The manufacturer of the Snapdragon chipsets, which power most Android devices, has increased its portfolio by buying 1,400 US patents and patent applications, as well as 1,000 patents and patent applications abroad from HP.
Just when everyone thought that Palm is dead, buried and smelling putridly, Hewlett Packard’s iconic PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) makes a comeback as part of a major patent sale. Some have already started claiming that Qualcomm wants to bring PDAs back, but since smartphones and tablets are so prevalent, how would that make any sense?
Another theory is that Qualcomm will offer patent protection to any OEMs who buy their chipsets. This would keep such companies as HTC, LG and Samsung away from getting sued by Apple and Nokia all the time. Beefing up on key patents was a move that HP themselves did back in 2010, when they purchased Palm for $1.2 billion. From Qualcomm’s viewpoint, this huge portfolio of patents and patent applications will represent a major selling point for their chipsets.
LG has launched a gigantic smart TV running webOS at CES 2014, and since that new line of tellies uses HP and Palm patents, it will be interesting to see how LG interacts with Qualcomm. LG bought the rights to webOS from HP, but the deal did not include any of the patents that are now owned by Qualcomm.
In an interview with The Verge, an HP spokesperson mentioned that “This does not change our strategy with respect to mobile, and we will retain a license to these patents.” In other words, don’t be surprised if you see a Palm or iPaq device coming from HP in the near future, as retaining the licenses would allow them to do that.
I remember owning a Palm Treo 680 back in 2008, and saying that by today’s standards that was a relic would be an understatement. Over time, I also go my mittens on iPaq devices and other PDAs made by HP, and seeing these making a comeback would be somehow unsettling. HP’s smartphones and PDAs made history at that time, but I’m not sure that bringing back devices under those name would have a major impact on people.
Things are still uncertain as to how Qualcomm will use all these patents, but moving from chipsets to whole mobile devices wouldn’t be easy for them. On the other hand, the patents would work as a defense mechanism, anyway.
If you liked this post, please check the Google Chromebook 11 made by HP that charges over microUSB and the HP Slate 21.
It's funny how, as time passes, we grow fonder of gadgets that were once disregarded. Nerd nostalgia has a knack of trumping common sense and draining wallets, which is why we're almost hesitant to bring this auction of Palm and webOS gear to your attention. Featuring the collection of a former webOS employee, you'll find everything from t-shirts, posters and other branded paraphernalia, through to a mint-condition Palm VII PDA, 4G TouchPads and a range of mobiles, including many from the long-forgotten Pre series. The prize piece, however, has to be the boxed, unused Palm Foleo complete with an hour of phone time with one of the product's OG engineers, who also "has apps for you," apparently. All money raised from the auction is going to a charitable cause, which totally justifies whatever exaggerated sum Palm's nigh-mythical flop ends up going for.
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Laptops, Tablets, HP
Source: 32auctions, Josh Marinacci
HP and phones? It's not over, apparently. The company's Senior Director of Consumer PCs and Tablets for Asia-Pacific, Yam Su Yin, has told The Indian Express that HP isn't done with smartphones and is already working on a new device. While its focus (for now) remains on tablets, laptops and its all-in-ones, it's wisely decided not to ignore the ever-increasing influence of smartphones, despite that whole messy Palm saga. 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."
"Being late you have to create a different set of proposition[s]. There are still things that can be done. It's not late. When HP has a smartphone, it will give a differentiated experience." We'd put money on an Android device being in the works, given several of HP's recent product launches, but to compete in the increasingly two-horse smartphone race, HP will have to ensure that its "differentiated experience" offers something pretty pervasive to win over customers.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HP
Via: @krestivo (Twitter)
Source: Indian Express
Finally, Jon Rubinstein is ready to re-open the wounds sustained from HP's bungled acquisition of Palm. When Fierce Wireless asked the former CEO what he'd do differently, he said that selling the company to Hewlett Packard was "a waste," and that he probably wouldn't do the same again. He also revealed that the company's awkward exclusive relationship with Sprint was caused by last-minute withdrawals from Verizon and Vodafone. If you're curious about Rubinstein's feelings on how webOS has influenced mobile operating systems and his new roles with Amazon and Qualcomm, head on down to the source link.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, HP
Source: Fierce Wireless
Most people would buy a Bluetooth controller if they decide to keep an old phone for gaming, but one particular user from Chinese site Zoopda was struck with a better idea. Kissing his plan to buy a Bluetooth add-on goodbye, he instead spent a weekend adding steampunk-inspired accoutrements to his Palm Pre 2. Check out a video of the tricked out phone in action after the break. It's not in English, but it might give you an idea of what to do with your old handheld devices in case you're looking for something to go with your goggles and Victorian-era laptop.
Filed under: Cellphones, Misc
Source: Zoopda
When Jon Rubinstein left HP, it wasn't certain whether he would retire (again) or once more respond to the siren's call of technology. Clearly, he couldn't resist -- Qualcomm has confirmed that Rubinstein is joining its board of directors. It's not hard to understand why the firm would be interested, mind you. Between NeXT, Apple, Palm and HP, Rubinstein has extensive experience with Silicon Valley technology in general, and mobile in particular. While Qualcomm is already doing blockbuster business without his help, it no doubt wants to keep the money train going. Us? We're just happy to see a familiar name back in the limelight.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Apple
Source: Qualcomm
The downfall of webOS left more than a few canceled devices in its wake, but the most elusive of the bunch tends to be the WindsorNot: a touch-only smartphone. We've seen hints of it here and there, but the shy little device has largely been kept under wraps -- until now. The dedicated folks at webOS Nation have managed to get their hands on a functional prototype. The 4-inch devices seems to lie somewhere between a Pre3 and HP Touchpad, aping the hardware specifications of the former while adopting the latter's software version: webOS 3.0. The tweaked software does feature a smartphone-sized keyboard, but webOS Nation says some of the OS' trappings are difficult to read, and were clearly meant to be refined for the smaller screen before release. The phone's form, on the other hand, seems to be top notch, indicating that the project was canned before the software team had a chance to catch up. Check out the source link for a full walkthrough of the device and a brief history lesson of webOS' last days.
Filed under: Cellphones, HP
Source: webOS Nation