Electronics WebOS (almost) Killed Off

**DaFace** · 08-18-2011, 05:24 PM

http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/18/its...-the-touchpad/

HP Kills Off webOS Phones And The TouchPad

Brace yourselves, webOS fans.

In the hours leading up to their Q3 conference call later today, HP has just confirmed that they will be discontinuing operations surrounding the TouchPad and all webOS phones.

To quote their press release:

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.

This news will come as a rather huge punch to the gut for webOS die-hards (myself included, though you can’t say that we couldn’t see it coming), many of whom have stood by the product for years — first in hopes that Palm would eventually launch a device worthy of the rather fantastic operating system, and later in hopes that HP’s acquisition of Palm would be the spark to the fire that just never seemed to light.

On the upside, webOS itself isn’t dead — at least, not just yet. HP’s wording up above leaves things a bit vague, with at least two potential routes left open: licensing webOS to others, and sticking webOS in other, non-phone/tablet devices (HP has already mentioned plans to put it in printers and cars.) Until further notice, however, it’s essentially dead in the water.

Pour one out for webOS devices tonight, my fellow geeks.

Update: HP’s Stephen DeWitt says “We are not walking away from webOS.” They will continue efforts to advance and perhaps license the OS, but its life as we have known it is certainly over.

**The Franchise** · 08-18-2011, 05:25 PM

amost?

**DaFace** · 08-18-2011, 05:25 PM

Kind of disappointing. I mean, I don't personally use it, but it's sad when a competitor is killed off. Hopefully the fire of the Android/iOS battle will keep them both innovating.

Crush · 08-18-2011, 05:43 PM

The Touchpad had no camera, sdcard, HDMI, or USB with buggy software installed. It should be no surprise that it failed against more feature-rich tablets.

**BigMeatballDave** · 08-18-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crush

The Touchpad had no camera, sdcard, HDMI, or USB with buggy software installed. It should be no surprise that it failed against more feature-rich tablets.

Seriously? That thing was doomed to fail.

**morphius** · 08-18-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crush

The Touchpad had no camera, sdcard, HDMI, or USB with buggy software installed. It should be no surprise that it failed against more feature-rich tablets.

Wow, that is just terrible. From the reports I read they were trying to make money off of software, so maybe they will license webOS. Which might even work better for them now depending on what Google does with Motorola.

**DaFace** · 08-18-2011, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pestilence

amost?

Technically, the OS itself isn't being completely abandoned. They just don't know WTF they're going to do with it.

Crush · 08-18-2011, 05:59 PM

Correction: The Touchpad did have a micro-USB port, but it was still doomed from the start.

Mr. Laz · 08-18-2011, 05:59 PM

Is Amost in anyway related to Anus?

Crush · 08-18-2011, 06:01 PM

The most troubling about this news, in my opinion, is the fact that the WebOS GUI is far superior to both Android and iOS. Hopefully, HP will license it Samsung, HTC, and other companies that will actually build decent hardware for it to run on.

**AustinChief** · 08-18-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crush

The most troubling about this news, in my opinion, is the fact that the WebOS GUI is far superior to both Android and iOS. Hopefully, HP will license it Samsung, HTC, and other companies that will actually build decent hardware for it to run on.

Android now has the GUI guy from WebOs and the first full release under his watch will be Ice Cream Sandwich.. unfortunately I think it will be a "bastard" release that is more of a stepping stone to get to what he is shooting for. I was hoping for A LOT more from him by now but apparently it's slow going.

Valiant · 08-18-2011, 08:02 PM

Yeah, they said they might also sell off their PC side also and go the route of IBM..

**DaFace** · 08-18-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pestilence

amost?

Heh...took me until now to figure out wtf this was about. I = dumb.

**morphius** · 08-18-2011, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valiant

Yeah, they said they might also sell off their PC side also and go the route of IBM..

Yeah, I always scratch my head when a company sells off a good chunk of its business, when it is pretty profitable. Makes me wonder if it is management by the margin, if we can't match the margin of apple then we just shouldn't try. Wonder how many 1000's of Americans will lose their jobs on this when some Chinese company buys the PC business.

Dallas Chief · 08-18-2011, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valiant

Yeah, they said they might also sell off their PC side also and go the route of IBM..

That's what happens when you loose $200-$300 on every PC you sell. The only person that wins is the consumer. It just isn't a sustainable business model no matter how much money you are making on your ink cartridges.

08-18-2011, 05:24 PM
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $2006899	WebOS (almost) Killed Off http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/18/its...-the-touchpad/ HP Kills Off webOS Phones And The TouchPad Brace yourselves, webOS fans. In the hours leading up to their Q3 conference call later today, HP has just confirmed that they will be discontinuing operations surrounding the TouchPad and all webOS phones. To quote their press release: 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. This news will come as a rather huge punch to the gut for webOS die-hards (myself included, though you can’t say that we couldn’t see it coming), many of whom have stood by the product for years — first in hopes that Palm would eventually launch a device worthy of the rather fantastic operating system, and later in hopes that HP’s acquisition of Palm would be the spark to the fire that just never seemed to light. On the upside, webOS itself isn’t dead — at least, not just yet. HP’s wording up above leaves things a bit vague, with at least two potential routes left open: licensing webOS to others, and sticking webOS in other, non-phone/tablet devices (HP has already mentioned plans to put it in printers and cars.) Until further notice, however, it’s essentially dead in the water. Pour one out for webOS devices tonight, my fellow geeks. Update: HP’s Stephen DeWitt says “We are not walking away from webOS.” They will continue efforts to advance and perhaps license the OS, but its life as we have known it is certainly over.
Posts: 51,791

08-18-2011, 05:25 PM	#2
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $3085047	amost?
Posts: 92,188

08-18-2011, 05:25 PM	#3
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $2006899	Kind of disappointing. I mean, I don't personally use it, but it's sad when a competitor is killed off. Hopefully the fire of the Android/iOS battle will keep them both innovating.
Posts: 51,791

08-18-2011, 05:43 PM	#4
Crush Amateur Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $5237091	The Touchpad had no camera, sdcard, HDMI, or USB with buggy software installed. It should be no surprise that it failed against more feature-rich tablets.
Posts: 15,297

08-18-2011, 05:59 PM	#8
Crush Amateur Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $5237091	Correction: The Touchpad did have a micro-USB port, but it was still doomed from the start.
Posts: 15,297

08-18-2011, 05:59 PM	#9
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	Is Amost in anyway related to Anus? __________________ Last edited by Mr. Laz; 08-18-2011 at 06:06 PM..
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08-18-2011, 06:01 PM	#10
Crush Amateur Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $5237091	The most troubling about this news, in my opinion, is the fact that the WebOS GUI is far superior to both Android and iOS. Hopefully, HP will license it Samsung, HTC, and other companies that will actually build decent hardware for it to run on.
Posts: 15,297

08-18-2011, 08:02 PM	#12
Valiant Valiant 'The Thread Killer' Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $6392380	Yeah, they said they might also sell off their PC side also and go the route of IBM..
Posts: 18,354