HP says webOS printers more likely in 2012; hints at Android-to-webOS tools 23
UK tech blog Pocket-lint had a recent discussion with Stephan Batteaux, HP's portfolio manager for inkjet and Web services for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Batteaux confirmed that HP was considering moving its Android-powered printers to webOS, but said it was more likely the switch would happen in 2012. Batteaux said that the switch would give HP "more access to a wider development community," and that HP would be releasing an API for its app-based printers "in the coming months."
Of perhaps greater interest to the webOS community, though, is Batteaux' response to developer concerns about devoting resources to Android (printer) app development, only to have to shift to webOS at some near future time. According to Pocket-lint, Batteaux said that HP "was working on a way to make it easier to merge the two together in the future." Whether he's referring to the web-standards-based App strategy or some other more ambitious porting strategy is unclear, but interesting nontheless
Batteaux is scheduled to speak on "From Web-OS [sic] to E-print : the new Eco-System between devices" at the HP City event in Forest, Belgium on December 9th. Perhaps we'll get some more detail from that presentation.
Source: Pocket-lint.com
23 Comments
pretty legit, fck being first
Hi all,
OK I admit it, this is veering into an area I know little about...programing of any kind...does Android to webOS tools mean, making it easier to convert Droid apps to webOS? Take care, Jay
That is how i read it as well. I am interested
Android apps are written in Java. Including Java and the support necessary to run Android apps as part of PalmOS could be done. In fact it probably won't be hard to do, as long as the device had enough memory to handle it. Even a third party app Palm OS app might be able to do it.
I think part of WebOS 2.0 or 2.x was replacing the jvm. My impression was that it was being removed? If so, I'm sure you could still include it as an app or service (In Palm OS days, this was done).
My guess is that they are trying to encourage more Enyo/Ares type work - perhaps make those cross-platform, then encourage the developers to try to write to that platform.
For printing apps, makes alot of sense. Mostly form-based, etc. I don't think anyone envisions 3d games on the printer - though photo editing/management is an obvious feature, and maybe for that you'd avoid Enyo/Ares?
well what I took from Batteaux comments were that he has no faith on webos and believes it's a smarter investment to use an established platform that already has a big consumer base to attract them onto these web printers...... Once the printers gets established and webos pulls through to 2012 they might make the switch.... Does anybody else see it this way?
Yes, I see it your way and "ilovedessert" way. It goes without saying the 2011 is going a be a very critical year for WebOS to get traction and gain marketshare.
I think you need to read it again. No where does it imply that he has no faith in webOS... He actually acknowledges that HP will be switching printers from Android to webOS in the future.
No, I think you need to read it again. To save you the hassle here: Batteaux confirmed that HP was considering moving its Android-powered printers to webOS, but said it was more likely the switch would happen in 2012. Batteaux said that the switch would give HP "more access to a wider development community," and that HP would be releasing an API for its app-based printers "in the coming months."
andoid "gives access to a wider development community".... what does that say about his opinions on webos?
" 'the switch' would give HP "more access to a wider development community"": the switch here is from android to webOS, hence the implication is that using webOS will give "more access...". So that would imply he thinks better of webOS than Android.
I presume everyone's seen the commercial showing the baby in the walker racing down the road, zooming into a house and then being printed on one of these HP smart printers; at the end it shows the mom sending the photo to the printer using a Pre-.
I have no point, or if I did I forgot where I was going. The commercial is pretty funny though; my kids made me rewind it about 6 times.
For the record, I took delivery on an OfficeJet Pro 8500A today. Using HP's ePrint function I was able to email a picture from my Pre (using my Gmail account) to the printer where it printed just fine.
Hi again,
thanks for the info, I know 2011 will be the year of webOS & Palm!
Take care,
Jay
I dont give a hoot about a printer at this point my Epson is meeting all my needs just fine but my Launch Day Pre is in need of being replaced and I am just lost as to what to do because my OS of choice has apparently gone into hiding.
cool is not like I care about printers
Well, they made iPhone to webOS porting easy. Is Android to webOS porting on-the-way?
If they can just integrate current printers to support adhoc wifi print through webos devices then that would do just fine.
Not into printers. I need a new phone.
wow seriously? who cares if these printers ever come out. I too want a new phone preferably on sprint.
To everyone who wants a new WebOS phone, you need to be more patient!! Rubes has stated many times that there are plenty of devices in the pipeline. Get ready to have your socks knocked off at CES! :P
I just want to be able to print to my networked printer. I could do that on my iPaq and on my apple newton in '97! Why is it that difficult to accomplish? HPalm needs to bake it right into the OS...
Why should you care about HP printers?
Hp is building up reasons to build webOS smartphones. Buy a webOS phone (unknown to most) and it can work seamlessly with your HP printer (known to everyone). Buy a Hp Palm Pad and hey, maybe I'll get a webOS phone. That's the strategy of creating an ecosystem. webOS phone, printer, tablet, laptop, computer. So all of it helps a bit get more exposure to webOS phones.
I just picked up a lexmark pinnacle all in one to use for scanning and copying(I have a HP color laserjet for everything else). IOW, I am using it primarily as a standalone device, I don't want to have to fire up a computer and software to use it.
The touch interface on this is really nice. I can now definitely see WebOS on printers, as they become more and more a standalone device. Faxing, calendar/fax/etc templates, google maps, airline tickets, n-up scanning and copying, etc. WebOS could do some amazing things here.
Let's hope that HP does it better with WebOS than Lexmark is doing. The current line of photosmart controls pales in comparison. If HP doesn't 'hp-ify' webos's strengths when it is on their printers, they will make some amazing interfaces.