TouchPad Roundup: apps, rumors, and an easter egg? 66
TouchPad news has been flying in at a really rapid pace and while we've already hit the big stuff, there's plenty of smaller bits that are worthy of mention today. Let's round 'em up.
Pressebox.de has a press release touting "exclusive apps for the new HP TouchPad" including AlloCiné, Sooloos, Marmiton Touch, Orange Mécanique, Auto Motor and Sport, My HP, TV drama, Gala, Cinema, Focus Online, N24, stern.de, OK Magazine, and of course, Kindle for webOS. Thanks Shoe!
@renehennig attended a webOS Connect event in Paris where he heard HP's Richard Kerris say that webOS 3.0 on the TouchPad will eliminate the problematic geographic restrictions that have kept previous webOS devices from switching their default country. via webosroundup, thanks Mike5!
Looking through the document we just leaked suggesting the June 12th launch, we see that the TouchPad will ship with a 10W AC adapter (just like the iPad). We also see that HP seems to be launching with just two accessories: the case and the TouchStone stand.
An anonymous tipster writes in that there will be a FaceBook app for TouchPad / webOS 3.0 - again developed by Palm with help from FaceBook - that will be "completely different" and have Facebook Messaging built into Synergy. Thanks anonymous!
Finally, HP has been showing off the TouchPad at the HP Byron Nelson PGA Championship. An attendee wrote in to say the HP rep on hand said the TouchPad is coming "very soon" and that the Pre 3 will come a bit later (in the "60 to 90" day range). The tipster also got a demo of an easter egg: "If you pulled a card down, it stretched like a slingshot and then flew away and 'yelled' (think angry birds), pretty cool." Thanks anonymous!
66 Comments
A little disappointed that the Pre3 is 60-90 days out with the touchpad here... I wonder if it will tether/bluetooth with my pre minus.... FRISTPOST! :)
Yeah does anybody know if the Touchpad will be able to sync with 1.4.5 devices for texting on the Touchpad? Obviously touch to share isn't gonna happen but one of the MAIN reasons I want a touchpad is that text sync feature and if I have to wait 60-90 days to use it I don't know that I should be an early adopter of the Touchpad. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY INFO ON THIS PLEASE REPLY TO MY COMMENT!
WILL ANSWER YOUR DEMAND FOR INFO IN COMING WEEKS!!!! So check back in September.
joke got old and annoying.
Time to get over it.
Agreed. I'm also so sick of the people who post about how their "launch day Pre- is falling apart." Whether true or not, it's so annoying to see the same posts over and over. We get it. Your phone is old. Either wait quietly, or get a new phone already.
another thing that's starting to get on my nerves is the constant "is it coming to sprint.. sprint sprint sprint" nonsense.
Look, I want the next device as much as anyone around here. But, if we had any information, it would be on the front page. Really, it would be. I understand the frustration.. I had the Pre on Bell (yes, the world is outside of Sprint and users have been waiting just as long) until I switched to Rogers for the Pre 2.
There are choices. If a phone is causing that much grief in anyones life, hey you can always do something about it.
One more thing that's annoying is people like you and PreG8tor who whine about other people whining. We get it, you want some attention too. If you don't like it, go create your own HPalm fan forum and invite all 5 of Canadian Pre users and speculate there.
You might be surprised about the number of non-sprint users on this forum.
Also the name of this site is Precentral - not Sprintcentral.
Actually the main problem is the american (and Canadian) mobile business where the carrier tells you which mobile you may use in his network.
Here in Germany I actually don't bother too much which carrier "has" which phone in his sortiment, because I just buy whatever I want and use it wherever I want.
Ok, it's nice if all major carriers would offer those phones in their stores, because this would certainly boost the sales, but for me personally it makes no difference, if I want a phone, I get it.
No. We'll shut up when we can buy a new webOS phone Sprint.
So, never then? Ok.
Talk to Sprint when none of these devices coming show up on their Android-centric network. Carriers make the call on taking EVERY device.
Toasters are a joke, and old. Coming weeks/months, was never a joke. Borders on fraud. And nothing has changed. That's even older and more annoying. You johnny-come-lately types haven't watched this brand fail and pull us like suckers through time with false promises and silence.
Only five johnny-come-latelys to down tick me? The ranks are thinning.
I don't believe that it will be out in a 60 to 90 day-range... My retailer where I pre-ordered my Pre 3 tells me, that he will have Pre 3s in stock at June the 17th.
On the other hand there is no place where I can already pre-order a Touchpad... But I guess both will come in around the same time.
Amazon.de lists the Pre3 "Lieferbar ab dem 30. Juni 2011.". It will be at 433 EUR which is cheaper than the Pre2 (459 EUR).
I bought it here for 409 €
https://www.computeruniverse.net/products/90415876/hp-pre3-webos.asp?sr=...
Man, I really want a Touchpad, but I really don't need it. I have a very expensive laptop. I have a desktop. I have an eBook reader. I have a Pre 2. And now I'm thinking about getting a touchpad. What, am I crazy?
No... You're what they call an 'early adopter' and HP loves you... :)
I think you'd have to claim early adoption for slate computers to be around the 2004 range as that's when tablet computers were available.
However, if you want to define slate computers as something encompassing an iOS, or Android Honeycomb operating system it is still in an early adoption phase.
I realize the terms early adoption are loose and meaningless. I'll just say that I can travel extensively around Silicon Valley where I live for days and days and not run into an iOS or Android tablet.
Exactly. Early adoption is people that are first into a concept, not first into the latest model. I can be the first person to buy the latest Corolla. Doesn't make me an early adopter.
I think you are crazy! All you need to really do is wait on the Pre 3! It will bridge any features gap you are missing between your Pre 2 and your laptop! It's big enough to do most everything you would do on a Touchpad, not to mention, you get a physical keyboard. The only thing keeping me from any kind of pad is the virtual keyboard. And, of course i can get a bluetooth kb, but then, wouldn't that put me right back at my laptop? Seriously, a TP/IPAD/Playbook/etc.. are nothing more than niche devices right now. I will buy one when my laptop dies and, by then, I'm sure the replacement will pack a big punch and may even have slide out keyboards to boot!
A 7" TP almost makes more sense than a 10". it gives me better portability/mobility, and doesn't have me thinking that I'm using a laptop or a cell phone!!! And, because it's more portable, I won't need to spend 100s of $$$ in accessories to make it comfortable to use!!!
And yes, I want the Pre 3 too! I have a fever, and the only cure is... more WebOS!
I don't consider a slate a laptop replacement. It's good for some things, but should not be thought of as a replaceemnt. Instead think of it as a stopgap device. There are times when a laptop is too bulky to -go- where you go, and a phone is too small, yes even with 3.6", it's not the same. I carry my iPad to meetings, any time I want web access without having to lug a laptop, etc. I use it at home when I just want to get online quickly and check something, including email, reservations, etc. Slates don't currently do office apps well.
You're not crazy at all. Depends how much extra cash you have and what other expensive hobbies you have :). If you need a light weight, instant on, relatively long battery life (compared to power laptops) device for frequent but short burst tasks like emailing, reading an occasional ebook, watching a video or playing a game or surfing, then a good tablet is an excellent device. For frequent business travelers, tablets are a good alternative to laptops.
Actually, in reality, you don't "need" any of that. It's just awesome to have one anyways. We're all crazy
Do you mind if I just cut and paste this and send it to my wife as an email?
I've got a fever, and the only prescription is... more WebOS!!!
If the "60-90 day range" release date for the Pre3 is true, I suspect that this is a choice related to LTE readiness (i.e. GSM versions). I suspect that the Pre3 will be "true" 4G ready when released.
Pre3 is set, no LTE. HP Palm doesn't delay stuff to make it better. They delay stuff because they didn't have it ready on time. When was the last time Palm/HP upspec'd a device. Better, when what the first time it happened?
and you know it's not ready because?...
Because the FCC filings are complete. Combined with 11.5 years of observation and now three years of let-downs and disappointments. I dont know if Pre3 is ready, it's not late until Sept 22. But I believe Kerris said they'd launch together at a recent developer meet-up in Europe. Time will tell if "Say anything" continues to be the HP mantra.
Because he is our own board-troll who knows everything...
When Pre3 comes out with LTE, then I'm a troll. Until then, you're our high school moop on mommy and daddy's account.
http://www.lizzynet.de/wws/pics/2728740-14954276-1-dyle731.gif
It's funny but a little easter egg like that is probably worth a $100K in sales (guessing). Fun way to demo cards to your friends and co-workers. Nice.
Yeah, I'm psyched and looking for the Pre 3 and Touchpad combo. Been saving money and watching my Pre Plus age. Hope that Tethering app works with the Touchpad, it's tough with the 3G network but "any port in a storm".
I'm not sure how it wouldn't work with the touchpad. The tethering app simply creates a wifi signal for any device to pickup. What's stopping the touchpad from using that signal like any other device?
I really want a Touchpad, however, I am being forced to purchase (reimbursable) an iPad by my company due to the fact our client - a huge national retailer - is using iPads for many programs going forward - oh well.
I still have my pre- until the Pre3 launches unless I am forced into another phone too.
Keep the news coming . . . makes me happy !
LOL...someone downranked you for acknowledging reality.
60-90 days...so, we're talking August or September for Pre3? That's bogus, HP. In fact, you're doing WORSE than Palm did when they announced the Pre- in January and released in June. I know you're supposedly planning for the long haul, but at this rate, it's a 'long haul' just from announcement to the release!!
I sure hope this is only a bad rumor and isn't actually true...
Doesn't summer end about September 20th? I'd rather have the Pre 3 yesterday, but at this point, they are still on schedule.
Yes, but I still don't think that it will be that late. Otherwise it wouldn't be possible to pre-order it already.
I really really hope there is no truth to the Pre3 60-90 day release estimation. I am wanting a 3.5" to 4" slab keyboardless webOS phone more then anything else but will take a Pre3 since im not gonna wait till Q4 at the earliest or Q1 '12 for that device. I am on Verizon now and wanna move back to Sprint but dont want another Android phone although the Nexus S 4G is currently pretty enticing being a pure Google phone. Already having a iPad 2, I am contemplating whether I should get the TouchPad, I do love webOS infinitely more then iOS and I know I will love it especially if there are going to be all these exclusive apps and the announcement of a an official first party full fledged Facebook app for the TouchPad is a pretty big deal since it will beat the iPad to market since Facebook doesn't have an official app for iPad. I am definitely looking forward to it, two more weeks to go :)
LOL. A year ago most people around here were talking about why they didn't need a tablet. Now, half of you have a tablet or two already and say that you are thinking about getting a TP when it comes out. Sounds like a bunch of hot air to me.
Typical UntidyGuy post. Thanks.
I was expecting to have both the TP and the Pre3 by July... Guess it´s not going to happen
The gadget junkie in me wants to line up and grab this thing. The realist in me wants to know why I have to pay twice as much as I would for a notebook that has way more useful functions and 10 times the memory.
i've had a Pre- from day 1 (I waited in line 3hours before the store opened) I will wait and see if the Pre3 will be on Sprint before buying a TouchPad.
Make it Right!
Sprint & HPalm, Make it Right!!!
You've had plenty of time to come up with so many ways to Make it Right!
Just wondering when the Pre4(or other WebOs phones) & the HP TouchPad2 will be released...In The Coming Months.
They have to know that they are so far behind the curve. Will they ever pickup the pace?
Just repeating this stuff doesn't make it true.
How is the TP "behind the curve" - let alone "so far"?
I'm not even planning on getting a Touchpad (not very interested in the tablet form factor) - but TP is fully competitive with the IPad and most of the Android tablet I've seen so far - except for the App market - where they are admittedly way behind.
But that's something that can only be fixed over time and will take a while.
It would be fair to say that the TP is not ahead of the curve - which it seem many have (unrealistically) hoped for.
Funny, how this is such a good, positive article, but most everybody latches on to the 1 thing they think is bad--HP staying on original schedule for Pre 3.
I hope the Pre 3 comes sooner than this projection, but glad they seem early on the TouchPad, the App Catalog is no longer geo restrained (on webOS 3.0) and there is a surprise or two coming on the TouchPad.
Not sure why they didn't use the HP Byron Nelson Championship for more TV ads. HP's brand was everywhere but the ads were mainly for e-print & a notebook computer--at least in my 1 1/2 days of watching.
I'm guessing that lots of people are of a similar mindset to my own. I want a TouchPad and I want a Pre3. But I'm not willing to buy either until I can buy both so a delay in Pre3 availability means a delay in buying a TouchPad. Since TTS is a key feature that I anticipate using it makes little sense to start with a halfway solution.
Also, Sprint is my preferred carrier and I would like my TouchPad to be Sprint + WiFi. If no such product is announced then my interest in a TouchPad + Pre3 (also on Sprint) drops some. Maybe enough to consider an Android-based phone/tablet combination.
I'm in the same boat. I have unfortunately had to come up with some Android alternatives. :-(
I think it may have something to do with the fact that the Pre3 (GSM) got out of the FCC on the same day as the TouchPad, and even the CDMA version was only a couple weeks later. To then delay release 2-3 months just smacks of delay for the sake of delay. Technically, the thing is ready. If it's running the same ver. OS as the Veer, then the software is ready, too. Why the delay then?
That's something that astonishes me again and again.
The idea that HPalm for some weird elf-mutilating reason wants to shoot themselves in the foot and delay just to annoy us.
In my thinking HPalm is way more interested to get this out than we are. They wants our preciousss (i.e. money). If they could have released it competitively in march they would have done so. There can be no realistic doubt about it. The alternative doesn't make any sense.
So if (so far almost everything here is rumors anyway) they delay the Pre - my thinking is that they had no choice because something is not ready.
That something doesn't need to be technical. It could be a matter of carrier demands for example.
A wifi version of the TP can be released by HPalm any day they are ready.
Anything running on a carrier network needs obviously cooperation from that carrier.
Perhaps the launch partner have too many device launching in june already and weren't willing to slot it in before july.
For all of you waiting for and wanting a Touchpad, I am excited for you. It seems that your product is imminent.
Meanwhile, I give up on checking for news about the Pre3. I know this is about the Touchpad, but that "60-90 days" tidbit was the final straw for me. I refuse to torture myself any more than I already have. I just bought a laptop and really don't have a true need for a tablet, nor can I afford one at this point. The Pre3 was the only thing I wanted, but I'm just about out of patience.
I check this forum everyday hoping for some news on the P3, but I get nothing but vague date ranges. This has been the most frustrating few months of my life (in regard to a specific product).
Once again, I am excited for all of the people waiting for the Touchpad. I hope you all enjoy it once released. I'll be checking around for reviews.
Totally agree. Like you, I also know that this was an article for the touchpad but the 60-90 days for the pre3 part sticks out like a sore thumb. I don't really take that news as a firm release time frame from HP though. That said, I do feel heartbroken. I may see how cheap I can find a unlocked veer. I do need to replace my pre plus but I don't want to sign a contract for the little guy. Ahhh, what to do, what to do?
Veer is att exclusive only. They wouldn't give me the codes i tried and called very nicely. They said they will not provide codes at this time. But hey hspa+ wont work on any other carrier except att here in the states so might as well try it out. I love mine. It gets really good speed. Never going back to 3g even though i know i don't have lte like speeds.
60-90 days is perfect! I was wondering how I would make it. My contract is not up until September and I did not want to pay full price!
LOL that's exactly what's happening to me! haha
Pull a card down and it yells? WTF?
Calm down. It's obviously not the standard behaviour.
Just a fun little optional joke feature.
***ATTN: HP MARKETING ***
Do Not Use that product shot! That case makes the touchpad look like a chunky beast in comparison to the iPad2, but it's not. It's really quite svelte. Use product shots that show that.
Actually, it's chunky by 2011 standards.
Yes, I agree - that's the first thought I had when I saw that pic. It makes it look quite thick.
That's gotta be the least flattering angle I've ever seen.
"Does this touchstone make my backside look thick?"
Meanwhile over on the HP website...user comments...here are the first few (or more for you literalists - ha):
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/321957-321957-64295-384126...
an't wait for web o/s
Date: May 13, 2011
"I have had this device for a week - I am not impressed but it may just be because of the o/s.
If you think this is a tablet like an Ipad - think again, it is not.
If, however, you think this is a windows laptop without a keyboard, it is.
I find the interface very awkward after using an ipad. It just doesn't work easily.
I truly think the form should be a bit bigger too.
As a point of reference I am a CIO and have been for 10 years. We are a Microsoft shop. I was really hoping to deploy the slate for our line managers but this is not going to work."
32 out of 45 people found this review helpful.
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2 out of 5
jbank
this would be great if there was nothing else
Date: May 5, 2011
"well its a touch device. it runs windows 7 as expected. If you are looking for your latop with touch functionality and a stylus this is it. I also like the size, it is not too big and not too small.
The issue is with windows 7, it is not a good mobile OS and the table functionality does nto compare to the competitors as far as ease of use and productivity goes.
the quality of build is also poor, for a device that is comparable in price to high end versions of other tablets there was obvious flaws in uild quality. Also the screen is lacking in quality it is dull with low contrast rates. This makes the wholewindows 7 experience feel a little dubbed down.
All in all I know this is the perfect tablet for some. but for everyone else this device just does not compare to other products out there."
13 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
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4 out of 5
IT Man
Cool Device
Date: April 13, 2011
"I am an IT Manager, and am carrying one around. For basic productivity and portability, it's completely adequate. Instead of lugging my 17.3 inch laptop around our campus, I carry my Slate around. I have a lot of software installed on it, and use it for note taking in meetings as well as giving training sessions. I can also use it to VPN to work from home. Excellent little machine!"
39 out of 42 people found this review helpful.
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4 out of 5
cdnhcoach
Almost there
Date: April 12, 2011
"I am impressed with the unit, even though there are limitations.
I purchased a netbook navigator nav 9 before this and I am much happier with the HP unit, which I have been using for only about 2 weeks.
HP advantages
No fan
Better battery life - probably because of not having a fan
Buttons - it is surprising how important a "sleep mode" button is for conserving battery life and providing "quick on" and a "Cntrl Alt Del" button in the case of a lock up
Flush SD card - SD cards may be expensive, but a flush option lets you decide if you want to have the extra memory.
Accelerometer. The automatic screen orientation is convenient.
HP "opportunities"
3G option does not exist. You can do through the USB, or a blue tooth tether to a cell phone, but it is not convenient.
Case – I think that the case is upside down. If you use it upside down, it is more intuitive to get right side up. If you use it upside down, the case can work as a stand. Unfortunately if you use it “upside down” the cameras do not line up with the holes in the case.
Cat 5 connection. Again, this can be handled through the USB, but with all of these USB connections, I am looking at a hub now.
Power connection – I prefer a simple power plug with two contacts for the reliability.
Accelerometer – I have found that there are only two automatic orientations – I expected four.
Overall, I am happy with the handwriting recognition of Windows 7. Relative to an IPAD…this is a “just PC”. In that, I mean that there are no special “apps”, just all of the programs that you run on your PC, with a file management system that allows you to group different file types into a folder for project management approach to documents.
I expect that there will be better products available from a variety of suppliers in the future (so is the way of electronics), and I am very happy with this purchase."
41 out of 42 people found this review helpful.
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2 out of 5
GS
Functional but not Fantastic
Date: April 11, 2011
"The primary feature I was interested in was the stylus - using OneNote to take hand written notes digitally and ditch the paper. Overall, the stylus accuracy and responsiveness is relatively poor. I disabled the finger-based touch hoping to improve stylus performance, but no luck. Also, Win7 is not really optimized for the tablet form factor, such as the basics like the touch keyboard feature, touch-friendly buttons, etc. As an Android phone user I was expecting touch features that Win7 just doesn't have. Not bad otherwise, suitable as a fun toy but too pricey to be worth it as just a toy."
15 out of 19 people found this review helpful.
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It would be nice to have a Touchpad that you can write on with a stylus and maybe have the possibility of handwritting recognition.
It would take it to the next level immediately.
By the way, why is the post above me about the Slate?