pre3

Could HP bring WebOS back?

commentary If Hewlett-Packard is flip-flopping on the PC business, it should go all the way and bring WebOS and the mobile business back as well.

After an evaluation of the business, HP said today that it would keep its personal systems group, aka its consumer PC business, calling it the best move for shareholders, consumers, and the company.

The decision caps off a dizzying few months for HP, which today is putting the kibosh on the complete transformation of the company from a consumer electronics product manufacturer to a business-class software and consulting services provider. In its bid to get … Read more

Facebook bumps up privacy controls

The new iPhone may land on Sprint by mid-October, developers can start submitting apps for Windows Phone 7 "Mango" due out next month, and Facebook has announced new privacy controls.

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

New BlackBerry Curve arrives

RankMyHack.com lets hackers brag about their latest endeavors, the iPhone 5 is rumored to be a dual-mode device, and Research In Motion has released a new BlackBerry Curve.

Links from Tuesday's episode of Loaded:

HP to U.S.: No Pre 3 for you

While everyone was busy picking up $99 HP TouchPads this weekend, I was holding out hope for a similar fire sale for the HP Pre 3, but it looks like that's not going to happen. At least, not in the States anyway.

HP confirmed to PCMag.com today that the WebOS smartphone will not be sold in the U.S. Instead, it will be sold unlocked in the U.K. and France, but at a drastically reduced price of around $75 (down from $490 to $500). Since it is a quad-band GSM phone, you would be able to use it here with AT&T and T-Mobile service, but only on their EDGE networks.

If you're still keen on getting one, be prepared to act quick. HP said the Pre 3 is already sold out in Germany, and the smartphone is expected to go on sale in France and the U.K. "shortly."

Anyone going to try to pick one up? … Read more

Rumor: HP Pre 3 not coming to Sprint

The HP Pre 3 is expected to be one of the summer's biggest smartphone releases, but it looks like the WebOS-based smartphone won't be coming to at least one of the major U.S. carriers.

According to This is My Next, Sprint will not offer the Pre 3 and there's even some doubt over Sprint and HP's future together. The source did not provide any details on what brought about the decision, but some think it might have to do with the disappointing sales of the original Palm Pre, which exclusively launched with Sprint in June … Read more

The 404 755: Where the Verizon iPhone is too damn cold (podcast)

Hundreds of Appleheads lined up last summer for the release of the Apple iPhone 4, but the turnout for today's Verizon iPhone 4 offering is significantly more dismal thanks to the frigid temperatures. Nevertheless, our CNET TV team braved the weather to bring you coverage, so check it out!

HP announced three new WebOS devices yesterday, and shoppers can now pick between small, medium, and large: the HP TouchPad, HP Pre 3, and HP Veer.

The Veer is essentially a microscopic version of the Palm Pre, with a QWERTY keyboard, and we like its 3.6-inch capacitive screen, but we're mostly excited about the latest version of WebOS.

Unfortunately, former Palm CEO Jon Rubinstein announced yesterday that due to hardware constraints, HP had to break its promise that the first-generation Palm smartphones (Pre, Pre Plus, Pre Pixi) would get the 3.0 update. They won't.

So, basically, you'll need to buy into the new HP ecosystem if you want to benefit from new features like instant sync and the ability to receive and answer texts and calls on your HP TouchPad.

HP's newest tablet PC sounds good (for now) with a Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 9.7-inch touch display with the same resolution as the current iPad, and a single 1.2MP front-facing camera, but we're wondering if it's too little, too late for HP to enter the market, especially since there's already chatter about an Apple iPad 3 coming this fall.

We hate to spend so much show time speculating, but the Wall Street Journal published an article yesterday that confirms the next iPad 2 will not feature the the iPhone 4's retina display, which could mean that the iPad 2 upgrades will be to the original as the iPhone 3GS was to the 3G. It's all speculation at this point, but we're excited to see how app developers will respond to WebOS diving back into the mobile market.

Much thanks to Sean from Vancouver for saving us from a video voice mail drought! He left us this message that features impressive production value and a live guitar. Thanks, Sean!

We were also flooded with voice mails responding to yesterday's discussion about how much detail to include with the ESRB rating on the back of video game boxes, so thanks for your input!

More importantly, the Internet is not without vigilante justice, as the good folks at Reddit and Rock, Paper, Shotgun have already taken up arms against John Brandon, the original Fox News "reporter."

Episode 755 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Verizon iPhone 4 goes on sale, HP's WebOS event

It's iPhone 4 day for Verizon customers, and CNET TV was there to capture the somewhat underwhelming turnout. Apparently there's one thing that will keep die-hard Apple fanboys at bay, and that's subfreezing winter temperatures.

On today's episode of Loaded, we'll also give a rundown on HP's WebOS event from yesterday, which debuted the company's iPad competitor, the HP TouchPad. WebOS will also make its way to two new mobile devices, all of which we'll detail on today's show.

Dialed In 161: Barcelona bound

It's one of the craziest weeks ever in cell phone land. Not only are Kent and Bonnie packing for Mobile World Congress, but we also had two big-time press events from Sprint and HP. Sprint's new device is the dual-screen Kyocera Echo. We admit it doesn't look like much right now, but that didn't stop magician David Blaine from showing up at the unveiling. HP gave us a better show with its new Pre 3 and Veer and the company made every effort to remind us that the Palm name no longer exists.

Also in the … Read more

A closer look at the HP Pre 3 and Veer

HP wasn't kidding when it said, "Think big. Think small. Think ahead. Think beyond."

As you've probably heard by now, the company unveiled three new WebOS products today in San Francisco: the HP TouchPad, HP Pre 3, and HP Veer--or, as HP called them, large, medium, and small.

Though we have more hands-on coverage coming soon, I thought now would be a good time to take a closer look at the WebOS smartphones and what they have to offer.

HP Pre 3 We'll start with the Pre 3. Though the Verizon Palm Pre 2 is … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1404: HP For the Win! (podcast)

The HP Veer, Pre3 and TouchPad showcase WebOS in all threes sizes and we like! Smartphones pass PCs in sales, and while smartphones take over the world, OnLive is going to be streaming games to you on your phone. Kent German and Antuan Goodwin guest host and we talk monkey feet.