Posted by nullity on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:56 am EST
Have not yet watched the podcast, but found myself watching The Lawnmower Man over the weekend and couldn't help but notice that Ashley looks exactly like Jenny Wright. Google it and tell me I'm wrong!
Posted by nullity on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:42 am EST
For real? lol... ok, after having googled it there seem to be some unflattering pictures of her, but IMO there is a striking similarity if you find a good one and look past the 80/90's styling.
Posted by Artichoke on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:38 am EST
can't believe Ashley is dissing the Veer
this little smartphone gets no respect & deserves much more
has she even used one?
once you go magnetic, plugging in cables becomes so last year
the Veer is no Edsel, but a very innovative design that works admirably well
Posted by bhartman36 on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:40 pm EST
I beg to differ. I think Ashley is spot on. HP, at a time when anyone with any sense (other than Apple) was building phones with larger, brighter screens, went smaller. In fact, they went so small that things like standard headphone jacks and micro-USB ports wouldn't work.
And for what, exactly? That small size doesn't really get you anything, other than fitting the Veer into a smaller space. That smaller size killed the hardware potential, and made the UI less usable.
The Veer was a bad idea that deserved to die before it was even released. Even the Foleo had a better chance of success.
Agree, the Veer was like the downstep of the Pixi. Intriguing form factor alterations, but in the end, an objective review simply asked, why downgrade that which was barely adequate? Who wrote to HP and said, love my Pre, but it's too big.
Posted by inertia1 on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 4:09 pm EST
Palm was just trying to find some way that it could compete and differentiate in the smartphone space. Since everyone else was getting bigger, they tried to go smaller. After all, the Centro was a success as a follow-up to the Treo. The real issue that Palm did not have the ability to out-innovate the competition in the smartphone space.
Posted by Quikstep on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 4:21 pm EST
I don't think the Veer was a problem in and of itself. I think the problem was that HP had it completely backwards the order of their product release. The Pre 3 should have come out first, then the Touchpad, and lastly, the Veer. Releasing the smaller, cheaper phone before the flagship and tablet is just asinine, and I can't believe how that was ever justified.
Posted by inertia1 on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 4:33 pm EST
Actually, the Veer was the last webOS smartphone to be released by a major US carrier, wasn't it? The carriers aren't just releasing whatever smartphones a company can come up with. They are looking for smartphones that target a particular customer group. One of the manufacturers at CES said that they present their available devices to the carriers and the carriers pick what they want.
I'm thinking they just said no to the Pre 3 because it was just like the ones with the crappy hardware that didn't sell. The Veer was taken on because of its novelty. The Pre 3 was never going to be launched by any US carrier.
That's why HP is so definitively out of the smartphone business. The carriers simply didn't want them.
Posted by inertia1 on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 1:09 pm EST
Look, if you bought a Veer then they probably think that you can't be all that interested in really using a smartphone. It's kind of like what the Centro was to Palm. Most Centro users probably never even downloaded any 3rd party apps. They just wanted something with a keyboard and more features than a dumb phone.
I'm guessing that Veer owners will be strongly encouraged to upgrade if they want more features. webOS for smartphones certainly is a dead-end for all of the carriers. i'd say they are probably investing zero resources in anything further having to do with it.
As far as the magnetic connectors go, when we are all using magnetic connectors for everything, you can tell them that you used a Veer which had them back in 2011. Then they will nod and say "oh".
Posted by mgabel_pi on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 4:19 pm EST
Well, I owned a Centro and it was jam packed with stuff. And, now I own a Veer and it's also packed - not jam packed for some stuff does not run on it (eg Picsel Smart Office). I think the form factor is super; I just wish the OS would be fine tuned a bit. And, I find the magnetic charger clip easier to use and more secure than plug in types.
Posted by sweet greggo on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 1:48 pm EST
The Veer shouldn't have even been a blip on the radar. All phone resources should have gone to the Pre3. The Veer never had a chance of saving the company.
It's another example of Jon Rubenstein being out of touch with the market. Palm never had a chance with him calling the shots.
Posted by sweet greggo on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 1:51 pm EST
I don't understand why people are saying Ruby is "getting some well deserved time off". I guess running a company into the ground takes a lot out of you.
Posted by LGMOfield on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 1:56 pm EST
The problem was launching the Palm Pre on just Sprint,their were waiting lists to get the phone because of poor planning on sales projection.Then the Android was readily available and people got tired of waiting for more Palm Pre.Not having flash didn't help either and then cutting ties with Sprint and going to AT&T and Verizon who were selling Androids and IPhone when Sprint was not in on the IPhone was a lost chance to push the Web OS .
Posted by inertia1 on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 2:26 pm EST
Sprint pushed the Pre plenty. It was their hero phone before the EVO. The Pre was just not a good seller. More importantly, there were a ton of returns. The fact that Sprint never launched another webOS phone is a testimonial to this. I mean, they couldn't even agree to release the updates to the Pre for the benefit of the customers. There must have been a huge fallout in the Palm/Sprint relationship.
Indeed. Not sure why people blame ~3 years of failure on a 6 month period with Sprint.
The thing failed on pretty much every carrier it was being offered on. Why does Sprint get all the blame? Did Sprint cause the failure of the international versions as well?
If a product, any product, is sold in multiple countries and fails to do well in any of them, the problem is likely with the product itself rather than one chain in one country.
Truth be told, launching on Sprint was a good thing for webOS in the end because, at the very least, it limited the consumer's exposure to the initial version of the Pre (the hardware was slightly improved when it went to Verizon).
24 Comments
I have to know. Do they have cue cards or a teleprompter above the camera, or does she roll her eyes a lot? Aside from that, good brief!
Have not yet watched the podcast, but found myself watching The Lawnmower Man over the weekend and couldn't help but notice that Ashley looks exactly like Jenny Wright. Google it and tell me I'm wrong!
You're wrong.
For real? lol... ok, after having googled it there seem to be some unflattering pictures of her, but IMO there is a striking similarity if you find a good one and look past the 80/90's styling.
http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsW/18750-14918.jpg
Maybe it is just in my head. Doesn't matter, ultimately. I was simply amused and thought I'd share.
I wouldn't say "exactly like" but I can see what you're saying when I look at the pic you posted and this one: https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQbRQuih1iJc84Cnlrma...
With the links that Taharka and Nullity provided, I totally see it. There is a strong resemblance (in a good way).
Vindication at last! (:
can't believe Ashley is dissing the Veer
this little smartphone gets no respect & deserves much more
has she even used one?
once you go magnetic, plugging in cables becomes so last year
the Veer is no Edsel, but a very innovative design that works admirably well
I beg to differ. I think Ashley is spot on. HP, at a time when anyone with any sense (other than Apple) was building phones with larger, brighter screens, went smaller. In fact, they went so small that things like standard headphone jacks and micro-USB ports wouldn't work.
And for what, exactly? That small size doesn't really get you anything, other than fitting the Veer into a smaller space. That smaller size killed the hardware potential, and made the UI less usable.
The Veer was a bad idea that deserved to die before it was even released. Even the Foleo had a better chance of success.
Agree, the Veer was like the downstep of the Pixi. Intriguing form factor alterations, but in the end, an objective review simply asked, why downgrade that which was barely adequate? Who wrote to HP and said, love my Pre, but it's too big.
Palm was just trying to find some way that it could compete and differentiate in the smartphone space. Since everyone else was getting bigger, they tried to go smaller. After all, the Centro was a success as a follow-up to the Treo. The real issue that Palm did not have the ability to out-innovate the competition in the smartphone space.
When Jon pitched the idea of the Veer, someone should have shut him up with a memo titled: Microsoft cancels Kin
I don't think the Veer was a problem in and of itself. I think the problem was that HP had it completely backwards the order of their product release. The Pre 3 should have come out first, then the Touchpad, and lastly, the Veer. Releasing the smaller, cheaper phone before the flagship and tablet is just asinine, and I can't believe how that was ever justified.
Actually, the Veer was the last webOS smartphone to be released by a major US carrier, wasn't it? The carriers aren't just releasing whatever smartphones a company can come up with. They are looking for smartphones that target a particular customer group. One of the manufacturers at CES said that they present their available devices to the carriers and the carriers pick what they want.
I'm thinking they just said no to the Pre 3 because it was just like the ones with the crappy hardware that didn't sell. The Veer was taken on because of its novelty. The Pre 3 was never going to be launched by any US carrier.
That's why HP is so definitively out of the smartphone business. The carriers simply didn't want them.
Look, if you bought a Veer then they probably think that you can't be all that interested in really using a smartphone. It's kind of like what the Centro was to Palm. Most Centro users probably never even downloaded any 3rd party apps. They just wanted something with a keyboard and more features than a dumb phone.
I'm guessing that Veer owners will be strongly encouraged to upgrade if they want more features. webOS for smartphones certainly is a dead-end for all of the carriers. i'd say they are probably investing zero resources in anything further having to do with it.
As far as the magnetic connectors go, when we are all using magnetic connectors for everything, you can tell them that you used a Veer which had them back in 2011. Then they will nod and say "oh".
Well, I owned a Centro and it was jam packed with stuff. And, now I own a Veer and it's also packed - not jam packed for some stuff does not run on it (eg Picsel Smart Office). I think the form factor is super; I just wish the OS would be fine tuned a bit. And, I find the magnetic charger clip easier to use and more secure than plug in types.
The Veer shouldn't have even been a blip on the radar. All phone resources should have gone to the Pre3. The Veer never had a chance of saving the company.
It's another example of Jon Rubenstein being out of touch with the market. Palm never had a chance with him calling the shots.
I don't understand why people are saying Ruby is "getting some well deserved time off". I guess running a company into the ground takes a lot out of you.
The problem was launching the Palm Pre on just Sprint,their were waiting lists to get the phone because of poor planning on sales projection.Then the Android was readily available and people got tired of waiting for more Palm Pre.Not having flash didn't help either and then cutting ties with Sprint and going to AT&T and Verizon who were selling Androids and IPhone when Sprint was not in on the IPhone was a lost chance to push the Web OS .
Sprint pushed the Pre plenty. It was their hero phone before the EVO. The Pre was just not a good seller. More importantly, there were a ton of returns. The fact that Sprint never launched another webOS phone is a testimonial to this. I mean, they couldn't even agree to release the updates to the Pre for the benefit of the customers. There must have been a huge fallout in the Palm/Sprint relationship.
Indeed. Not sure why people blame ~3 years of failure on a 6 month period with Sprint.
The thing failed on pretty much every carrier it was being offered on. Why does Sprint get all the blame? Did Sprint cause the failure of the international versions as well?
If a product, any product, is sold in multiple countries and fails to do well in any of them, the problem is likely with the product itself rather than one chain in one country.
Truth be told, launching on Sprint was a good thing for webOS in the end because, at the very least, it limited the consumer's exposure to the initial version of the Pre (the hardware was slightly improved when it went to Verizon).
Thanks for dumping the horrible animated background.
I really enjoy her t-shirt...