunity
Lucasfilm's former chief technology officer just became HP's former VP of worldwide developer relations -- Richard Kerris is calling it quits. HP confirmed Kerris' departure, stating that he "has decided to leave HP to pursue an opportunity outside of the company, effective immediately." Kerris joined HP in February 2011 as the outfit's webOS frontman for the development community, vowing to work hard to win its favor before the firm discontinued operations for the platform's devices earlier this year. Kerris isn't the first employee to go since the webOS cut, and sadly, he probably won't be the last either.
HP's chief strategy officer to retire next month, won't have a successor
Remember Shane Robison, the HP exec who advocated for the survival of webOS following the company's decision to dismantle its hardware unit? Yeah well, he's about to make an exit. HP confirmed yesterday that Robison will retire from his position as executive VP and chief strategy and technology officer on November 1st, after spending eleven years at the company. In a statement, HP praised Robison for spearheading much of its R&D and several high-profile mergers during his tenure there. "In his role, he was responsible for shaping HP's corporate strategy and technology agenda," the company said. "He was instrumental in steering the company's multibillion-dollar research and development investment and has led many of the company's largest merger and acquisition activities." Newly minted CEO Meg Whitman, meanwhile, described Robison as a powerful innovator and lauded his role in guaranteeing "that innovation continues at HP." Perhaps the bigger story, however, is the fact that the firm doesn't plan on filling Robison's shoes. In the announcement, HP confirmed that his position will be dissolved as part of "an effort to drive strategy, research and development closer to the company's businesses." The implications, of course, remain to be seen. Full PR after the break.
HP TouchPad gets webOS 3.0.4 update, now able to answer calls from non-webOS phones
It may not have resulted in much of a numerical bump, but the just-released webOS 3.0.4 software update for the HP TouchPad is a fairly significant one. The big new addition is the ability to pair non-webOS phones, which will let you answer calls on your TouchPad (pairing with third-party Bluetooth keyboards is also said to be "streamlined"). It also adds a new Camera app for photos and videos, plus support for Ogg Vorbis music files, and online / offline messaging status support. Perhaps just as notably, HP is also promising "better performance" and "user interface improvements," as well as a number of other enhancements and "more robust Skype video calling." We'll be giving it a go ourselves, but feel free to share your own impressions in the comments below.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Update: We've since spent a bit of time with a TouchPad running webOS 3.0.4, and it is indeed noticeably snappier and more responsive. Receiving phone calls via a non-webOS phone also works as promised (although you can't make phone calls from the TouchPad), and the new Camera app is simple and gets the job done -- though the TouchPad's camera itself is still decidedly lackluster. Another somewhat minor but important change is the scrolling behavior in the web browser -- it now requires a far more deliberate swipe left or right to move the page horizontally, which results in far less accidental jumping around than before.
webOS brick-and-mortar stores close forever, may they rest in peace
It's with broken heart that we announce that the doors have officially shut for good on all remaining webOS retail stores. The news likely won't come as a shock to many, given HP's intent to scrap the operating system from its future plans. This isn't the first physical manifestation of the company's announcement, when factoring in the plethora of layoffs taking place; nonetheless, anyone affected or touched by a Palm device over the last 19 years may likely mourn the loss. That said, at least the stores went out with a bang: Veers were cleared out for $50 each, the Pixi was sold for $25 ($15 if you purchased four or more) and the Touchstone could be had for a cool $2.50. The retail outlets may now be a thing of the past, but the memories of the products sold in them will hopefully live on forever. Never forget.
How would you change HP's TouchPad?
Not like it matters much now, but hey -- why not, right? HP's TouchPad was tossed into the closeout bin just over 40 days after it initially went on sale, and it actually served to be a spark for the eventual webOS fire that still seems to be smoldering. When we tested it -- and before we knew HP was about to demolish its operating system in the consumer realm -- we found tons of promise. That said, we also found lackluster hardware and a relatively barren application store, but we held out hope that the latter would blossom. These days, our readers are using fire sale TouchPads for all manners of tasks, but if you had the chance, how would you change yours? Toss in a different CPU / GPU? Give webOS the overhaul HP never did? Swap Touchstone for Qi? Let us know in comments below -- those who need to hear, will.
CyanogenMod for TouchPad alpha released, is surprisingly functional (video)
Tired of seeing TouchPad Android demos that you can't quite get your hands on? Buck up buttercup, CyanogenMod 7.1.0's unique flavor of Gingerbread has finally made its way to HP's disowned slate; but beware -- they're calling this one the "lower your expectations" edition for a reason. A new video and forum update belabors the point that the alpha is an early, buggy build that is not intended for the general public. However, if you're brave enough to install CyanogenMod anyway, you'll wind up with a neat assortment of usable features, including multiboot support, ten-point multitouch, functional WiFi, camera support for video chat, limited GPU acceleration and a ton of other features that are either working now, or are near completion. The team says there are too many nonfunctional features to properly list at the moment, but advise brave testers to expect app incompatibility and poorly optimized power consumption. Ready to throw caution to the wind? Hit the source link below, as it's chock full of cautionary tales, installation instructions, and download links. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
HP launching an investigation into TouchPads shipped with Android, suspects foul play
After a few TouchPads found their way into the hands of consumers loaded with Android 2.2, the devs working to port Google's OS to HP's hardware reached out to the company to get a look at the source code. Well, the request was denied since, according to open-source program director Phil Robb, HP had nothing to do with Froyo finding its way onto the slate. In fact, the company is going so far as to launch an investigation into how the OS wound up on the tablet and into retail channels. In an email Robb said, "we presently believe that some person or persons unknown may have facilitated the delivery of these Android-based units strictly against the policy and authorization of HP." Of course, with TouchPad hardware discontinued we don't expect the company to waste too much time or resources tracking down the culprits.
Android on HP TouchPad: yes, there's an app for that (video)
TouchPad firesale hysteria may have finally died down, but those of you with newly acquired HP slates should pay attention. A poster by the name of Chomper has uploaded a walkthrough of Android running atop webOS. Yes, you may have seen that particular feat before, but this time 'round the appropriated Google OS gets the emulated treatment. The mobile platform, installed via an .ipk, is accessible as an app and appears to run somewhat smoothly, although certain tics become noticeable when switching between homescreens or attempting to playback YouTube video. Audio and multi-touch have both yet to be successfully implemented in this rogue use of Android, and there's also a pesky power off issue that requires a hard reset of the system. Still, it's good to see the dev community doing what it does best, and inching us ever closer to a Rubin afterlife on HP's deceased tab. Skip past the break for a silent video tour.
Refresh Roundup: week of September 26, 2011
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery from the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy! Official Android updates The top story this week revolves around the HTC Thunderbolt's long-awaited Gingerbread OTA update. It was finally rolling out, which was exciting news for owners of the device -- until it had to be pulled because of some rather significant bugs. The largest of them all was that voicemail notifications no longer worked properly; video chatting through Google Talk was also slightly messed up as well. No word on when we can expect to see it come back with those bugs fixed. [Droid-Life] Unfortunately, the Thunderbolt isn't the only phone falling victim to pulled revamps; the LG Optimus S on Sprint had its Gingerbread update kiboshed, though users have had two weeks to get it -- plenty of time for anyone to experience some of the bugs, which included the phone not charging, the SD card not being recognized when the phone's connected to the computer, no access to data services, and predictive text on the virtual keyboard stopped working. It's disappointing to see this happen so soon after the Kyocera Echo update went through a similar debacle. [SprintFeed] LG Optimus 3D: V10K firmware update, enables phone to convert OpenGL-capable 2D games into stereoscopic 3D. Note: this still runs Android 2.2.2, so we're still waiting for Gingerbread. [AndroidCentral] Motorola Xoom WiFi: Android 3.2.1 is beginning to roll out. [AndroidCentral] Dell Streak 7: Honeycomb update rolling out now to unspecified regions [AndroidCentral] Asus Eee Pad Transformer: Revamped to Android 3.2.1, adds other bug fixes [AndroidCommunity] Casio G'Zone Commando: Gingerbread rolling out now [Droid-Life] Motorola Droid 3: Minor maintenance refresh; enhances Google Talk with video chat support, several other fixes. [PhoneDog] T-Mobile Samsung Nexus S: OTA install (with option to manually install) to Android 2.3.6; doesn't appear to break tethering. [AndroidCentral] Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery The Android 2.3.5 ROM for the global Samsung Galaxy S II leaked early this week. [Pocketnow, SamFirmware] You can now download the Android 2.3.4 SBF for the Motorola Droid X2, courtesy of XDA. [Droid-Life] If you have a Sony Ericsson Xperia-branded device from 2010 or 2011, CyanogenMod7 support will most likely come included as part of an upcoming update. Ten Xperia devices will be added, though a timeframe for release wasn't announced. Check here to see if your device made the list. [XperiaBlog] Other platforms Check here to see if your phone is ready to receive Windows Phone Mango. The ultra-rare AT&T HP Pre 3 just received an OTA update to 2.2.3.2207, right after a new webOS Doctor became available for the same refresh. [PreCentral] Refreshes we covered this week Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update now rolling out How to force Mango to your phone right away Samsung Taylor receiving Mango?
Pre 3 for AT&T review
This is a review of a phone that was never actually released to the public on AT&T. Despite the unfortunateness of the prior statement, we felt obligated to run this device through the wringer as a final farewell to Palm, the Pre line and webOS on consumer devices. AT&T, Deutsche Telekom withdraw FCC application for T-Mobile merger, look toward DoJ Microsoft Kin is dead Screen Grabs: Palm Pre-iPhone hybrid appears on Grimm, doesn't look half bad Man, what a weird, labyrinthine life this device has had. European carriers didn't even want the Pre 2, and for whatever reason, those folks were the only ones to even get the Pre 3. Excluding this guy, of course. This guy, as you've probably gleaned, is one of only a handful of AT&T Pre 3 handsets to make it out of the factory unscathed, and we couldn't be happier to be putting it through the paces. Well... we could be happier, but that would require Meg Whitman undoing Leo's departing shot through the webOS heart. All that aside, it's been a strange few days with the final webOS-based phone, and in a sense, the final phone that'll ever have Palm's DNA running through its circuitry. Not even two months ago, HP was telling developers to get their Pre 3 app submissions in for approval, and a mere four weeks ago, the same company affirmed that this very phone wouldn't ever arrive on US shores. You know, despite that whole "being announced for AT&T" thing. Turns out, a few of those units actually did pass the requisite QA tests, and if you've got the right connections (or a quick enough trigger finger on eBay), you too can land yourself what'll undoubtedly go down as one of the most highly sought after pieces of Palm / webOS history. But should you? Find out after the break. %Gallery-134746%
