
TechCrunch has the following memo, straight outta the quiet halls of HP corporate doldrum town. Here’s the fate of the webOS squad:
Two weeks ago we announced the transformation of HP for the future. As part of that change we made a very tough decision to exit the webOS hardware device business. At the same time we recognised the value inherent in the webOS software platform. Not only because of its elegant, intuitive interface, but because of our strategic focus on cloud, connectivity, services and software, and printing.
I’m pleased that the executive team has decided that the webOS software teams will be best served joining the Office of Strategy and Technology while we investigate how to leverage the webOS platform and its ecosystem. This move also supports the teams’ continued efforts with over-the-air updates and the application catalogue.
Emphasis mine. Emphasis sad as shit. Office of Strategy and Technology. Leverage. Printing. Printing. Does it get more bleak? Imagine working on one of the most interesting, promising mobile operating systems, and then being thrown down into the flaming lake of printing. Keep your heads up, guys. We want great things from your talented brains — and you deserve better than cloud strategy office printers. [TechCrunch]



















Steve
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 9:32 AMSometimes I wonder if HP is actually run by the same board of loons as Dunder Mifflin.
Why not branch out into stone tablets and typewriters while you’re at it.
chris
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 10:43 AMActually printing is not gadget land but is more than you think. HP has slid backwards in printing land big time, they need to do something new and this is good.
Your story is short sighted and poorly thought out, you can’t see the potential because all you see are gadgets.
Jonathan
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 2:23 PMI don’t get it. The negativity. Why?
HP says they’re going to keep the WebOS team chugging along, supporting existing customers & working on new ways to apply WebOS… yet somehow this is painted as a bad thing.
Printers don’t just need ink and paper, Sam. They need *love*.
Stephen
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 3:04 PMSam, did you read the memo? Your report doesn’t display adequate comprehension of the subject matter.
3/10
Could do better.
Markk
Friday, September 9, 2011 at 12:26 PMNow if it was iHP Sam would be lovin’ it