HP Announces WebOS Pivot for HP TouchPad

HP today announced HP webOS Pivot, providing users an entertaining and informative editorial resource for discovering webOS 3.0 applications for the HP TouchPad, which launches July 1.

Designed to complement the HP webOS App Catalog, Pivot will showcase a broad range of applications – and the developers who create them – by providing customers the freedom to explore based on their interests and lifestyles. It’s just one of the new ways HP is enhancing the webOS Developer Program and investing further in the success of the growing ecosystem.

“Pivot brings app discovery to a new level for customers and developers alike,” said Richard Kerris, vice president, webOS Worldwide Developer Relations, HP. “We want our partners to experience webOS as the growing platform of opportunity, and we’re investing in new ways to help market their applications on our platform.”

HP Representative Talks About The HP Touchpad on Fox News

Richard Kerris, a WebOS representative for HP, talked on Fox News about how the HP Touchpad will differentiate against the other tablets. Richard said he thought homebrew was great and they supported it. He also mentioned the fact that HP sells 2 computers every second and how WebOS was going to be available on every HP Computer next year. The main feature he talks about is how synergy will keep all devices connected including your PC/laptop, tablet, and smartphone. Richard also slapped the Android OS by saying that developers are frustated wtih fragmentation. He said that with WebOS there will be an ecosystem where HP creates the hardware and the software and that it should make it easy for developers. He also highlighted OTA updates, where you can update your device even if you are in the beach. In my opinion, it wasn't a very good presentation of the Touchpad, he was holding one but never bothered to use it. Watch the video and judge yourself.

HP Touchpad 3G Coming Soon!

There is no official word of a 3G version of the HP Touchpad, but while digging around I came across this interesting specs in the official HP website, below is an image that gave us a hint of the 3G version:

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As you can see, the specs sheet points out that it comes with an A-GPS for 3G models only. That is more than any other rumor to prove a 3G version is coming soon. If you want to double check this finding feel free to click here to revise it.

Facebook App Leaked in Best Buy Ad

It appeats that a Facebook App designed for WebOS 3.0 was leaked in a recent advertisement poster by Best Buy. As you can see, there is an unknown app in the center. By looking at the image, you can see what it appers to be a "News Feed" in the middle section. At the bottom left you can see the "Facebook logo", at the right it appears to be a list of friends in available for "Chat". This seems to be very interesting for the HP Touchpad since it haven't launched and there is already a Facebook app available comparing it with the iPad which is going to be almost 2 years since it launched and no facebook app designed for it is available. I only wonder what other goodies is HP bringing along with the Touchpad.

HP Touchpad Due July 1

The wait is over, the HP Touchpad was finally given a release date for July 1st. It will be the first tablet to come equipped with the next generation of WebOS 3.0 designed specifically for tablets. The 16 GB Wifi version will cost $499 USD while the 32 GB Wifi version will cost $599. Both of these tablets share the same hardware except for storage capabilities. The HP Touchpad will come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-CPU of 1.2GHz, a 1.2 MP front-facing camera, 1 GB of ram, and a 9.7 in. capacitive display with a resolution of 1024x768. For now the HP Touchpad will be sell in black only, even though there have been rumors of a white version going around. The HP Touchpad is expected to be the only tablet to bring some real competition to the iPad, since other tablets like the Galaxy tab and Xoom failed.