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HP Discontinues webOS (Widespread $100 TouchPad sales)

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dream

dream

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I know there are already a ton of HP threads today but this one is pretty fun. After making a ton of noise earlier in the year about wanting to be "number 1 plus" in the mobile space, HP has finally killed the incredibly unprofitable and widely unsupported webOS mobile operating system, orphaning the HP Veer, the HP Pre 3, and the HP TouchPad (which some of you may have purchased during the fire sales that were held 1 month after launch). The good news is anyone who bought a TouchPad during the clearance is probably still within the 30 day return window. My condolences to anyone with a HP Veer on contract, though.

HP Confirms Discussions with Autonomy Corporation plc Regarding Possible Business Combination; Makes Other Announcements





PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HP (NYSE: HPQ) today commented on the recent announcement by Autonomy Corporation plc (LSE: AU.L). HP confirms that it is in discussions with Autonomy regarding a possible offer for the company.



HP also reported that it plans to announce that its board of directors has authorized the exploration of strategic alternatives for its Personal Systems Group (PSG). HP will consider a broad range of options that may include, among others, a full or partial separation of PSG from HP through a spin-off or other transaction.



In addition, HP reported that it plans to announce that it will discontinue operations for webOS devices, specifically the TouchPad and webOS phones. HP will continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward.



HP today announced preliminary results for the third fiscal quarter 2011, with revenue of $31.2 billion compared with $30.7 billion one year ago.



In the third quarter, preliminary GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.93 and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.10, compared with third quarter fiscal 2010 GAAP diluted EPS of $0.75 and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $1.08. Non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangible assets of approximately $0.17 per share and $0.33 per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010, respectively.



For the fourth fiscal quarter of 2011, HP estimates revenue of approximately $32.1 billion to $32.5 billion, GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $0.44 to $0.55, and non-GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $1.12 to $1.16. Non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance excludes after-tax costs of approximately $0.61 to $0.68 per share, related primarily to restructuring and shutdown costs associated with webOS devices, the amortization and impairment of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.



HP estimates full-year FY11 revenue will be approximately $127.2 billion to $127.6 billion, down from its previous estimate of $129 billion to $130 billion. FY11 GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $3.59 to $3.70, down from its previous estimate of at least $4.27, and FY11 non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $4.82 to $4.86, down from its previous estimate of at least $5.00. FY11 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $1.16 to 1.23 per share, related primarily to restructuring and shutdown costs associated with webOS devices, the amortization and impairment of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.



HP will host a conference call with the financial community today at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET to discuss these announcements well as HP’s third quarter 2011 financial results. The call is accessible via an audio webcast at www.hp.com/investor/2011q3webcast.
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WebOS is, er was, a nice interface, but I feel it was too damaged by Palm's ineptitude before HP took control of it. It's a shame they couldn't get it off the ground. Throw it on the pile of "almost was" products. It and HD-DVD can be buds.
 
Never thought I'd see HP die in my lifetime, but they're working hard as hell to make that happen.

Goodbye, RPN. I hardly knew ye.


Jeff-DSA said:
WebOS is, er was, a nice interface, but I feel it was too damaged by Palm's ineptitude before HP took control of it. It's a shame they couldn't get it off the ground. Throw it on the pile of "almost was" products. It and HD-DVD can be buds.
Click to expand...

You, sir, can take a hike. HD-DVD had a *much* better interactivity solution. BD-J can go with you.
 
C3xCk.jpg
 
webOS was always the OS of the future but never the present, it had great potential but was shitted on by crappy hardware and shitty marketing.

The Palm Pre was my 1st smartphone and I loved it, but it always felt gimped and unsupported, oh well

RIP sweet prince, and fuck HP
 
wat.


Man, HP seems to be making it up as they go along. This goes all the way back to the Compaq acquisition.
 
They didn't say they were killing Web OS.. they said they were killing WebOS devices.. means they'll probably license it to other people if anyone is interested.. or use it in their printers..
 
sad to see it go, but maybe this means someone will make a webOs rom for android phones. or i can pick up a cheap pre3
 
i hope OSX start eating away at windows marketshare

MS is at its best when they actually have competition
which was lacking forever in the OS area
 
This was so obvious, only Apple, Google and MS have the resources to keep an operating system and it's ecosystem up to par
 
Wow it almost makes the HP TouchPad the barometer of which HP based its decision on :(

I think they shouldve done more to develop it as a OS, it has amazing potential!
 
*sigh*

WebOS had tons of potential too. I guess all those touchpads will be buried next to those ET cartridges
 
MrHicks said:
i hope OSX start eating away at windows marketshare

MS is at its best when they actually have competition
which was lacking forever in the OS area
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Windows 7 is great though? I assume Windows 8 won't be a step back.
 
Another lesson on why sometimes having the best software doesn't matter. I wish they would have gotten to release a 4 inch slate phone.
 
There's not really any room for more than two (maybe three) platforms in the mobile space. You'll have iOS if you want a walled garden, and Android if you want openness and freedom. Outside that, the only other platform I could see continuing to exist would have to be one that focuses mainly on business, which RIM is trying to cling on to for dear life.

It's sad to see happen, but it was inevitable.
 
I am sure all those Touchpad buyers will be really happy about that.

Are there actually any Touchpad buyers?
 
With Palm done Jon Rubenstein should become the 3rd CEO of RIM and whip that company into shape!

I was really looking forward to the 7 inch Touchpad too :(
 
Some funny quotes from just a few months ago:

“This is a great opportunity to take two Silicon Valley idols and put them together,” Humphries noted. That’s an obvious statement, but he quickly moved on to the meat. “WebOS is the best-in-class mobile operating system. Our intent is to double down on webOS,” Humphries said.
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“We think it’s one of the best operating systems out there today. We see nothing in development in the next 3 to 5 years that comes close,” Humphries said. “We want to take HP’s financial strength and use it to take webOS to the next level,” he continued.

“We’ll compete aggressively in the market with Apple and Google. We’ve got our hands on a very compelling operating system,” Humphries concluded.
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I hope one day people will say 'this is as cool as HP', not 'as cool as Apple'”

Leo Apotheker
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"In the PC world, with fewer ways of differentiating HP's products from our competitors, we became number one," HP's European chief, Eric Cador, said during a press conference in Cannes over the weekend, according to Britain's The Telegraph. "In the tablet world, we're going to become better than number one. We call it number one plus."
Click to expand...

Who could imagine that "doubling down" on a lemon would result in spectacular failure?

brotkasten said:
They're killing WebOS devices, not the OS itself.
Click to expand...

Kind of like how Jon Rubinstein was "promoted."
 
Horsemama1956 said:
Windows 7 is great though? I assume Windows 8 won't be a step back.
Click to expand...

i believe WIN7 is great partly because OSX is slowly become a legit rival
it lits a fire under MS's ass
i don't like OSX lol....i just want it to be around to indirectly make windows better
 
Stumpokapow said:
Who is going to develop for an OS with no device support?

Ergo...
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They were planning on dual-booting their PCs with WebOS, but with rumours of abandoning their PC arm as well...yeah.

Good as dead.
 
Xater said:
I am sure all those Touchpad buyers will be really happy about that.

Are there actually any Touchpad buyers?
Click to expand...

Yes, I literally just got mine 2 days ago. I'm so fucking pissed right now.
 
Stumpokapow said:
Who is going to develop for an OS with no device support?

Ergo...
Click to expand...
True, but there were always talks about licensing the OS to other manufacturers. The questions is now, who the hell is going to license it?
 
This sucks, does this mean that my original Sprint Palm Pre is going be worth something one day?

I remember I bought that thing the week it came out..
 
I wonder if Microsoft will buy out the tech/patents.

Wasn't there commotion months ago about Bing and webOS?
 
brotkasten said:
True, but there were always talks about licensing the OS to other manufacturers. The questions is now, who the hell is going to license it?
Click to expand...

Exactly.

The talk from all the webOS boosters was "HP has the size and scale to make it work." They didn't. They couldn't attract developers, they couldn't entice consumers, and they couldn't even compete in the mobile space for more than 45 days.

And now that the battlefront is shifting from specs and OS to ecosystems, who would license a webOS when it lacks any viable ecosystem AND a unifying vision to drive it?
 
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