HP readies fresh WebOS update
CEO's verdict on OS' future due next week
HP CEP Meg Whitman is expected to announce the fate of WebOS next week. If the claimed imminent release of version 3.0.5 of the tablet'n'phone operating system is correct, the omens for the OS may be good.
HP released WebOS 3.0.4 in October and its successor's first Release Candidate has just been issued to developers, PreCentral reports.
Like the previous version, WebOS 3.0.5 is all about fixing bugs rather than adding new features.
Of course, if HP really wants rid of WebOS, why bother devoting resources - programmers, update servers and such - to the operating system's upkeep?
We'll know soon enough. At the end of November, Whitman said she will pronounce her verdict on the future of WebOS. Some 600 software engineers and other WebOS workers are awaiting the announcement with some trepidation.
"We should announce our decision in the next two weeks," she said in an interview published on 30 November by French paper Le Figaro. ®
COMMENTS
I have to say that I still rather like WebOS more than Android. I switch from time to time, the only thing I miss on WebOS are arrowkeys on the keyboard and better copy/paste. And maybe a few more apps. Multitasking is so much nicer in WebOS. I hope ICS makes up for this.
There's a patch for that
It's a little odd having the left & right arrows on the upper row but it makes the text editing much easier. All in all, I'd say that the WebOS keyboard layout is the best one I've encountered.
http://www.precentral.net/patch-adds-arrow-keys-touchpad-keyboard-finally-gives-us-way-navigate-your-text-1
The thread it links also gives some information on how to tweak your own keyboard variants.
The only HP device that I've thought about buying...
...was their clearance $99 tablet.
But they were sold out before I heard about it.
Damn.
They have to release updates if they want to sell....
If you're buying an OS to distribute, you also want to hire the programming team. If HP is going to keep those programmers on the books, they may as well put out software updates that at least keep the technological infrastructure maintained.
If the buyer winds up buying/licensing the Palm patents then HP can lay off the programmers.
Besides, all signs point to HP wanting to standardize on WebOS fot applicance-type OS uses (aka printers). I'm guessing their printer group has already migrated all their unreleased, high-end products to WebOS. Lord knows the android-printer didn't fly off the shelves.
