Buzz Out Loud 1535: HP: WebOS? What WebOS? (Podcast)

If you stood by believing all of HP's grand proclamations about standing by WebOS and supporting it to the end, you're finding out the hard way that love really does hurt. A lot. Plus, we discuss whether HP really can make it in the post-PC world, and whether this was or wasn't the best week Microsoft has had in a long time. Also, we invent the Mail Truck Alternative to waiting 8 days for online TV, dish out some love advice on Computer Love, and find out why "kids" is apparently a dirty word.

Watch this: Ep. 1535: HP: WebOS? What WebOS?

53:24

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NEWS

HP halts WebOS business, spins off PC unit
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-20094222-92/hp-halts-webos-business-spins-off-pc-unit
http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/18/its-official-hp-kills-off-webos-phones-and-the-touchpad/

HP: We are NOT walking away from WebOS
http://thisismynext.com/2011/08/18/hp-not-walking-away-webos-exclusive-details/

The conundrum: sell the IP, or try licensing?
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/hps-webos-conundrum-sell-the-ip-or-try-licensing/55450

Hewlett-Packard to explore sale of PC business and to buy British company for $10 billion
http://www.siliconvalley.com/ci_18708114?nclick_check=1

Cost of eating all those unsold TouchPads: $100 million
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/08/18/hp_eats_100_million_charge_to_cover_unsold_stockpile_of_touchpads.html

Report: Cell phone use could reduce sperm count
http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-20093675-85/report-cell-phone-use-could-reduce-sperm-count/?tag=topTechContentWrap;editorPicks
http://www.bgr.com/2011/08/18/cell-phone-radiation-could-make-you-sterile/

Microsoft outs Windows Phone 'We're in' location sharing app
http://www.bgr.com/2011/08/18/microsoft-outs-windows-phone-were-in-location-sharing-app/

AT&T sues customers seeking to block T-Mobile deal
https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/17/us-tmobile-att-lawsuits-idUSTRE77G59020110817

Quick Hits

iPad App Replaces Paper Patient Checkin Forms
http://mashable.com/2011/08/18/onpatient-drchrono-ipad-app/

Google Nexus Prime Android 4.0 phone could launch in October
http://www.bgr.com/2011/08/18/google-nexus-prime-android-4-0-phone-could-launch-in-october/

Report: RIM Launching BlackBerry Music Service
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391401,00.asp

VOICEMAIL

James from Louisville…WebOS

Phil the Mailman..calling from the mail truck

Video Voicemail from Luke regarding the evil genius behind the 8 day waiting period for video content

EMAILS

Greeting Buzz crew,

I have to say It’s a sad day indeed. Palm made a great operating system but couldn’t afford to push it. And Hp bought palm and didn’t think they had to do anything to make it a great success. I still contend the Touchpad is the best tablet on the market, but what company kills a product after one month of sales? Really Hp? The first macbook air didn’t sell, but apple still keep it around. At least it stayed on the market longer then the Microsoft Kin. Hopefully webos will find a home somewhere. Hp just said they would stop making hardware, not the software.

Charles E

Love the show,

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Why HP Why!? Concerning the news of webOS being discontinued (possibly). I believe that webos is an awesome OS for both phones and tablets that only thing holding it back was obviously the lack of highly regarded developers.

Before HP sends webos to the back burner they should atlease give it a shot at licensing it and hopefully manufacturers who saw the potential of it give it a shot. But the most noticeably best option would be to make it open source and give it to the opensource community which will show its true colors on multiple devices. Most likely the behemoth that is the HTC HD2

tachi91,
A day doesn’t pass that I dont watch the show

PS. RANT MOLLY RANT!!!
Luis
Sent from my Windows Phone

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Hi love the show. Just started listening this year when I picked up a Sony Google TV Box and found your show under CNET in the spotlighted section. I can’t get enough and you have actually bumped out my regular playlist of music at the gym so I actually look forward to doing my cardio.

I am an android user and LOVE the speech-to-text. I am actually shocked at its accuracy and have to chuckle at the irony that I am almost back to making a phone call again as everyone in the room is now subjected to hearing one side of a conversation. The reason for the email, is I have noticed that when I use the word KID, Google actually censors it like many other swear words I have used. I of course at first thought it was just me and that I was being misunderstood, but as it kept happening I asked other Android users to test this and it is indeed a fact. Google seems to believe that the word KID is a dirty word! Please try it and let me know with your professional, respected opinions if you find this mistake or if all along I’ve just been cussing in front of people my whole life and never knew it.

Love the show please keep it up!! You guys make a great team!
–
Christopher
sent while mobile from my Droid X

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Ok,

I absolutely can switch over to messaging platforms on my smart phone. But I feel like I JUST finished teaching my parents to text, and they do not have smart phones. So if I want to keep receiving "I love you, honey" messages from my mom, (and how could I not?!), then I have to keep up Data and... more data.

Sarah

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Computer Love

Anonymous from NYC has some Computer Love info the woman wondering about dating a celebrity on the last Comp Love

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I realize you probably get billions of these emails per week (not literally, that’s hyperbole), but I figured it was worth coming to the show I’ve spent the last six years listening to for some help. When I started listening, I was newly out of 8th grade, and now I’m half way through an undergrad degree in computer science, and I have “”grown up problems”". I figure since at least one of you has a stable relationship (that I know of), you’ll be able to give me some kind of advice.

I’ve met a really great guy, and we’ve been dating for almost two years. Things legitimately have been great except for the issue that when we aren’t at dinner together, or just hanging out in the apartment, we don’t really do much together. I’m a super technical nerd, and things I enjoy tend to be way farther out of his comfort level with regards to how nerdy or technical they really are…like Android hacking, coding, putting together “”hard”" puzzles and doing funny things with numbers…oh yeah, and gaming. All of his favorite things tend to be more social than I’m able to handle, as I’m a fairly stereotypical aspie geek, and he’s one of the most social, outgoing people I’ve ever seen. I don’t think it’s going to crush our relationship, but I do find myself wishing I could get him interested in some geekier or nerdier things. In exchange, I’d be willing to work on the social interaction stuff so that I could spend more time with his crowd. Do you guys have any tips on geeky or nerdy things that would still be comfortable for someone who is way less of a “”nerd level”" than say, an average sysadmin? Thanks for the help, love the show.

James from New Jersey

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Dear Buzz Crew,
I need your help. My boyfriend and I have been dating exclusively for 3 1/2 years, and even though I know I’m ready for the next step of marriage, I think he’s afraid to do it (and not for the reasons you’d think).
We met in college 7 years ago where we were both persuing our CSE degrees. He’s incredibly adept in Networking and when he talked about firewalls, I wanted to get frisky. I flashed a few smiles his direction during class to let him know, but in typical nerd fashion, he misread the signals and actually thought I was “”laughing at him.”" I ended up graduating without making the connection I hoped for.
A year later , he ended up employed at the same company I was working for. We started hanging out and sparks quickly started flying. Unfortunately, his parents are very traditional Asian. They immediately disapproved of the relationship, because I’m not the right ethnicity, right religion, and I’m a single mom. His mom ended up snoping and reading some of his IM history and phone text msgs to see what we were discussing, and she could tell we were getting serious very quickly, so she flipped out and told him that they would disown him and he would put her in the hospital because of how he was hurting her (she already has poor health). We continued to date, but he didn’t discuss it any further with his parents.
Everything has been close to perfect. We spend almost 24/7 together. Only a few months ago, he mentioned to his parents that he was still dating me. They were very, very unhappy. He’s mentioned to me getting married in secret (without any family present), but I don’t think either of us could actually do that. I know he’s in a difficult position. Should I just be satisfied with what I have? Or is there something I can do to push things along? His parents still have never met me….nor do they want to. :-( What can I do?
Sincerely,
Impatient Lover

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