Palm webOS Pioneering key features are now borrowed by iOS, Android, and Blackberry.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Palm webOS Pioneering key features are now borrowed by iOS, Android, and Blackberry.

Something that maybe you will remember with love, was written by our colleagues of the CalgaryHerald with an excellent description of every pioneering Palm webOS key features that are now replicated by rival mobile operating systems.

This is what  GADJO CARDENAS SEVILLA, WHATSYOURTECH.CA, CALGARY HERALD said:

It has been two years since HP shelved the webOS mobile operating system it inherited from Palm, yet many of the key features of that pioneering smartphone and tablet OS are now standard features in iOS, Android and even BlackBerry.

I recently revisited webOS by using both an HP Veer and Palm Pre 3 smartphones, neither of which made it to Canada. Despite being left behind in 2011, I found both these devices to be useful and intuitive and the operating system to be both elegant and fast.

Looking at the mobile landscape today, it is clear that a number of webOS-exclusive features were too good to die with the mismanaged OS. They have been ‘borrowed’ by today’s biggest mobile players.

Notifications

webOS had a very elegant way of pushing notifications on the homescreen of devices. The Palm smartphones that had an indicator light would pulse to notify users (not unlike how BlackBerry’s red notification light works).

For newly received messages and e-mails, webOS would flash the headers at the bottom of the screen and users could act on these by clicking to go to the message body or by swiping to the left to dismiss the alert for the time being.

webOS also allowed users to swipe down on the homescreen to toggle important controls such as Wi-Fi, Airplane mode, Bluetooth and even check the battery percentage.

These two features have, in some shape of form, been used in Android as well as iOS. This feature is called Window Shade (since you have to ‘draw’ them down or up to access them) or Control Center in iOS. Notifications on iOS and Android are variations of what webOS has used from the start.

Multi-tasking

webOS touted real-time multi-tasking where you could pause an application, open another, and then go back to the previously opened application without losing your place.

webOS handled this by using the ‘Cards’ paradigm with each app, page or instance, appearing as a card that could be moved around, accessed or swiped away when no longer needed.

BlackBerry’s PlayBook used a similar way to multi-task with an almost identical way to dismiss unused applications; BlackBerry 10 also has a tweaked version of this as well.

This style of multi-tasking will be one of the big features in Apple’s upcoming iOS 7 refresh ,and is an improvement over the way multiple apps are currently handled. Once more, the elegance and efficiency of webOS has transcended its roots and become the preferred way to handle multi-tasking on various mobile platforms.

Touch to Share

Long before NFC (Near Field Communication) was a buzzword for mobile commerce and sharing files between smartphones, webOS had a feature that allowed users of Pre smartphones to share websites, e-mails, photos and various other bits of data between devices.

Samsung’s S Beam feature is very similar although it uses an NFC chip instead of straight-up Bluetooth. S Beam makes it possible to share contacts, photos, audio and video files by simply touching two compatible devices together.

In the Apple world, the feature is coming to iOS 7 in the guise of AirDrop. AirDrop already exists with Apple’s notebooks and desktops, but will become even more useful when iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads can send files wirelessly to each other without requiring to touch each other.

Inductive Charging

The ability to charge your phone or tablet ‘wirelessly’ may seem common now for Nokia Lumia and Nexus 4 owners but this was introduced back in 2009 with its TouchStone charger and remained a feature of all webOS devices until the time that HP stopped making mobile hardware and relegated webOS to open source.

The only feature I don`t see replicated at this time by others mobile manufacturers, is the unique  Palm webOS Wave launcher.

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HP stills thinking on a smartphone

WorldWide Tech & Science.- Francisco De Jesús.

It is very hard to know if  HP will come out with a new webOS smartphone maybe an LG´s at this time. Rumors have said HP is more alike to launch an Android

However HP´s CEO Meg Whitman says:

"Being late you have to create a different set of propositions. There are still things that can be done. It's not late. When HP has a smartphone, it will give a differentiated experience."

When asked about a chances of a future HP smartphone, she said: "The answer is yes but I cannot give a timetable. It would be silly if we say no. HP has to be in the game."

How HP is going to give a differentiated experience, you might have some:

1.- Low Cost

2.- Better software helpful apps than the competition.

3.- webOS resurrected much better.

4.-Better hardware

Source:
indianexpress

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MWC2013: HP Unveils Android Consumer Tablet, the Slate 7.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

MWC2013 :HP Unveils Android Consumer Tablet, the Slate 7.

Experience amazing.

Starting at

$169^.00

Carry your world in the palm of your hand. Think smaller with the HP Slate 7 featuring Android 4.1. Keep your photos, documents, music, games, and apps with you every step of the day. And, access and manage it all on the go¹ with a fully-featured, 7-inch diagonal tablet that brings everything down to size --including price.

Press Release:

HP today announced the HP Slate⁷, an affordable Android Jelly Bean consumer tablet that provides customers with easy access to Google Mobile services.

With a 7-inch diagonal screen and weighing 13 ounces, the HP Slate⁷ is an ideal trusted personal companion, featuring a stainless-steel frame and soft black paint in gray or red on the back. It also is the industry's first tablet to offer embedded Beats Audio, for the best-sounding, richest audio experience available on a tablet.

The HP Slate⁷ delivers the Google experience with services like Google Now, Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive and Google+ Hangouts for multiperson video chat as well as access to apps and digital content through Google Play.⁽¹⁾

"To address the growing interest in tablets among consumers and businesses alike, HP will offer a range of form factors and leverage an array of operating systems," said Alberto Torres, senior vice president, Mobility Global Business Unit, HP. "Our new HP Slate⁷ on Android represents a compelling entry point for consumer tablets, while our ground-breaking, business-ready HP ElitePad on Windows® 8 is ideal for enterprises and governments. Both deliver the service and support people expect from HP."

The HP Slate⁷ joins the recently introduced HP Chromebook as part of HP's push to offer access to the Google experience.

HP's tablet offerings reside in the company's newly formed Mobility Global Business Unit, established in September 2012 with the hiring of Torres. Torres joined HP from Nokia, where he was executive vice president and oversaw the MeeGo products and platform.

HP Slate⁷ makes computing easy while on the go

Powered by an ARM Dual Core Cortex-A9 1.6 GHz processor, the HP Slate⁷ is fast and responsive. Integrated wireless allows customers to access email, the internet and key applications, while the High-aperture-ratio Field Fringe Switching (HFFS) panel offers wide viewing angles that provide easy viewing of documents, games, photos and videos—even in outdoor lighting conditions.

The HP Slate⁷ includes a 3-megapixel camera on the back and a VGA camera on the front for chatting, videos and photos.

With the HP ePrint ⁽²⁾ application, customers can easily print while at home or on the go, and the exclusive native printing capability enables customers to print directly from most applications. A micro USB port allows customers to easily transfer files, and a suite of applications from HP spans exclusive games to productivity tools.

HP will provide an array of simple and easy-to-access support tools and resources to help customers take full advantage of all of the features the HP Slate⁷ has to offer. In addition to extensive phone and online support offerings included with the HP Slate⁷, HP is offering customers the opportunity to add to the standard product limited warranty with its HP Care Pack services. HP Slate⁷ customers will have the option to protect their investment with a two-year HP Care Pack for $29 or a two-year HP Care Pack with Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) for $49.⁽³⁾

Pricing and availability⁽³⁾

The HP Slate⁷ is expected to be available in the United States in April with a starting price of $169.

Additional information about the HP Slate⁷ is available at www.hp.com/slate and The Next Bench.

---

⁽¹⁾ Internet service required and not included. 

⁽²⁾ Requires an internet connection to HP web-enabled printer and HP ePrint account registration. (A list of eligible printers, supported documents and image types and other HP ePrint details is available at www.hp.com/go/eprintcenter.) Mobile devices require internet connection and email capability. May require wireless access point. Separately purchased data plans or usage fees may apply. Print times and connection speeds may vary. 

⁽³⁾ Estimated U.S. street prices. Actual prices may vary. 

Media contacts

• Sheila Watson, HP
  sheila.watson@hp.com

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

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CES2013: Polaroid to unveil Android mirrorless Camera with interchangeable lens.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.       

 CES2013: Polaroid to unveil Android mirrorless Camera with interchangeable lens. 

"There will be an Android powered, interchangeable lens camera introduced by Polaroid at CES 2013," Scott Hardy, president and CEO of Polaroid told Imaging Resource in an emailed statement. "Additional information and specs will be released during the show."

The Polaroid-branded IM1836 mirrorless camera will allegedly feature an 18.1-megapixel sensor, a 3.5-inch touchscreen, and will run Android 4.

ImagingResource

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Q3 2012: Android Marks Fourth Anniversary Since Launch with 75.0% Market Share in Third Quarter, According to IDC .

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Please click on the charts to enlarge the view.

Android Marks Fourth Anniversary Since Launch with 75.0% Market Share in Third Quarter, According to IDC

01 Nov 2012

 The Android smartphone operating system was found on three out of every four smartphones shipped during the third quarter of 2012 (3Q12). According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, total Android smartphone shipments worldwide reached 136.0 million units, accounting for 75.0% of the 181.1 million smartphones shipped in 3Q12. The 91.5% year-over-year growth was nearly double the overall market growth rate of 46.4%.

"Android has been one of the primary growth engines of the smartphone market since it was launched in 2008," said Ramon Llamas, research manager, Mobile Phones at IDC. "In every year since then, Android has effectively outpaced the market and taken market share from the competition. In addition, the combination of smartphone vendors, mobile operators, and end-users who have embraced Android has driven shipment volumes higher. Even today, more vendors are introducing their first Android-powered smartphones to market."

"The share decline of smartphone operating systems not named iOS since Android's introduction isn't a coincidence," said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "The smartphone operating system isn't an isolated product, it's a crucial part of a larger technology ecosystem. Google has a thriving, multi-faceted product portfolio. Many of its competitors, with weaker tie-ins to the mobile OS, do not. This factor and others have led to loss of share for competitors with few exceptions."

Mobile Operating System Highlights.

Android, having topped the 100 million unit mark last quarter, reached a new record level in a single quarter. By comparison, Android's total volumes for the quarter were greater than the total number of smartphones shipped in 2007, the year that Android was officially announced. Samsung once again led all vendors in this space, but saw its market share decline as numerous smaller vendors increased their production.

iOS was a distant second place to Android, but was the only other mobile operating system to amass double-digit market share for the quarter. The late quarter launch of the iPhone 5 and lower prices on older models prevented total shipment volumes from slipping to 3Q11 levels. But without a splashy new OS-driven feature like Siri in 2011 and FaceTime in 2010, the iPhone 5 relied on its larger, but not wider, screen and LTE connectivity to drive growth.

BlackBerry's market share continued to sink, falling to just over 4% by the end of the quarter. With the launch of BlackBerry 10 yet to come in 2013, BlackBerry will continue to rely on its aging BlackBerry 7 platform, and equally aging device line-up. Still, demand for BlackBerry and its wildly popular BBM service is strong within multiple key markets worldwide, and the number of subscribers continues to increase.

Symbian posted the largest year-on-year decline of the leading operating systems. Nokia remains the largest vendor still supporting Symbian, along with Japanese vendors Fujitsu, Sharp, and Sony. Each of these vendors is in the midst of transitioning to other operating systems and IDC believes that they will cease shipping Symbian-powered smartphones in 2013. At the same time, the installed base of Symbian users will continue well after the last Symbian smartphone ships.

Windows Phone marked its second anniversary with a total of just 3.6 million units shipped worldwide, fewer than the total number of Symbian units shipped. Even with the backing of multiple smartphone market leaders, Windows Phone has yet to make a significant dent into Android's and iOS's collective market share. That could change in 4Q12, when multiple Windows Phone 8 smartphones will reach the market.

Linux volume declined for the third straight quarter as did its year-over-year growth. Samsung accounted for the majority of shipments once again, but like most other vendors competing with Linux-powered smartphones, most of its attention went towards Android instead. Still, that has not deterred other vendors from experimenting, or at least considering the open-source operating system, as multiple reports of Firefox, Sailfish, and Tizen plan to release new Linux-based experiences in the future.

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