HP TouchPad Tablets

HP unveils TouchPad tablet PC featuring webOS

According to Computer World, HP’s TouchPad resembles Apple’s iPad (a sleek, black device with a 9.7-inch touch display, weighing in at 1.6 pounds). One advantage that HP may have over Apple is it’s ability to print to HP’s variety of printers, something that Apple doesn’t currently have, but is working on (AirPrint).

The TouchPad uses a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (Apple’s A4 processor is 1GHz for comparison), has a high-resolution, 1024×768 display and is 1.3 centimeters thick at its widest part. It has a 1.3-megapixel webcam (one more than the iPad) and supports video calls in much the same way as Apple’s FaceTime feature (available only on the iPhone). It will come with 16GB or 32GB of storage and has an optional wireless keyboard (sold separately) for people who don’t want to do a lot of typing on the touchscreen.

HP’s webOS productivity suite, TouchPad at Work, includes QuickOffice, Google Docs and virtual private network (VPN) support – and unlike the iPad, Flash is supported. The tablet’s photo app displays photosfrom a user’s Facebook, Snapfish or other online account, and comments posted on Facebook photos can be displayed on images when they are opened on the device. The address book will include LinkedIn and Facebook contacts.

Tablet PCs

HP is entering a crowded field when it comes to tablets, which are becoming more and more popular. Along with the mighty Apple iPad it will compete with devices based on Google’s Android, the latest version of which, Honeycomb, will debut later this month in the Motorola Xoom tablet. That 10.1-inch device will retail for $800, according to a leaked Best Buy advertisement. Compare the iPad to the Xoom. Research in Motion is also in the game with its PlayBook tablet, which runs its own BlackBerry software. There are also tablets based on Windows 7, though Microsoft has struggled to make an impression in the tablet market.

About webOS

HP acquired webOS last April when it bought Palm for $1.2 billion in a surprise move. HP’s own handset business had not been doing particularly well and it saw Palm as a way to give itself a leg up, even though Palm was not a market leader either. This is a case of 1 plus 1 making 11.

HP also saved a surprise for the end — it will bring its webOS to PCs, Bradley said. He didn’t give any details and said HP will talk more about that later in the year. It doesn’t necessarily mean that HP will ship PCs without Windows; it could take some of the webOS components and integrate them to give better synergy between the devices.

HP TouchSmart 520-1030 Desktop Computer – Black

Keep your world clutter free with a PC with one wire – the power cord. The keyboard, mouse, and Internet access are all wireless and the computer is built into the screen – just point to it like a tablet.

The all-in-one design of the HP TouchSmart 520-1030 PC, which has a multi-touch enabled 23” diagonal widescreen Full HD LED backlit display, comes with a built-in suite of touch-optimized applications and supports gestures such as pinch, rotate, arc, flick and press and drag. This HP desktop lets you hear music the way the artist intended with Beats Audio™ Studio Quality Sound. It also has a built-in webcam/microphone, wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n featuring Single-band (2.4GHz) 2×2 MIMO technology, a Slot Load SuperMulti DVD Burner and a wireless keyboard and wireless optical mouse.

This desktop PC is ideal for touchscreen convenience, easy productivity, fun with music, photos and videos. The HP TouchSmart 520-1030 PC puts your entire PC on top of your desk while concealing antennas, cables and messy peripherals. With this HP desktop PC, you can watch HD movies, video chat with friends and family using the built-in webcam and microphone and surf the Web, wirelessly. Simply touch the screen to create playlists, watch, record and upload videos, view and organize photos, browse the Web and more.

HP TouchSmart 520-1030 Reviews

“The set up went very easily…I’ve never had an installation go so smoothly.”

“This was the easiest set up Ive ever had, simply take it out of the box, plug it in and turn it on and thats all there is to it. The on screen instructions take you through the whole process and its done in minutes.”

“Purchased the Hp Touchsmart 520-1030 from amazon it’s a functional very well put together computer.”

Get this computer and have it up and running in 30 minutes. Even if you’re new to computers or your knowledge is limited, this may be the easiest computer set up you’ll ever do. Simply take it out of the box, plug it in and turn it on and thats all there is to it. The on screen instructions take you through the whole process and its done in minutes.

One reviewer said, “This computer is AWESOME. I didnt understand how big a 23 inch screen is, but its big. This is the fastest computer Ive ever used, you click on something and youre there…The keyboard is flat and very easy to get used to and the mouse, like the keyboard came with batteries installed and worked just by turning them on and NO WIRES. The only wire is the power cord…I would recommend this computer to others.”

Step into the world of touch. The sleek, modern design and next-generation touch applications make the HP TouchSmart PC more intuitive, personal, and fun. See the difference HP TouchSmart PCs can have on your computing experience. HP has made big changes to the HP TouchSmart Software. Discover new ways to get organized, be entertained, create, and play. Communicate and access your favorite content with the touch of a finger.

Easy Setup

Another reviewer said, “Purchased the Hp Touchsmart 520-1030 from amazon it’s a functional very well put together computer, all worked well except the internet explorer, it would open some web sites and not others. Tech support was helpful but the issue could not be resolved. Had to return the product. Will purchase the Item again as soon as the issue is resolve.”

Extends the usefulness of the TouchPad – Awesome with Mac Mini and iPad, instead of Apple’s keyboard

Use this HP Wireless Keyboard with your HP TouchPad to type long emails and messages more easily. Built-in Bluetooth lets you connect this ultra-compact wireless keyboard to your HP tablet without a USB receiver. You can also take this keyboard on the go.

It weighs less than 1 pound and is less than 1 inch slim, so it fits into your computer bag effortlessly. With the full pitch design, the keys have plenty of space between them for comfortable typing. Plus, get the most out of your AA batteries with this HP Wireless Keyboard, which powers down when not in use or when the keyboard is out of Bluetooth wireless range. The estimated battery life is seven months.

Here’s what one reviewer had to say about using it with Apple products, “I wasn’t sure if this would work with an iPad and a Mac Mini, but the rest of my computer peripherals are HP and are black, as is the face of my iPad, so I thought I’d give this a try. Lo and behold, it works great.”

Another reviewer, speaking specifically of using it with WebOS, said, “This is a decently functioning keyboard with WebOS specific keys. Additional functionality would be nice, but can be added to WebOS in the future. The keyboard is pretty good for a thin “chiclet” style. The keys have more throw than I expected (a good thing).”

If you want to run Android on your HP TouchPad, here are some links to help you do that, just know that you do so at your own risk and may void your warranty with HP.

Multi-Boot Operating System (OS) – Android and WebOS

• CyanogenMod for TouchPad – Alpha2 – RootsWiki
• How to Install Android on Your HP Touchpad – How to Geek
• How To Install Android On The HP TouchPad : A step-by-step guide – ITReviews
• [Video] of CM7 Android on HP TouchPad

If you’ve installed CyanogenMod’s Android port for the HP TouchPad, find out how to gain full access to the Google Android Market.

How do I know if my HP TouchPad is charging?

If the LED light at the bottom of your HP TouchPad lights up when plugged in, but it never turns on, it may not be charging.

The LED should light up and then thereafter the screen should show a drained battery while its charging.

If the TouchPad is not recognizing that it is plugged in, but the LED light is on try twisting the cylindrical plug by the two prongs (theres a slight play for you to twist) and see if that works. The LED should light up and then thereafter the screen should show a drained battery while its charging.

If a question mark pops up on the battery meter it may not be recognizing the battery. Older webOS devices didn’t boot without a recognized battery. Seems it’s the same for the TP.

If it’s still not charging, you might want to contact HP Support. One person reported being told to “Hold the “on” button, volume up, and home screen, then “on” button and push home screen 15x,” but this didn’t fix the issue.

Easy, wireless charging for your HP TouchPad

Charge your HP TouchPad without wires using the sleek, stylish HP Touchstone Charging Dock. Simply place your tablet in the HP charging dock in either portrait or landscape view. With wireless charging, there are no connectors or cables to untangle. The easel back also lets you adjust the viewing angle to multiple positions, so you can watch videos and read books more comfortably. Browse the web effortlessly without using up the battery on your HP TouchPad. The charge time with this HP charging dock is the same as using a standard AC power adapter. Plus, the HP Touchstone Charging Dock keeps your HP tablet in a safe place when you’re not using it.

One reviewer said, “Forget third party “energizer” charging pads, this charger actually communicates and shares information with the TouchPad.”

Another reviewer said, “This charger is the coolest accessory I think I could get for my Touchpad. It really is awesome. It works great with the leather case on the Touchpad. It’s small enough to go anywhere, and is impossibly easy to use. Literally just set the tablet on it and it’s charging. Fantastic product.”

Lightweight protection for your HP TouchPad

Protect your HP TouchPad with this HP Case, which doubles as a stand for your tablet. When you’re on the go, this lightweight case helps keep your tablet safe from dust and scratches. Watch videos and type easily by folding the case horizontally or vertically to hold your HP TouchPad at an angle. This HP case also has convenient holes that give you access to the headphone jack and on/off/volume buttons on your tablet. Plus, you can charge your HP TouchPad without removing it from the case. Simply connect to the power charger included with your HP TouchPad or place your tablet in the optional HP Touchstone Charging Dock.

One reviewer said, “I’ve been extremely impressed with it. The case fits extremely snugly onto the tablet, and will eliminate all fears of fingerprints on the shiny back of the Touchpad. The case can also be folded back to form a stand to use the Touchpad in landscape mode. It really holds the tablet at a nice angle, and makes typing on it quite easy. I should note that when you fold the case, it uses velcro to form the stand, it does not fold up completely on itself. It is very solid when in this “stand” configuration. The case also does not obstruct usage of any of the buttons on the tablet.”

HP announced on December 9, 2011 that it will contribute the webOS software to the open source community.

HP plans to continue to be active in the development and support of webOS. By combining the innovative webOS platform with the development power of the open source community, there is the opportunity to significantly improve applications and web services for the next generation of devices.

About WebOS

webOS offers a number of benefits to the entire ecosystem of web applications. For developers, applications can be easily built using standard web technologies. In addition, its single integrated stack offers multiplatform portability. For device manufacturers, it provides a single web-centric platform to run across multiple devices. As a result, the end user benefits from a fast, immersive user experience.

“webOS is the only platform designed from the ground up to be mobile, cloud-connected and scalable,” said Meg Whitman, HP president and chief executive officer. “By contributing this innovation, HP unleashes the creativity of the open source community to advance a new generation of applications and devices.”

HP will make the underlying code of webOS available under an open source license. Developers, partners, HP engineers and other hardware manufacturers can deliver ongoing enhancements and new versions into the marketplace.

HP Pivots

While former CEO Leo Apotheker, announced on August 18, 2011 that it would strategically exit the smartphone and tablet computer business, with this announcement, current CEO, Meg Whitman, has reiterated HP’s commitment to webOS as a cloud-connected, scalable platform, while opening up new possibilities for platform expansion and improvement. She has also committed HP to a course of continued improvement to webOS, which means HP is in it for the long haul.

Whitman also said that the company plans to manufacture a WebOS tablet in 2013, even as the company winds down the WebOS-based HP TouchPad tablet.

If you’re wondering where to buy or find free WebOS apps, we’ve compiled a list of where to download free and paid WebOS apps.

While HP TouchPads come with an app called the “HP Apps Catalog” (formerly Palm Apps Catalog), it doesn’t have near the amount of apps that the Android Market (formerly Google Marketplace), Amazon’s Appstore, AppsLib, or iTunes has. HP’s website for Apps is little help. Although it shows you things you could download, there are no links to actually do so. You must go through the app itself.

To find TouchPad apps in the HP App Catalog, look for the little gray words that say “For TouchPad” next to the name of each app. Apps that don’t have these words are Palm Pre apps that can run on the TouchPad, but in a smaller window. And unlike the iPad, you can’t scale them up to full size.

Galleries

• WebOS Apps – A gallery of the best WebOS apps
• WebOS Nation’s App Gallery – The #1 HP webOS, TouchPad, Pre, and Veer Community
• HP WebOS Applications
  • 8tracks (Free)
  • Flickr AIR (Free)
  • MiniSquadron ($2.99)

Free WebOS Apps

• 6 Free WebOS Apps from Palm’s Blog

Best Apps for the HP TouchPad Read the rest of this entry »