HP Launches webOS-Based TouchPad


The HP TouchPad is the first slate built on webOS. It's expected to ship with webOS 3.0.

HP has debuted three new webOS-based mobile devices--a slate called the HP TouchPad and two smart phones, including the smallest webOS-based phone to date.

webOS is the mobile operating system HP acquired when it purchased mobile device manufacturer Palm for about $1.2 billion last July. The move was designed to enable HP to "participate more aggressively in the highly profitable, $100 billion smartphone and connected mobile device markets," as the company put it in its public announcement last summer.

The HP TouchPad represents the first webOS-powered slate. Built around a dual-core, 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8060 processor, the HP TouchPad sports a multitouch-capable 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen with an XGA (1,024 x 768) resolution and 18-bit color. Other features include:

  • 1.3 megapixel, front-facing camera;
  • 802.11 b/g/n wireless networking with support for a variety of authentication methods, including WPA/WPA 2, WEP, and 802.1X;
  • Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
  • Integrated stereo speakers and stereo headphone/mic minijack;
  • USB 2.0 connector for data and charge;
  • 16 GB or 32 GB internal storage; and
  • GPS (with 3G models).

HP said it expects the 1.6-pound TouchPad to be available this summer.

The company also launched two new webOS-based smart phones, the Pre3 and Veer. The Veer, the smallest webOS phone, is roughly credit card-sized in width and height (2.5" x 3.31"), though slightly thicker than the TouchPad at 0.59 inches.

It features:

  • A 2.6-inch touchscreen; (320 x 400 with 18-bit color);
  • A pull-out physical keyboard;
  • 5 megapixel camera;
  • 802.11 b/g/n wireless;
  • Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
  • GPS; and
  • 8 GB internal memory.

The Veer is expected to be available this spring.

Built around a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm MSM 8x55 processor, the Pre3 features a 24-bit, 3.58-inch multitouch display with a WVGA (480 x 800) resolution. It also offers:

  • A slide-out physical keyboard;
  • 5 megapixel camera with flash and up to 720p video recording;
  • 802.11 b/g/n wireless;
  • Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
  • GPS;
  • 512 MB RAM; and
  • 8 GB or 16 GB internal memory.

The Pre3 is expected to ship this summer.

Further information about all of the new systems can be found here.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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