Watch Jon Rubinstein and Todd Bradley live at the Web 2.0 Summit here 84
by Dieter Bohn Tue, 16 Nov 2010 2:08 pm EST
As we mentioned Sunday, Jon Rubinstein and Todd Bradley will be having a "A conversation" with Federated Media CEO John Battelle at 9:10am Pacific / 12:10 Eastern. We'll be curious to see what they have to say about the roll-out of webOS 2.0, the relative lack of carrier-support for the Pre 2, and whatever else they have on their mind (the PalmPad is probably a safe bet). There's also a "special announcement" planned immediately after their chat, but it's not clear whether that's related to Palm and HP or not.
So join us as we watch their talk and if you miss it, fret not, we'll be bringing you the news as it happens.
Update 2: it's over and there wasn't much new, stay tuned for a quick summary.
Source: web 2.0 Summit
84 Comments
Ready and waiting... Please show us something besides WebOS 2.0 and the Pre2.
I really hope they take advantage of this opportunity to show off some hardware or introduce something with specific details. Google got some headlines yesterday with their 'unannounced' phone. HP/Palm needs to use these forums that already have attention since they are not popular enough to create their own and CES is way too far.
I'm tuned in. Let's see what special announcement they have.
Just because the Special Announcement followed HP Palm on the schedule, doesn't specifically mean it was HP Palm that had something special to announce. Because I didn't see any other Special Announcements following any other scheduled conversations, I thought it could be from HP Palm, but I am not disappointed they didn't. All eyes on CES.
Thanks for putting a live feed.
Yeah, thanks for the live feed!
I really don't think there'll be any hardware here though. I think there's a higher chance we'll be hearing about the long-term cloud-based goals and visions of HP Palm -- without actually seeing anything tangible that isn't a printable translucent display prototype someone at Veridian Dyn.., uh, HP Labs whipped up the other week.
It seems they are running way late. 9:13 Pacific here and this lady just got started with her presentation..
haha WebOS isn't even on the chart. Sad
Is that surprising :-\
All the proceeding conversations have been on how the 'Other' smartphone OSes have been decreasing in interest lately. Rubys got his work cut out for him.
It seems like they're running about 15 minutes late, according to their schedule.
Isn't meeker one of tech analyst who fueled the tech bubble by recommending garbage stocks?
I wish I could watch the video above, but since my Sprint Pre STILL DOES NOT HAVE ADOBE FLASH, I cannot. Uh oh... And I am a HUGE webos fan, but one of my eyes is already on Android, and the other one is slowly drifting that way as well. Somebody help, Please!
It'd be the same if you have any other OS out there except Android 2.2 right?
*sigh*
They are on now (11:30 CST)
Tod couldnt make it???
Rubi said PRINTERS!!
Todd Bradley couldn't even find the time to show up.
Sigh.
He said, before people only had one option, and now there will be multiple devices. Do you think he was referring to phones or all around webOS devices (printers, etc.)?
Ha. The fact that the interviewer is focusing exclusively on Rubinstein's time at Apple just shows how irrelevant Palm is right now.
They need new hardware. Immediately. And it would be great if Rubinstein's boss could at least pretend to care and actually show up for events like this.
What the hell is happening?
Obviously you don't know the point of this event. You need to know some of Rubinstein's history to know where he's coming from with webOS, and obviously a big part of that was Apple.
Fair point, but you have to admit that it sends mixed signals to hear Rubinstein talking about the importance of Palm to HP's future and meanwhile HP's scheduled representative is absent.
Yeah, I guess so. HP is still focused on PC's, laptops, and printers. Every pundit is saying that mobile sales will outpace PC sales soon, but HP doesn't seem to be recognizing that. Who knows, maybe Palm will be important to HP's future, but right now it's just another one of their properties.
where is the live blog?!?!?!
If you're like some people and don't have flash (at work or wherever), people are updating here:
http://forums.precentral.net/showthread.php?p=2761371&posted=1#post2761371
2500+ people watching. I wonder if they're all yawning too...
where is the live blog?!?!?!
Annnd there it is...
"...we have nothing to show today"
There you go, confirmation that 2.0 is coming to the "current customer base"
webOS 2.0 Over the next few months!?
Hahaha. Next "few" months. We won't see it until CES. Excellent...
new devices same time next year?
I think Telcel users are cracking up hearing Rubinstein tout OTA updates as a feature.
Man, people aren't happy with ANYTHING on here. What I got is that they have been working as hard as they can since June. They can only do so much in that time. Next year they have many devices coming out so CES could show a lot. 2.0 is coming to everyone. They plan on hitting it hard next year. I think it sounds good.
they've been working hard. They can only do so much in 1_2_4_5...months. Blah blah blah. It's the same old apologies for Palm and HP I've been hearing for months.
"We've got some great smartphones, a great tablet, several products that we think will be hits. You'll see us aggressively rolling out new devices, get webOS on printers."
Wish he would elaborate more on that. Also funny to see him avoid the user base question.
:(
Ugh, whatta CEO answer Rube, the guy very plainly asked what can we look forward to next year, and the answer was basically nothing. That's just discouraging..
"Sorry, I don't have specific dates. Stay tuned."
Very CEO answer right there. He didn't even answer the last guy's question about dual-core and other hardware.
"We've got some great smartphones, a great tablet, several products that we think will be hits. You'll see us aggressively rolling out new devices, get webOS on printers."
Doesn't sound like nothing to me.
The products they are going to release NOW is the Pre 2 and webOS 2.0 to existing devices (depending on carrier). The End
Then next year the show begins.
Can you say - stutter
Ugh. The roadmap again?!
OMG people. He's not going to announce anything BIG. Thats what CES is for.
that guy asked a great question. Where is the awesome hardware!!?? but we got a bogus answer :(
Our patience is running out Jon. But you're still a cool guy
Looks like we're gonna have to wait 50 days for a good answer to that question.
I know that this isn't a CES where major announcements are made but as CEO he's gotta realize that the product is dying and people need something new! Even if he just strung us along with a teaser instead of 'exciting products.'
Welp, Ruby, just walked off, and gave us a vague glimpse of the future as usual, not even a clue. He did mention, multiple phones, so for people who don't avidly read preCentral, this is big news. See everybody at CES :P
Yea not even a teaser, either HP/Palm is super tight lipped, or they just don't have anything to tease about.
*sigh* that is such a dumb response, we KNOW they have more devices, it makes sense they dont want to tell everyone until they are ready to ship so ideas are not copied.
Plus, they don't want to promise something and later fail to deliver. How long have we been promised flash? If you're in Palm's position, you have to play it safe or risk being written off as just more hype.
So ideas are not copied??? You're delusional if you think anyone's watching them so closely so they can copy their ideas.
You're uninformed if you think the entire industry isn't watching Palm for their ideas. It happens all the time across every industry: little guy joe has a great idea, but can't act upon it; Huge Honking Conglomerate is bereft of ideas, but has endless capital to make dreams come true. Gamblers who show their cards too early don't sit at the table for long.
pipeline? roadmap>? how long are these things? holy shit....i dunno see you later palmm.........btw(jon is the worst speaker).. cant give us anything exciting.. it was a history lesson about his career.
Why does everyone think that we'll see something at CES? Just because Palm originally debuted webOS at CES, doesn't mean HP will have anything to announce there. Has anyone from HP specifically gone out on a limb and said "you'll see some great things at CES"?
So far every conference where HP/Palm was rumored to announce something 'big' has been a disappointment. Who's to say CES won't be the same way?
CES 2009 is where the pre was announced. CES 2010 is where the Pre Plus was announced. Why would you think they WONT announce anything in 2011?
I think that's exactly why. CES 2009 marked a new era for Palm, and hopefully CES 2011 will mark a rebirth for webOS. Rubinstein himself in the interview said you'll see some great new products (that he's hoping will be hits) in the next year. You have to assume that, since HP/Palm is having a presence at CES, they'll announce something.
I'm just hoping it isn't the webOS printer...
CES is bigger than all those other shows, combined. PLUS, none of those other shows were really the appropriate venues for major product announcements.
I agree - our patience is running out and unfortunately, Palm is moving so slow that now they'll be buried by all the Windows 7 hype. It will be a miracle if Palm survives. I'm hoping - but dying holding my breath.
Nobody is going to be buried by that hype. It's all hype that Microsoft bought with their deep pockets.
Perhaps the most worrying comment was that Ruby said he thought the Pre was ahead of every other device when it was first released. Yes, he was referring to the hardware. He has got to be high and drunk to believe that.
I think he meant hardware specs, and not hardware quality.
Also he meant January 2009 when it was showcased at CES.
Then it was, but by the time they got it out on Sprint in June Apple had caught up with the iphone 3GS
Yep, hardware quality left a lot to be desired, but hardware specs were on par with the top-tier phones of Summer 2009.
Wasnt it..spec wise?
I know build quality was nothing to write home about but specs wise, It was ahead of the iPhone 3G or Qualcomm 500MHz Android devices with crap GPUs, and pretty much remained equal with the 3GS too
Actually, he's right. The Pre used the same processor as the original Motorola Droid, but 5 months earlier.
We got nothing from this!!!!
CES 2011 is the last straw for me... if they dont announce anything by then, i will be taking my money elsewhere.
We really weren't expecting much from this, either. Considering the other stuff going on this week it was possible, sure, that they could have teased something new today, but no one was betting on it.
Missed it and I can't find the archive anywhere. Could someone point me to the video archive?
This was almost painful to watch. Like you're watching a movie and you have to pee, but you're in the middle of the row.
It's not like he's going to bring a prototype with him like someone else we know, but the holiday season is...right now. And if people don't have any glimmer, then platform changes are easier to make. Yes, people keep saying 'if they dont blah blah blah, i will switch switch switch,' you have to realize that you have a bunch of people hanging from a thread, and their 'palms' are sweaty, and its tempting to let go.
his answers were timid and there was nothing to be excited about. oh. and HP guy wasn't there, he had to wash his hair.
Making an announcement now wouldn't change their prospects for the holiday season. As of now, only Verizon is confirmed for the Pre 2, and we still don't know when that will launch. If they make an announcement today, people will start buying Pre 2's just because?
You guys are savages!
Yup. And our blow darts are currently aimed squarely at Rube. I'd love to have more advanced weapons, but it looks like I'll have to wait until CES at the earliest to get them.
I don't know about everyone else, but his comment about new devices coming out over the next 12-18 MONTHS is very disheartening! That makes it look more & more like CES will be a bust or at least it will be MONTHS after an announcement before we see devices on carriers. I'm really thinking it is time to go to the dark side of Android in the very near future. Been trying to hold off, but my Pre is starting to get old & the lack of good/useful apps is getting to be too much. The Epic is looking better & better.
Hmm...
It was good to hear from Rubi simply because I haven't seen or heard from him or Palm in a long while.
I think Todd should have been present to handle the larger details and aspects about HP that Rubi isn't aware of...like for instance "HP is a HUGE company" and "in Computers, Servers, Printers, Networking, and now Phones" and "of course HP will be Revolutionary come 2011."
The question relating for developers was spot on these aspects alone and mentioning HP size, financial support, and industry backing is a great segway and motivator for present and future developers thinking about webOS as an options.
Rubi simply had to hold his own answering for Todd "missing" Bradley and did exactly what he should have done as GM of Palm Global. Sorli...
For those expecting him to show a phone or leak out information that YOU want to here, I think you kind of lost the point of focus with this conversation. This isn't a Palm/HP event. Dont get me wrong, I would have loved to hear about new phones, and where their roadmap leads them. But thats not what he was there for. But I am very pleased with the little bit he has said. Its obvious that webOS is still learning to walk and HP is putting alot behind it to bring it from an infantile crawl to an olympic sprint. Jon said we will see webOS on multiple devices and tablets coming up, even sort of leaving printers in a whole different category. To me, what he said was not only Smartphones and Tablets, but other things related to them and qualify to be in that category. I know that may not be interesting in the eyes of those of you that are only focused on Phones, but for the rest of us that are PALM and webOS lovers, thats a great thing to hear. He also stated that there will be an aggressive push for the new products they have in store for us. I expect after CES (The Appropriate Time For The Appropriate Announcement) the flood gates will open. HP is no baby faced company, so I expect ads, commercials, internet ads, etc. I think the Pre was Palms final goodbye in the smartphone world. They already knew they werent going to be able to compete or keep up with the likes of the iPhone (Jon said it himself.) The Pre2 in my eyes is sort of like a rumor of things to come. It has people wondering about webOS 2.0 and even puts it out there for people to see. CES will be the "Official Trailer" showing people exactly whats to come....not only the smartphone world (which is the only thing some of you care about), but also in the electronic world (tablets, PC, webOS type iPod, Media Devices, etc). Many of you think that Palm has lost momentum and people have lost interest in it. Thats far from true. Look at whats been coming out lately with RIM and their webOS like Tablet, WM7 and its webOS like user friendly interface, and even iOS with its webOS like focus on multitasking. These people are watching! Developers are watching and waiting. Believe me, these developers are waiting, like us, for an official copy of this "roadmap." Why? Because its another way to put some money in their pockets. Any TRUE business man knows different options and choices in ways to make a buck is nothing but positive. Jon is not a dumb man, and if he felt the future in webOS was going to be a waste of time and effort, he would still be retired. He has no reason to "hope" webOS will be successful. He is probably still eating off of ipod money. He even gave us a personal message "Be Patient." Most of you complaining and saying NOW NOW NOW are the types of people that companies love. They will milk you for their money. Android and Apple are waiting for you with open arms and treats in their hands. If you're a "Now" person, then go right ahead. Palm and HP arent worried or threatened by it. You wanna know why???? Because you are a "NOW" person. The minute they (HP/Palm) let loose their products, and you have started anew with that other company, you will turn around, look at Palm and go "I NOW Want That!" and will come back. You guys arent the only ones in the world with a desire for a new phone or not stuck in contracts. There will be many more that will come. I'll patiently wait. Believe it or not, I felt the same exact way about Apple, when all they Windows lovers bashed Apple fans. "Just be patient and watch what apples going to do." i said. Think about the big picture. I bet none of you thought that a company (Apple) making colorful laptops and desktops that were a joke, would be the same company that has the iPod, iPad, iPhone, and Macs line up, did you? Be Patient. Jon knows what he is doing.
I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you through that wall of text you built. Could you cliff notes that for me?
I am NOT reading your rambling manifesto unless you first break it into paragraphs to show that your thoughts are organized enough to be worth reading.
Manifesto. =)
Good points, I agree with much of what you said, and yes paragraphs would help break your overwhelming points of interest. Sorli...
There is no reason to wait for CES if they have something now. CES buys them time it is not needed.
How many people wandering around Best Buy,Target or the Mall give a care about CES? How many Android devices that are selling in the millions waited for CES to come out (since the G1)?
CES seems to be a stall tactic or an idea invented by users.
Palm may have had nothing in the hopper (at the time of the buyout) but the Pre 2 b.c they were scrambling to find a buyer. That is hardly the environment for world class industrial design to flourish.
Whatever comes out at CES will be in all likelihood an HP designed device(s) and will be a prototype. I am expecting June 1, 2011 ship date for an Evo killer with March 15th as the long shot
If they had it now it would be out now. Leaked images etc.
Waiting until after the holidays when millions will lock themselves away in 2yr contracts is not a great sales strategy for a OS that is hanging on by a thread.
Perfectly valid point about CES following the holiday shopping season after people get locked into their contracts, but even if they announce now, they still don't launch before CES.
Plus, CES = HUGE. More than the thousands of online eyeballs they might have at an off-schedule event such as we expect, at CES they will have at least that many actual, physical, in-the-room, human bodies to butter up, plus tens of thousands of eyeballs from across the globe just because it is CES.
Further, Palm has showed an unprecedented ability to keep products under wraps that even Apple can't match. So, no leaked images means nothing whatsoever.
:(
I tuned in for the video (albeit, late and missed Ruby) but I can't think anyone was honestly expecting a hardware announcement here. Yes, small part of me was hoping that we'd get some new morsel, but I was simply wanting this conversation to not be more of the same, but it appears it was (again, I missed the interview). What bothers me, then, is that they had a conversation at all. Reruns and leftovers does not make an appetizing meal time. It's also possible, however, that what ever kept Todd Bradley away also changed the topics that were gonna be covered.
Still, CES is the end zone. We may already be in the Red Zone, so to speak, but I'm not sure. We can't get hardware and software opinions at the same article. A few of our brethren, worldwide, have it in hand, but Verizon has yet to even announce when they'll release it. I can't see when crunch time starts, but I'm not uncomfortable yet. I just don't want to have to extend the back of that end zone to allow Palm another hail mary.