HP snaps up Motionbox video publishing service, causes imaginations to run wild 60
HP's Snapfish announced that it plans to acquire video hosting service Motionbox earlier this week for an undisclosed amount in a move to bolster its presence in the online publishing space. Snapfish, for those unfamiliar, is a company that HP acquired back in 2005 and competes against the likes of Flickr, Photobucket and Facebook in the photo publishing (and printing) space.
What exactly HP plans to do with the company is anyone's guess, though Motley Fool sees a nice correlation between this and and the recent acquisition of Palm that jives with us - HP now has, under one roof, and end-to-end mobile software and hardware platform and a compelling content publishing service. That, combined with the current and planned feature set of webOS and the fact that the platform will be deployed across a myriad of connected devices (such as printers) makes the imagination run wild. Imagine being able to log into Snapfish via your webOS powered printer, phone or slate, click "print" on the desired photo, and have your connected HP printer spit out the image in a matter of minutes or log in with your webOS powered TV to watch videos you've shot with your phone.
It's great to see that HP is indeed aligning its resources around Palm by bolstering its presence in cloud-based, and we're beginning to see a pattern. Last month saw the tech behemoth purchase music streaming service Melodeo/NuTsie for $30 million, which means that in addition to having fully integrated photo and video publishing services, there's a good chance that you'll be able to stream your iTunes library through the cloud as well.
Via: The Motley Fool; Source: Reuters; Thanks to Jason for the tip!
60 Comments
Good Stuff...
Hmmmmmm. Pictures - check. Music - check. Video - check. Print - check. Quite the arsenal that HP's building for webOS devices.
document editing uncheck.
With HP's backing and a strengthened R&D dept, the hope is that DocsToGO and hPalm will come through here also. It may be why they're doing webOS 2.0 instead of trying to get DocsToGo work with webOS 1.0.
For the love of everything good - show us the hardware we can look forward to using all of these great services on in one coherent package. I've had my sprint pre for a year and sprint also has the evo. Can you see where I'm going with this? I love everything webOS and homebrew, but hardware wise I will hold on for only so long. Please, show us the goods soon!
Funny, with their supply chain problems it appears that HTC isn't selling too many EVO's at the moment. Maybe next time they won't source their components from Samsung, a competitor.
Good thing the pre never had that problem. Oh wait. Good thing the pre is fully stocked so here is no waiting. Oh wait, dammit.
Supply problems...yes. Demand problems....no. Pre on the other hand has neither.... go figure.
While it's great that HP owns all these great separate companies that seem to cover a great end-to-end solution it is going to require a lot more than just HP to own them for anything to happen. I doubt the effort required to pull all these separate software systems is small so dreaming of an amazing end-to-end mobile device and content publishing system is just that, dreaming.
Sorry that didn't make any sense. Owning these separate systems makes it very possible to create an amazing end-to-end experience, no dreaming required. HP is putting everything into place to create something amazing.
Integrating separate software systems is a very difficult task, it will take several months to pull things together. Just because HP owns this company does not mean in a month's time that they will magically have an end-to-end solution ready.
Just look at the time it's taking for Palm and HP to bring out new hardware and their next large OS update. Palm now should have more resources available but it hasn't magically made things happen. And we're not even really talking about integration with other HP products yet . . . .
I didn't say it wouldn't take time, but that it is becoming possible to connect everything. It's not dreaming when you have all the parts in front of you and it just takes time to piece them together, it's called reality.
Isn't this sort of business integration one of the very services HP performs for their customers?
HP juuuuuust bought Palm not that long ago. We'll probably see a Pre 2 with webOS 2 in Q4 2010 or Q1 2011. But we wont see the end-to-end polished solution until Q4 2011. Which is fine with me (I will be more than content with with my Pre 2 until then). But the future for hPalm looks pretty damn awesome.
I guess you're not familiar with HP's incredibly successful history of vertical and horizontal integration. This company is a modern day success. They've left all competition in the dust, even companies vaunted for managerial brilliance like Dell and IBM.
no denying that hp mean business. It will be interesting to see what they have up their sleeves when they divulge their plan of action/intent to the tech community and consumers alike.
the comeback kid could be at it again....
It's nice, but as people say it has already been two weeks since HP/Palm was finalized and nothing new has been announced....so forget about it because they are all dooooooooomed and every Pre user will jump ship now because it's too hard to wait a few months to see whats happens.
/sarcasm
maybe they will buy photobucket next!!! Lol I wish they would becuse I like PB... I haven't used snapfish kinda hate them. I had a lil hp scanner years ago and so I had a HP photo album with them then I didn't go to my email for a few months and all I saw was a email sayN I need to transfer all my pix ...well I didn't in time and lost 700 pix !!! Now I can't c my fine ass lightskinnnded X girlfriend a few otheres I had n my hey day lol but just running my fingurs cuzz it better than complainN about hardware on every damn post they make on hear I don't get it if you read all thez post like I do why do people say the same damn thing ""i want new hardware"" duh we all do sit ya ass n the corner and wait lol !!!!!
enough with whinning already.
if you want to see hardware released soon...and for it to be a huge success.... Learn how to make an app, give suggetions on what apps you want, buy apps you want in effort to support app devs and palm.
"droid does apps"
iphone has over 100kapps..
webOS needs more apps
ThYea!h Cuz. tI think we've seen enough "famous quotes from" Apps
+1 for us geeks but there are LOTS of 'normal' people who love reading quotes.
but all this bickering* is tearing up our family so I'm gonna drop MY fav famous quote for all of the Pre-ple.....
"can't we all just get along?" - Rodney King
*I'd like to suggest a Troll Roll but that goes against my "free speech" values so carry on Trolls but don't come crying to us when we decide to pull up the drawbridge to play w the uber HPalm superphone we've been dreaming of.......
all this work there puttin into building a cutting edge ecosystem for this fall if it all is a success, don't be surprised if you find a mod version of webos on there laptops and pc (the taken over begins fall 2010)
ya I don't think it would b too hard to put together ...we already have photobucket and youtube accounts on our phones what would b so hard to put snapfish???? And hopefully vidyo can b apart of the motionbox somehow!!!!!! But it should be a bit of a wait I don't think they will put somthing out and do updates like last time to bring it up to speed I think they want make a splash like a fat boy n a mini pool !!!! Lol I like my pre so I'll keep watching the watter run!!!
ya I don't think it would b too hard to put together ...we already have photobucket and youtube accounts on our phones what would b so hard to put snapfish???? And hopefully vidyo can b apart of the motionbox somehow!!!!!! But it should be a bit of a wait I don't think they will put somthing out and do updates like last time to bring it up to speed I think they want make a splash like a fat boy n a mini pool !!!! Lol I like my pre so I'll keep watching the watter run!!!
My head literally just exploded after reading this.
If you get a NEW phone now or in Nov. It will be yours for 12-18 months... So better to wait a bit & have a great phone with mucho capability vs a now phone with some stuff..... Just
my take & I am holding my Sprint Pre together with super glue and bailing wire for next generation... Come on HPalm..
opps another crack...where is that glue & now on 28,006 slider opens & counting...
These systems don't need to be mixed up together to be integrated. To be integrated they need to... a common operating system. WebOS IS the integrator. That is what it does.
The need to own an in house OS becomes clearer with every purchase HP makes.
lots of good news coming out...im stoked!
"Jibes," not "jives."
You guys really need to hire a copy editor.
Fat fingering on. Pre. Keyboard isn't hard
Fat fingering on. Pre. Keyboard isn't hard
However, double posting on the Pre is easy, just refresh your browser after posting and 'wa-la', double post! :-)
I don't believe this is a case of fat-fingering (a.k.a., typo) even though the b and v are next to each other on the keyboard. The reason being that the confusion between jibe and jive is quite common and the authors of this site have made that same mistake a couple of times.
We still love 'em though.
that's one more company under HP belt... What the hell are they doing? Cause I can't wait to see what they will launch next.
someone please paint a picture of a device that HPalm could potentially launch in the future?
I believe they want to play with the big boys (RIM n Apple) and produce a device that will raise the bar.
that's one more company under HP belt... What the hell are they doing? Cause I can't wait to see what they will launch next.
someone please paint a picture of a device that HPalm could potentially launch in the future?
I believe they want to play with the big boys (RIM n Apple) and produce a device that will raise the bar.
I just hope we won't be forced to use it... I like choices.
that's one more company under HP belt... What the hell are they doing? Cause I can't wait to see what they will launch next.
someone please paint a picture of a device that HPalm could potentially launch in the future?
I believe they want to play with the big boys (RIM n Apple) and produce a device that will raise the bar.
this is great news,,take yr time,,do it right,it will be worth the wait. No wait maybe it should be rushed like the others that just came out,all sorts of problems. Ahhh not. I will wait as long as it takes. Good things come to those who wait.
these are wonderful news!
And what do they, at last, mean for technical belongings?
The camera in the next webOS-device will bel possibly gorgeous, what else should come up from a manufacturer of a device thats chained with a picture printing service...?
Had never even heard of Snapfish before so I checked their website out.... lets hope this page changes in the not too distant future
http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/mobileapps
that's one more company under HP belt... What the hell are they doing? Cause I can't wait to see what they will launch next.
someone please paint a picture of a device that HPalm could potentially launch in the future?
I believe they want to play with the big boys (RIM n Apple) and produce a device that will raise the bar.
all this work there puttin into building a cutting edge ecosystem for this fall if it all is a success, don't be surprised if you find a mod version of webos on there laptops and pc (the taken over begins fall 2010)
Uhm, looks like Snapfish pretty much just bought them for their technology. Not a bad thing, but Snapfish already had video on their site. If I were a Motionbox customer though I wouldn't be too happy reading through this Motionbox page...
http://www.motionbox.com/content/help/transition-faq/
you are right that current customers of MotionBox should not be happy. MB/HP/SF is essentially abandoning the customer base.
Although MotionBox had already begun to abandon its core a few months ago when it completely rewrote its fee structure and screwed long-time customers by unilaterally adding restrictive storage limits (with no grandfather for those already over) and a wildly exorbitant 'pro' monthly fee. The technology was great, but the customer care was atrocious. Good riddance!
My imagination is running wild on the next hardware update! I'm seriously barely holding on to WebOs. I know the software kills android, and I don't wanna switch... But If the epic comes out before any new announcement does I might jump ship :(
all this work there puttin into building a cutting edge ecosystem for this fall if it all is a success, don't be surprised if you find a mod version of webos on there laptops and pc (the taken over begins fall 2010)
all this work there puttin into building a cutting edge ecosystem for this fall if it all is a success, don't be surprised if you find a mod version of webos on there laptops and pc (the taken over begins fall 2010)
if they could even give me an a sketch I'd be happy with that lol.. I need somethin quick!
Id like to see the snapfish app. Since it is owned by HP, I'd think that we would have (at the very least) the iPhone app ported over.
Damnit, i hope hp is spending their money wisely. Mots of that money could have been used for palm and creating a new device...
If HP and Palm could just make Apple nervous...that would give me grins.
I'm pretty sure apple has been nervous since the news of hp buying palm, if not before that, because of the i4 in the bar incident. That's desperation (ala pinky n the brain type need- to- rule- the- world psychosis) if you ask me.
lol they have more money than anyone I shure they will have a lil left over to make a phone!!!!
Let's see, in the last 60 days...
HP buys/partners with --> HP gets
Palm --> WebOS, mobile device operating system
Phoenix's Hyperspace --> Instant-On Booting
Vidyo (partnership) --> High quality teleconferencing / video chat
Melodeo's nuTsie* --> Music streaming service
Boston-Power batteries (2009 partnership) --> Longer lasting battery
Snapfish(2005 acquisition) --> Photo publishing and printing
Motionbox --> Video publishing
Sounds like the making of some super cool mobile devices. My bet is a tablet gets released first, then one or two new smartphone models.
* Notice how 'nuTsie' is a scrambling of the word 'iTunes'? :-)
lol they have more money than anyone I shure they will have a lil left over to make a phone!!!!
yep I think the tablet and phone at the same time becuse they will b the same devise and do the same things on the same 2.0...... I was watching a vidoe on vidyo and they can't record just stream so hopfully with motionbox or maybe melodeo can make recording possible and give us a place to save them instead of youtube... They don't need photobucket now .. I like that there making everything N house like apple duz ... The slate hardware is there I think they just need palm to get that 2.o up to date with all the new tech HP is buying ... I didn't notice the new batt comp they note that's a gud look rlopin...... It duz sound gud and I know I can wait
This looks freaking awesome! Everything we have been wanting (almost) under one roof. I am saving up and holding on to my upgrades or if i have to move to another carrier to get it. I am cautiously happy again.
Everything under one roof is only good until the doors are locked and you can't get out of the building.
cringer that's an awesome analogy for........WHAT?
This kind of end-to-end solution talk sounds dangerously close to the ecosystem / walled garden approach that keeps me from using Apple products. I can already post videos from my Pre to the cloud and then watch them on my net-enabled TV because both are linked to my YouTube account. What's so exciting about the prospect of HP coming in and telling me I have to subscribe to their cloud service and buying the TV that they approve to have access to that service?
This kind of end-to-end solution talk sounds dangerously close to the ecosystem / walled garden approach that keeps me from using Apple products. I can already post videos from my Pre to the cloud and then watch them on my net-enabled TV because both are linked to my YouTube account. What's so exciting about the prospect of HP coming in and telling me I have to subscribe to their cloud service and buying the TV that they approve to have access to that service?