Installing CyanogenMod 9 (Android 4.0 - ICS) on your HP TouchPad

I wrote an article about installing a ROM (customized software) on the HP TouchPad.  The ROM was Xron which is a variant of CyanogenMod 7 (Android 2.3).  The developers, ClassicNerds, do have their own version of Android 4.0 (CM9 variant) but I have not had a chance to download and test it.  However, many people are running CM9 (Android 4.0) on their HP TouchPad.  For those not familiar with CyanogenMod, it is "an aftermarket firmware ... based on the open-source Android operating system.  The CM team has progress in getting the OS to work.  This is an Alpha 2 so there are still many bugs and some things do not work. 

HP TouchPad on Android (CM7 Xron Beta vB2.9)

    I was one of the lucky ones who was able to purchase the TouchPad during HP's first fire sale.  I bought the 32GB version for $150.  Although I like webOS and the amount of apps available are decent, I felt it was not enough.  However, I was not interested in porting Android especially since the software was still in an Alpha stage (almost experimental stage with many bugs).  I did use my TouchPad a lot in the beginning but lately was becoming more like a paper weight.  I found the development of CM7, a popular ROM that is available for many devices, to be slow.  However, I discovered a variant of the CM7 Android port called XRON.  With decent reviews, I decided to give it a try.

     I have been installing ROMs on my Droid X for a long time so I was very comfortable installing Xron on my TouchPad.  Since you will still able to boot into webOS, it is nice to have this dual boot feature.  (You can obtain the links and instructions on installing CM7 Xron from XDA-Developers, a popular forum where developers posts hacks, customized ROMs and exchange information.).  So what do I think of CM7 XRON vB2.9, continue reading...

Things to do with your new TouchPad; Part 2 - Recommended Apps

   Part 1 of our TouchPad series focused on some first things to do with your new TouchPad.  Part 2 focuses on Apps.  Since many new TouchPad buyers are new to webOS, finding great apps to install on your new TouchPad is important.  Although the selection for TouchPad apps is limited, about 70% of 8,000 webOS phone apps can be used on the tablet. Hopefully now that an estimated 500,000 TouchPads are in consumer's hands, these webOS developers can continue creating new webOS apps or at least upgrading the current ones available. TabletConnect has done the work to narrow down the good ones.  We have gone to various sites and webOS experts to get their recommendations on the best webOS apps for your new TouchPad.  Let's begin:

Things to do with your new TouchPad: Part 1

(8/27/11 Update: I have made some clarifications below thanks to additional information that I obtained.)

Since HP had a fire-sale on its discontinued TouchPad, it has become the best selling tablet (after Apple's iPad). It is estimated that 500,000 units were sold. However, most people are not familiar with webOS so I put together a series of articles.  The first part will provide some tips on what to do first with your new TouchPad.  Part 2 will provide some recommended apps to have.  Part 3 will provide information on different "hacks" for your TouchPad.  Here is Part 1 of our series:

Editorial: HP TouchPad - Dead or Alive?

   With HP announcing that they are discontinuing the TouchPad and putting webOS on hold, Apple has claimed another victory against its competitors.  The TouchPad never had a chance against the iPad or the many Android Honeycomb tablets as it intended to compete in that higher-price market.  Having seen many tablets come and go since the first iPad was launched, a company claiming defeat after only 6 weeks on the market is the most shocking event I have witnessed in this still young tablet market.  What is even more shocking is HP's dramatic price cut ($99 for 16GB & $150 for 32GB)?  Whether intentional or not, we believe this is a good move.  Why?  Read on.

HP TouchPad: First Impressions

I had the opportunity to briefly use the HP TouchPad.  It is a nice looking tablet that utilizes HP's webOS, a true multitasking OS.  It works very similar to RIM's PlayBook although HP claims RIM took this concept from them.  In any case, one can have multiple apps open and running at the same time.  What I really like is the fact that one can see the open apps in a large preview screen.  In addition, the app still runs except for games which automatically pauses (at least the Glow Hockey game that was demoed).  So basically you can open a browser and wait for it to load then switch to your email to read a new one.  The browser will still load although you are checking your emails.  Then you can easily go back to the browser.  When you are done with an app, you can flick it away.  Again, works very much like the PlayBook.

TabletConnect Hits One Year

Can't believe its been one year since our very first post (7/15/10).  I am actually surprised that we survived a full year. Initially, this blog was launched as a short term project but has grown to be successful.  Thanks to you!  As long as our readers continue to visit our blog, we will continue to do what we do: provide independent reviews; provide news & information on tablets.

Survey Results: Motorola Xoom is Winner

I know I am a little late on this as the survey closed several days ago.  The question of the month was "Which tablet are you looking forward to?"  The winner: Motorola Xoom.  No surprise there.  Who were the others?

HP Introduces TouchPad

Today, HP finally introduced its tablet - 9.7" TouchPad.  Similar in many ways to the iPad, it intends to compete head-to-head with the iPad.  Both have a 1024x768 9.7" screen and have two versions with different memory capacity (16GB & 32GB).  That is where the similarities end.  The TouchPad will have a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual processor along with 1GB RAM.  It will also have a 1.3MP front facing camera.  The TouchPad will have webOS 3.0 and feature its slick task manager (RIM PlayBook features similar task manager). 

HP To Launch Slate 500 For Business

After much waiting, HP finally announces that it is launching the Slate 500... for enterprise.  It will run Windows 7 Professional so this is not a loss for consumers.  In addition, the price tag will be a staggering $800.  The HP Slate will sport an 8.9 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel capacitive touchscreen display. It will sport a 1.86GHz Intel Atom Z540 processor, 2GB of RAM and a 64GB solid state disk. It will also have a 3MP camera on the back and a front-facing VGA camera for video calls.

HP leaks the launch period of its webOS Tablet

We have been hearing different stories about HP's tablet - different OS'; different customer targets (enterprise vs. consumers); release dates; etc.  Now, it appears that Personal Systems Group VP Todd Bradley has announced internally at a company meeting that HP plans to introduce a webOS tablet in 1st Qtr 2011.  Internally, the project is known as "Hurricane."

On a different note, Palm executives have been leaving the company at an astonishing rate.  This maybe not bole well for HP if it plans to move forward with a webOS tablet.  Guess we will see in 1st Qtr 2011.

Best Buy to introduce its own Tablet?

Best Buy CTO & Geek Squad founder, Robert Stephens, tweeted two pictures of a Rocketfish Tablet.  For those of you who maybe unaware Best Buy sells certain products under their own house brand, Rocketfish.  These products are rebranded products offered by well known companies. 

Update: HP's Slate Tablet is Alive & Well

UPDATE: Now, it seems that HP is not going to release the Slate as a consumer product but "for the enterprise."  Engadget reported that while speaking at the Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference, HP Personal Systems Group VP Todd Bradley said that the Slate will be "more customer-specific than broadly deployed."  Seems that news is also changing so who knows what other news will be coming.

HP files "PalmPad" as a trademark with USPTO

Engadget has reported that HP has filed a trademark application for "PalmPad" which is believed to be used for their tablet.  There have been multiple unconfirmed reports that HP will release a Windows 7, Android and webOS-powered tablet either this year or next.  Recent reports state that an Android-powered tablet is not currently in the works.  With the acquisition of Palm, it just makes more sense that they will introduce Palm's webOS first.


In May of this year, Digitimes reported that HP confirmed that they will be releasing a webOS-powered tablet at the end of the fiscal year (end of October). 


Lets see what happens.

 

 

 

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• HP files for "PalmPad" trademark -- a webOS tablet, perhaps? (engadget.com)