HP Investigating Android TouchPad Shipments
Both HP and the Android developer community are trying to figure out how Android-based TouchPads were slipped into the distribution channels.
In August, a TouchPad tablet appeared on eBay running Google's Android 2.2.1 "Froyo" OS. The device -- which eventually sold for a meaty $1,425 USD -- was supposedly from a Qualcomm collaborative project with HP, and even flashed "Qualcomm Innovation Center (QuIC)" when loading. (QuIC is a Qualcomm engineering subsidiary that optimizes open-source software for Qualcomm products.)
After the tablet appeared on eBay, reports of additional Android TouchPad tablets began to surface including one individual who came across a Froyo-based TouchPad and reportedly dumped a ROM to RootzWiki so that it could be reworked and installed by non hardware-hacker TouchPad owners. Meanwhile, during all this time, separate developer teams have been steadily working to port Android over to the tablet since its initial launch.
When news began to spread that HP may have shipped TouchPads with Android, the porting teams reached out to the company, asking for the source code -- and the firmware that drives multi-touch and wireless functionality on the device -- based on Android's open source license. Phil Robb, director of HP's open-source program office, responded to the developers claiming that not only did HP not authorize the distribution of Android on the TouchPad tablets, but that HP didn't ship them in the first place, even by mistake.
"We presently believe that some person or persons unknown may have facilitated the delivery of these Android-based units strictly against the policy and authorization of HP," Robb wrote. He went on to ask the Android developer community to provide any information they could offer that would help HP track down the individuals responsible for slipping the Android TouchPads into the distribution.
"Regarding your specific request for source code below, I must decline at the present time," he added, seemingly confirming that an Android-based source code for the tablet does exist. "HP has never authorized the distribution of any binaries for Android in association with the HP TouchPad. Therefore, HP is not under any license obligation to provide any corresponding Android source code to you."
PC World reports that the teams porting Android to the device have also reached out to Qualcomm for the source code, but the company denied that the tablet was manufactured or distributed by Qualcomm Innovation Center. Unable to get help from HP and Qualcomm, the developers are now investigating the origins of the Android tablets: where they came from, and who loaded the Android OS.
Both HP and Qualcomm have declined to comment.
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The guy who bought them all when HP dumped them took them straight to a friend who wiped them clean and then put Android on them in twenty minutes! Stupid HP! They could have done that but they are idiots. Since they have given up on their touchpad, they should give the android people the source code so they can make them better and faster ( something that HP with their brainless CEO's could not fathom!) (and they get 10 million dollars for their lack of genious!) That is why I dumped their stock. There is no one there that has leadership capabilities!The board is mentally deficit and they might as well hire Sarh Palin to run the company! Yes HP DID not have anything to do with the touchpads having Android! It was done by a 26 year-old auction buyer who bought the lot from Best BUY who was dumpimg them with the caveat that they had to be exported out of the country (China). Once in China, they can be sold anywhere! We all told him we wanted ten a piece at $159 for a 16GB and $259 for the 32GB but I'm sure the price JUST WENT UP NOW!!!!
I wouldn't doubt for a second that they (a few of the developers) toyed around with Android on the Touchpad, whoever it/they was, and had a completely stable version of Froyo for it.
Then, in the flashing process, someone thought it would be funny to load Android on a batch of them.
HP probably really doesn't know, and doesn't have any information.
My thoughts anyway
@gil cottrell
This has to do with some TouchPads that were bought from actual retailers. Got home, open their completely NEW TouchPad, and it boots Android. This was pre-fire-sale.
Sounds like some SDK/Development/BSP package from Qualcomm. Android/Linux is probably the main system they port to the system to begin with, so it makes sense starting out there before you get the webos linux-kernel and internals working. Somehwere it might not have gotten flashed with WebOS, they should look in there own channel I guess.
Funniest story today.
Sad also, if you think of the lack of vision at HP. Somebody there must really hate dealing with Google. Besides, supporting Android on TouchPads would have been the ultimate acknowledgement of HP's failure.
Its really hard to believe such a tech giant like HP can run around going in so many different directions with no clear roadmap. You have to wonder how the company makes any money with such poor management.
quote
"Regarding your specific request for source code below, I must decline at the present time," he added, seemingly confirming that an Android-based source code for the tablet does exist. "HP has never authorized the distribution of any binaries for Android in association with the HP TouchPad. Therefore, HP is not under any license obligation to provide any corresponding Android source code to you."
/quote
Of course, the developers team are not under any obligation to provide you with any information, either. Heard of qui-pro-quo, Robb?
They should of done it the apple way of demanding their product back and calling it stolen!
Even HP thinks WebOS sucks ass
if it went in a retail box and sold.... they sold it. it does not matter how it got there. They must release the android os as part of the license requirements.
HP keeps building the hype for when more TouchPads are released......
HP keeps building the hype for when more TouchPads are released......
They already released the second batch. It was for HP employees only. There where a few 32gb ones left over. Not sure what happened with those but bought a 16gb one and I have to say. Not a bad device. It is a bit on the slow side but it is a very nice device.
They already released the second batch. It was for HP employees only. There where a few 32gb ones left over. Not sure what happened with those but bought a 16gb one and I have to say. Not a bad device. It is a bit on the slow side but it is a very nice device.
HP posted on their website that they are manufacturing more during the fourth fiscal quarter this year, which ends October 31st and will be releasing more for purchase after
They already released the second batch. It was for HP employees only. There where a few 32gb ones left over. Not sure what happened with those but bought a 16gb one and I have to say. Not a bad device. It is a bit on the slow side but it is a very nice device.
HP posted on their website that they are manufacturing more during the fourth fiscal quarter this year, which ends October 31st and will be releasing more for purchase after
Sorry forgot to click the quote the first time......
HP posted on their website that they are manufacturing more during the fourth fiscal quarter this year, which ends October 31st and will be releasing more for purchase afterSorry forgot to click the quote the first time......
Not sure if they are going to be release more but they have already done the batch in the 4th fiscal quarter. I work for HP so I was able to get one but if they decide to do another batch then people should pick them up because it really is a nice device and well worth the 99 dollars.
FYI the second
Not sure if they are going to be release more but they have already done the batch in the 4th fiscal quarter. I work for HP so I was able to get one but if they decide to do another batch then people should pick them up because it really is a nice device and well worth the 99 dollars.
FYI, the second batch of Touchpad was on HP's site but when you could only get them if you where in the EPP program which is the employee program. It was last week on the 28th, and the last day was Friday.
FYI the second
FYI, the second batch of Touchpad was on HP's site but when you could only get them if you where in the EPP program which is the employee program. It was last week on the 28th, and the last day was Friday.
Guess that means they are not going to update the people that signed up for their notification system that they are completely out of stock now......Would have been nice to receive something generic saying that no more will be sold. I mean, why bother to have people sign up to be notified if no notification will ever come besides to spam them with advertisements later.......thanks for the info about the EPP sale
As I heard it from someone on the hardware side, android was always on the hardware. This is because the webos team was so slow to roll things out and the hardware team needed something to work with. So..they used android.
Internal leaks, here we come!