HP | Stuff-Review

HP TouchPad now seen running Android 4.0 thanks to CyanogenMod 9 (video)

January 13, 2012 at 7:36 am

The CyanogenMod Android custom ROM may have just reached an important milestone of 1 million installs, but as we’ve said before, it’s getting ready for even bigger things to come. One of these, is to liberate the HP TouchPad from the uncertainties and lack of app support of WebOS.

We’ve already seen CyanogenMod 7 (CM7) running on the tablet. But the install was plagued with a bunch of issues and CM7 is based on the not so tablet-friendly Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

The CM team has been fiendishly working on the latest version of the ROM, CyanogenMod 9 (CM9), which is based on the spanking new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Although a final stable build of CM9 has not yet been released for any device, the aftermarket ROM has already found its place on the HP TouchPad. It also seems that significant progress has been made since the last time we saw the TouchPad flirting with Android and CM. As you can see in the preview video below, everything is working pretty smoothly, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Only key sticking points remain the camera and video playback.
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HP Envy Spectre ultrabook teased in video

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January 3, 2012 at 7:23 am

HP has just given us a glimpse of its upcoming Envy Spectre ultrabook. The 30-second video doesn’t give us much info on the upcoming notebook other than we should expect it to have an ultrathin profile, pitting it against Apple’s MacBook Air line.

Based on the timing this teaser has been made public, we would expect to see the Spectre in full detail at CES 2012 this month. The MacBook Air line has been extremely successful, and we loved it for its size and convenience. Other manufacturers have been scrambling to get their competing Windows thin-and-light laptops out under Intel’s ‘Ultrabook’ moniker.

It’s unlikely that the Spectre will run on Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge architecture if HP intends to start selling it in early 2011, it will most likely sport Intel’s Sandy Bridge line. Video is after the break.
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HP TouchPad gets webOS update for better performance and new camera app

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October 18, 2011 at 10:40 am

HP had promised to continue to provide over-the-air updates for the now discontinued TouchPad and today we have the first proof of HP’s commitment.

HP has just released software update 3.0.4 for the TouchPad, which will be distributed automatically via Wi-Fi to all devices. The update is said to make the TouchPad snappier, something we’ve found was needed. The new software also includes a new camera app, again something that was lacking, improved messaging and several interface tweaks to make things look nicer.
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HP TouchPad running Android now with Wi-Fi, accelerometer and audio support (video)

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September 19, 2011 at 11:26 am

The modding society has been making progress on porting Android to the HP TouchPad. The latest success comes from the very active CM Team, which has managed to enable all important Wi-Fi connectivity (with ensuing download of Angry Birds) on the TouchPad running CyanogenMod 7 (based on Android Gingerbread).

The team also managed to add accelerometer support, so the TouchPad can now switch between landscape and portrait mode (or play a game of Labyrinth) and work-in-progress audio support. We’re still a long way from a fully working port however, with the current build still lacking bluetooth, camera and gyroscope support among others.

Hit the read more link below for a video showing off the goods, as it’s the only way, for now, you can experience CM7 on the TouchPad.

Public service announcement: European HP TouchPad and Pre 3 pre-firesale customers please claim your refund

News

September 12, 2011 at 5:52 pm

Many of you were able to purchase the TouchPad at bottom prices, but what about the early adopters which found that their weeks old WebOS tablet, had dropped in value by multiples.

Well TouchPad and Pre 3 owners in the UK, France, Germany and Ireland can claim big refunds on their WebOS devices, provided they were activated before August 23rd. The refund that can be claimed is the initial price paid minus the fire sale price. For example, 16GB Touchpad owners can claim the difference between their purchase price and GBP89 in the UK or EUR99 in France, Germany and Ireland. Refunds are of-course also aplicable for 32GB and 64GB TouchPads and the Pre 3. More information can be found on HP’s Refund Program micro-site after the break.

The offer seems to be only available to customers in these four countries, at least for now.

HP is said to produce another run of HP TouchPads to satisfy US fire sale orders that were left hanging when the tablet was quickly sold-out. Europe is not yet said to join-in this second round of joy.
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HP TouchPad running Android 2.3.5 with full multi-touch (video)

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September 6, 2011 at 4:40 pm

Following HP’s discontinuation of the TouchPad and the ensuing fire sale of said tablet for as little as $99, a lot of lucky individuals managed to snap the nevertheless capable tablet. Although HP committed to continue to provide updates to webOS devices, few developers will be willing to port their applications to it, leaving ultimate users with few third-party apps to load onto their devices. Hence started the race of porting Android onto the TouchPad.

The most prominent team so far has been Team-Touchdroid, which regularly uploads videos onto YouTube with updates of their efforts. So far, they had been able to load Android but were lacking touchscreen drivers for any form of touch control. The latest video however, shows that the team has managed to get full 10-finger multi-touch support on a TouchPad running Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread. TouchPad owners anxiously waiting to see the results head over the break to view the video.
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HP will continue to support the TouchPad with OTA updates to improve functionality

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August 30, 2011 at 4:26 am

An HP spokesman has told CNET that, “HP is fully committed to the ongoing support and service of customers who purchased webOS devices”. HP added that it will provide over-the-air updates to the TouchPad which will improve its functionality: “We expect that HP TouchPad owners can look forward to an over-the-air update that will enhance the platform and add functionality and a growing applications catalog”.

HP also mentioned that it has experienced a spike in activations since the TouchPad’s price was reduced down to $99 after the manufacturer decided to exit the market. Well no wonder since these things have sold out everywhere since the price was slashed, though it seems there are still some lying around in retailers’ warehouses.
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Hitler learns that HP is abandoning WebOS

News

August 20, 2011 at 4:04 pm

Well this piece of news has been analysed, probed and dissected from every tech blog out there over and over again. We’ve intentionally stayed away from this, waiting for the dust to settle. However I’ve ran across this video which I found hilarious, enjoy.