Report: HP'S WebOS Ran Twice as Fast on iPad

HP introduced the TouchPad tablet in February. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

It certainly wasn?t poorly performing software that killed the TouchPad.

Sources at The Next Web reports that HP?s webOS team hacked an iPad 2 to run the software ? and it ended up running more than twice as fast on Apple?s tablet as on the TouchPad.

Even before the TouchPad tablet or Pre smartphone were officially released, the webOS developer team was so fed up with HP?s lackluster hardware that they ?wanted them gone.?

HP rocked the tech world yesterday when it announced the company would no longer be producing webOS hardware, including the TouchPad tablet and Pre smartphones, after acquiring Palm last year for $1.2 billion. The webOS software could still be licensed to third-party manufacturers. HP CEO Leo Apotheker cited lack of traction in the marketplace as a major reason for abandoning the mobile operation.

The team of developers also deployed webOS within the iPad?s Mobile Safari browser and got similarly speedy results. The TouchPad features a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with A8 architecture, while the iPad 2 houses a dual-core A5 chip based on the faster Cortex-A9 architecture.

According to The Next Web:

The hardware reportedly stopped the team from innovating beyond certain points because it was slow and imposed constraints, which was highlighted when webOS was loaded on to Apple?s iPad device and found to run the platform significantly faster than the device for which it was originally developed.

I personally checked out the HP Veer when it debuted, and I found webOS to be really refreshing and intuitive. My main issues with the device were definitely hardware-based: not enough memory, and not a powerful enough processor.

See Also:

• HP Kills TouchPad, Puts WebOS in Hibernation
• HP?s WebOS Tablet Plays Solid Hand Against a Stacked Deck
• HP Says WebOS Will Land on PCs in 2012
• HP Launches WebOS-Powered Tablet, Phones
• Let?s Get Small: HP?s Tiny WebOS Smartphone

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/08/webos-on-ipad/

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Build an LED Display That Responds to Music

On a budget and need a little something to spice up the party room? Too classy for a disco ball and miss your raver days? Fear not. If you can solder and have just a couple of hours, you can have your own mountable flashing light display that will follow the beat of your music.
This page was last modified 14:31, 19 August 2011 by howto_admin.

Source: http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Build_an_LED_Display_That_Responds_To_Music

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Apple Sneaks A Big Change Into iOS 5: Phasing Out Developer Access To The UDID

Apple is making a lot of big changes to its mobile operating system with iOS 5, which is dribbling out in betas for developers ahead of a general release later this year. But there is one big change some developers are just starting to take notice of that Apple isn't talking about that much. In a recent update to the documentation for iOS 5 (which is only available to registered Apple developers, but a copy was forwarded to me), Apple notes that it will be phasing out access to the unique device identifier, or UDID, on iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads. This is a big deal, especially for any mobile ad networks, game networks or any app which relies on the UDID to identify users. Many apps and mobile ad networks, for instance, uses the UDID or a hashed version to keep track of who their users are and what actions they have taken. The change may be in response to privacy concerns or as a way to pre-empt them. App publishers are now supposed to create their own unique identifiers to keep track of users going forward, which means they may have to throw all of their historical user data out the window and start from scratch.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/r5OCX_AnkxE/

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Social eCommerce Site Zlio Joins the Deadpool

Zlio, a site which lets users create online shops where they sell goods from other e-commerce services, is joining the deadpool. The 6-year old outlet is going out of business, and will officially closing its doors on September 11th. The company blames Google's algorithms for its demise, surprisingly, not Zlio's concept or business model. In an email to users to inform them of the service's impending shutdown, fingers were pointed all around, not only at Google, but also at an undisclosed SEO company who failed to improve the site's rankings in Google's search results.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/itdCMlC_ZAM/

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6 dead in string of attacks in southern Israel

The six were killed when attackers fired on a bus, assaulted Israeli soldiers, and fired mortars and an anti-tank missile.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/08/18/israel.shooting/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+rss/cnn_topstories+(RSS:+Top+Stories)

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Google Hires Silicon Valley Tech Blogger Louis Gray as Google+ Evangelist

Notable Silicon Valley tech blogger and startup consultant Louis Gray is finally turning his passion for Google's products and services into a career. Gray has just accepted the position of Product Marketing Manager on the Google+ team, an evangelist role involving the promotion of Google's new Facebook competitor, Google+. The role is loosely defined, but will involve working with Google+ engineers to improve the product, setting future goals for Google+, and, most importantly,�promoting�the social network whenever and wherever possible. This latter duty will also involve speaking about Google+ at events and trade shows, says Gray.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/ELviY65sgMw/

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Third Rail's Powered iPhone Case Is Shockingly Clever

8

The high-voltage third rail that runs next to a set of train tracks is, of course, something to be avoided. The Third Rail System for the iPhone 4, however, is to be welcomed.

This friendly breed of Third Rail combines a skin-tight phone case and a surprisingly light battery pack you attach to your phone when you need a recharge.

We?ve seen charging cases before, but most have problems. Powered phone cases usually add too much extra heft and bulk to a cell phone. If you need extra battery life, you have to turn your svelte, five-ounce iPhone 4 into a pocket-stretching doorstop that adds a half inch to the phone?s length and almost doubles the weight.

Third Rail?s system is comprised of two parts ? a bantamweight (0.8 ounce) black case that?s slim and comfortable, and a backup battery that snaps onto the case, but only when the phone needs extra juice.

As a bonus, the battery can do more than power up a flagging iPhone. With its pair of mini-USB charging ports (and included cables) it can charge multiple devices simultaneously. The Third Rail battery can also be piggybacked, so you can stack additional batteries on top of the primary battery for more power.

There are trade-offs, of course. For starters, you?re stuck having to sync the phone only with its included USB cable. Also, if you have any iPhone-ready music-playback appliances, you need to remove the case to use them. I ultimately found this to be a minor distraction, since the phone slides in and out of the two-part case pretty easily.

The battery practically glides on to the back of the case. While attaching the battery gave me immediate juice to continue phone calls and use of my apps, with non-use of the phone, the Third Rail topped off 50 percent of the iPhone battery in a couple of hours. After the phone went from 50 percent remaining to 100 percent, the Third Rail was practically drained. The Third Rail has a power gauge, but it?s only five LED lights, so it?s not as precise as I?d like. But I got a good enough estimate at what the auxiliary battery?s juice levels were like at the start and finish of the charging.

Recharging the Third Rail?s battery for its next use took less than two hours. Then, using the included USB cable, I filled my half-depleted iPod Nano with Third Rail juice in 55 minutes.

There?s another popular case out there with a snap-in battery, the myPower case from Tekkeon, but it doesn?t let you charge additional devices or piggyback the batteries. So, I can safely say the Third Rail System is unmatched when it comes to weight, ease of use, and versatility.

But all of this does not come cheaply: The case alone is $40, and each battery is $60. Purchased together, the set is $90. But after using it just a few times, I?d recommend you get one. If you?re short on cash, maybe just, um? charge it?

WIRED Innovative iPhone 4 case that?s protective, but thin and light. Detachable battery recharges the phone as well as other devices via a mini-USB port. Eliminates the need for the large and heavy all-in-one power cases.

TIRED Proprietary case designs requires use of its own USB cable for connected charging and syncing. Convenience comes with a high price tag.

Photos courtesy of Third Rail Mobility

No pricing information available for this item.

Source: http://www.wired.com/reviews/2011/08/third-rail/

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