3 Prototypes From HP, In Outline 104
tekgoblin writes "Since the recent HP buyout of PALM we have been waiting for what HP may have in store for us. Well HP's CTO Phil McKinney has tweeted some pictures of 3 new devices that could be released in the near future." Note: the pictures' most relevant bits are blacked out with the subtlety of an expurgated FBI document, but they have me curious, especially about the wrist-worn device.
MS Paint Prototypes? (Score:5, Interesting)
Here's some photos of my hand with black bocks over everything. But they're prototypes. I swear. Please don't buy something from Apple.
I have been expecting this for a while now (Score:5, Interesting)
Computers and personal storage can get as small as imaginable. It takes decreasing amounts of power to process and store data. The more power is being used for wireless I/O and display devices.
What I am guessing we are seeing here is that the data processor and storage device is on his wrist. Using a low power, high speed data link, the hand-held devices are little more than a display with input functionality. So, he picks one up, and the wrist device connects to it and that becomes his hand-held device. He picks up another, and THAT becomes the hand-held device. For an even more enhanced experience, a wireless I/O device and client software can be connected to your desktop PC, and you can sync and exchange data with your wrist device and also use the PC for its console.
And since the wrist device needs little to no controls, it is pretty trivial to make it rugged and durable. And since it's attached to your wrist, it isn't getting lost or misplaced quite so easily.
Re:I have been expecting this for a while now (Score:5, Interesting)
Put out a few pictures of nothing, and let the geeks speculate on what it is. Then mine the responses for the best ideas. Voila, a plan for the future!
Why would anyone (Score:2, Interesting)
Aside from people who just do not like Apple, why would anyone buy this vs an iPad. All this HDMI hype means nothing when your video has to be your own, and while the iPad does not have this yet it's possible it can in the future. Apple has a lock on app developers and most people can tell that the same apps made for other systems by the same developers are nothing more than enough to silence people crying for that app on that platform, it has just enough features to make it usable, but usually half of what the iOS version does.
Is Apple's lead in consumer tech insurmountable? In some cases yes, nobody is going to topple the iPod but Apple, are there other niche's that could be explored? Yes, but will it be as profitable. Within 10 years I predict that 50+ percent of all media will be in the cloud, as much as I hate DRM, I would swoon over a way to take my 800+ dvd/blu ray collection and have some virtual version of it that I can serve up on any device I'd like. Apple is the company that's about as close as it gets to this version.
Until Apple does something monumentally stupid, they're going to be in the front for a long time.
Re:I have been expecting this for a while now (Score:3, Interesting)
IMO, it would be a better idea for it to be the other way around; have a microsd and low power bluetooth inside the watch casing with the battery. Store things like program personalization profiles, bookmarks, ebooks, and maybe some mp3s in there, and authorize other devices to access them. This works out nicely because the watch can probably do all this and still be the same (small) size and have the same long battery life that we expect out of watches, still be waterproof, and since it's strapped to your wrist you're unlikely to lose it or run it through the washer/dryer or have it stolen.
With a decent display, it should also be able to show info from other devices. Specifically, maybe caller ID/text message/email alerts from the cellphone that's sitting in your pocket in silent mode. Since the display is very tiny, this shouldn't make it all that much more expensive, judging by what some mp3 players in the $50 range have today. Nor should it make the watch ungainly large; watches with these features can still be traditional fashion accessories for those that want them to be.
It'd be nice if it all integrated well with the blacked out... smartphone-pda and tablet/bookreader?... in the pic, as well as your laptop/desktop. Since microsd cards already come in 4/8/16 GB capacities, then in addition to automagical profile synching, you could actually store a decently useful amount of additional data in a watch and have it more easily accessible than the USB flash drive on your keychain.
Remember the pocket-watch? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Why would anyone (Score:3, Interesting)
That has already happened. We are just waiting for the other shoe to drop now. Lets compare some history shall we.
.bomb 2.0 or iCrash if you will.
Apple Computers: Released an overpriced PC that was eaten alive by cheaper more functional competitors.
Apple Inc: Releases an overpriced tablet that will be eaten alive by cheaper and more functional competitors.
Apple Computers: Sues Microsoft over allegedly infringing the "look and feel" of their OS claiming ownership to basic elements. Apple Computers lose.
Apple Inc: Sues HTC over allegedly infringing software patents which are spurious and overreaching at best. Apple Inc will lose here.
Apple Computers: Nearing bankruptcy due to poor products and losing expensive law suits accepts a cash injection from Microsoft in order to get the DOJ of Microsoft's back claiming Apple as a competitor.
Apple Inc: Nearing bankruptcy due to poor products and losing expensive law suits finds themselves acquired by a larger, more successful entity (my money's on Microsoft).
History has a habit of repeating itself. Apple began to fail when they determined that money was better spent suing HTC over spurious software patents (most, if not all have prior art and SW patents are only recognised in the US, HTC is a Taiwanese company with global reach). We've seen this happen countless times before, including to the now defunct Apple Computers of the 70's and 80's. When a business model turns from innovation to litigation then failure is inevitable. Yes Apple will lose a lot of money as they depend on their stock price too much, that 50B in the bank wont even pay for 1 quarter if their stock drops. I'm tipping it to be a
Mark Hurd filed to dump US$30-million of HP shares (Score:1, Interesting)
http://www.financialpost.com/news/Mark+Hurd+filed+dump+million+shares/3445806/story.html
HP authorizes $10B share buyback
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/08/30/business-technology-hardware-amp-equipment-us-hewlett-packard-share-buyback_7886721.html?boxes=Homepagebusinessnews
Ten billion dollars.
HP could set up a research and develop department to develop a WARP DRIVE.
HP could put a base on the Moon!
HP could own the moon for 10 billion dollars.
Instead, it is a cheap ass stunt to drive up the price of shares that the board owns.
The same board that fired Mark Hurd.
This is a crime.
HP could hire every engineer in the USA for 10 billion dollars.
HP ups stakes in 3PAR bid war
http://www.financialpost.com/news/stakes+3PAR/3453785/story.html
Why buy? YOu have 10 billion dollars to develop!
Mr. Hewlitt and Mr. Packard are freaking out.