HP TouchPad receives Alpha version of MIUI

We’re likely to see Android development progress quicker now that HP decided to disperse WebOS as an open source OS, and recent news suggests developers are getting excited. MIUI, an extremely popular visually modified/skinned version of CyanogenMod, has started to make its way over to the HP TouchPad. This is an extremely stable Alpha version, and would suffice for daily use.

All main components are working: Audio, WiFi, Bluetooth, touchscreen, charging, all sensors, headphone port, gallery, YouTube, and even the many MIUI themes. Bear in mind, none of this would be possible without the countless hours of work put in by the CyanogenMod team. Thus, as CM7 becomes more stable on the HP TouchPad, MIUI will follow.




The above YouTube clip really shows how fluid this MIUI ROM works out on the WebOS native device, and is overall quite impressive. The CyanogenMod team recently released Alpha v3.5, drastically reducing bugs and increasing game performance. They suggest this update increases the overall fluidity and 3D rendering, so it’s safe to say we can expect an update to the MIUI port soon.
[via XDA Developers]

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CyanogenMod for the HP TouchPad reaches Alpha 3.5, delivers better gaming performance

Most of the excitement in the custom ROM world is circling around Ice Cream Sandwich at the moment, but we haven’t forgotten about the best tablet deal of the year. In the latest incremental update to the HP TouchPad version of popular custom ROM CyanogenMod 7.2, the team has focused on UI and gaming improvements, allowing the TouchPad to be at least as capable at 3D gaming as a modern mid-range Android smartphone. Alpha version 3.5 is available for download at RootzWiki now.

The 3.5 update includes improved video for local and streaming, speed and fluidity improvements in 3D rendering, better compatibility for high-end games and a small tweak to the WiFi settings. It’s not much, but if you’re using your Android TouchPad as a media consumption device it’s definitely worth an upgrade. According to the developers in charge of the project a final version is still a long way off, though more stable beta versions may be closer.

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HP going open source with WebOS

This isn’t technically an Android story, but we know there’s lots of Palm Pre and HP Touchpad users out there in the reading audience. After months of indecision over the future of WebOS, HP has decided to release open source code for the operating system, allowing anyone from hobbyists to manufacturers to create versions of WebOS for different devices. There won’t be any more hardware from HP featuring WebOS, at least not in the immediate future.

WebOS started as a new operating system, built from the ground up by Palm to compete with the iPhone. When the first two generations of the Palm Pre failed to impress and its former PalmOS and Windows Mobile Treo phones kept losing ground in the market, PC manufacturer HP bought the company in April 2010 and moved its employees to their largely stagnant mobile division. The company released a low-end WebOS phone, the Veer, and the HP Touchpad tablet. Neither managed to gain a foothold in the market, and HP decided to discontinue production on both devices, and completely shelved its plan for the Pre 3. The announcement came less than two months after the Touchpad was released.
That’s where things started to get interesting. Once HP had decided to kill the Touchpad, they liquidated remaining stock in a firesale, pricing the $500 16GB version at just $100. They sold hundreds of thousands of tablets overnight. Immediately Android developers set to work on a version of Android Gingerbread for the 10-inch tablet, spurred on by renewed interest and a few small monetary prizes raised for the purpose. The CyanogenMod team was the one to finally release a stable, reliable version of Android for the Touchpad, which is still being updated. A version of the recently open-sourced Android Ice Cream Sandwich is already in the works.
So what does this mean for Android users? Soon you may have yet another choice for your device’s operating system, if there’s a developer willing to modify WebOS’ open source code to run on your hardware. If you’re skilled in that area you’ll be able to try yourself. You can expect versions of WebOS for the most popular devices, like the Galaxy S II and the various Nexus phones, and at least a few tablet versions should be available as well. Whether or not it’s something you’d want to use depends on your personal taste and the skill of the developers. I hope that some of WebOS’ more unique features, like the card multitasking system and edge gestures. HP said that it will continue to add to the project.
On a personal note, I’d like to say goodbye to Palm, Inc. Now that HP is basically throwing the last Palm project to the wind, it’s truly the end of an era for a company that helped define mobile computing for decades. So long, Palm – it was great while it lasted.

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HP TouchPad firesale starts again December 11th on HP Ebay Store

Who’s ready for another crazy round of HP tablets selling like crazy for the low low price of just $99? New details have now confirmed HP will be having a huge sale on refurbished TouchPads starting at $99 for the 16GB model and going up from there. Sunday December 11th on the HP Ebay Store you’ll get a chance to snag an awesomely cheap tablet — then install CM7 on that bad boy.

Apparently starting December 11th (Sunday) at 6:00 PM Central time the Ebay store will open up and start accepting orders for the refurbished units. I have a feeling things will get a little crazy and they’ll probably sell like hot cakes. From there you’ll see information on Android OS installations such as CM7 and more for the TouchPad.
We are hearing there will be limited quantities but I have a feeling they have a pretty big stash. Users will be required to pay via paypal but that shouldn’t be an issue for most that have used Ebay in the past. Although this is awesome news there is a small catch:
— The tablets will be refurbished tablets.
— TouchPads are limited to two per customer.
— All sales are final.
— There is only a 90 day warranty.
It was recently updated to alpha 3 and should work quite well for all you current and future TouchPad users.
Who’s buying one?
[via liliputing]

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Is HP just making up excuses now to keep webOS in the dark?

HP’s gone a little bit up and down over the last few months. Actually, many would say that there has been a lot more downthan up, and I would tend to agree. I am a fan of any company out there that stands behind their products to the end, and shows that they are pushing ahead despite the hardships. I’ll support those companies along with them, even if I know there’s an obvious dead end ahead. It’s one of the reasons I bought a TouchPad in that crazy fire sale that was happening. Even when I was seeing HP’s dismissal of the hardware front, I was holding out hope for the software. And now that HP is supposed to make a decision on webOS itself, I find myself holding my breath here and there, waiting to hear something.


While we’ve been reporting that things could change for the worse for webOS as of late, it would seem that HP is set on keeping things the way they are. What that means is anyone’s guess at this point, at least deeper than face value. For the rest of the world, we see a mobile operating system that is literally in a state of limbo. We see that HP’s webOS is still there, still being talked about, and still wanted by plenty of people out there. But, we also see HP not really making a move on anything. We see HP literally balking at the idea that webOS is still around or could be left adrift. The truth is it seems to me that HP has no idea what to do and they are trying to bide as much time as they can before someone, anyone forces them to make one.


That has never been so clear to me until just recently, when webOS GPU VP Stephen DeWitt offered his two cents on the life of webOS. Of course, this is coming from an “insider,” so this isn’t entirely set in stone quite yet. But, we’ll take it for what it’s worth for now. And that’s why I’m thinking HP is seriously trying to just come up with any excuse they can to make sure that they keep webOS under their wing, in this constant state of flux and mystery. What I’m talking about is DeWitt mentioning that webOS is designed to work on Qualcomm chips, and that potential companies would “likely want webOS to work with other kinds of chipsets.”


Really? This just seems like we are trying too hard to make sure that no one else gets their hands on webOS. Yes, webOS is designed to work on Qualcomm chips, but last time I checked there were still manufacturers out there using Qualcomm chips in smartphones. So . . . That can’t honestly be a huge issue, right? I understand that those companies using Qualcomm chipsets in their phones might not want to get their hands on webOS, but at the same time, I would be shocked to hear that not one of those companies would like to use webOS. For a nominal licensing fee there’s obviously still money to be made from webOS – why not bank on that? And then, on the flip-side, why not get one of those hundreds of intelligent people out there who have been working on webOS since day one to get the mobile OS to work on something other than a Qualcomm chipset? That’s possible, right? If it isn’t then that’s a realistic dilemma that could really be holding things up. If it is possible, then let’s get this moving, shall we?


I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that HP is making these kinds of moves, blaming these kinds of situations on the hold up because they can’t find anyone to license webOS in its current state. No, not because the likes of Samsung and HTC don’t want to manufacture phones with webOS, but because they don’t want to deal with HP. To me, that makes the most sense. Considering how “wishy-washy” HP seems to be with one of the most fan-crazed mobile operating systems out there, I wouldn’t want to work directly with them right now, either. Someone in HP’s upper management seriously just needs to make a decision on webOS, even if that means they officially declare webOS dead, or that they’ve passed the reigns over to someone else. Just make a decision. We’re all waiting to hear it, seriously.


But, if we’re left to deal with these ridiculous reasons, and continue to get stonewalled, then you’ll only have one choice, and it will be completely on you: kill it.

Related articles

• HP Windows 8 tablets arriving next year, CEO says; webOS future up in the air (tech-gadget.co.in)

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CyanogenMod TouchPad gets a second alpha, limited numbers shipping from HP

The indefatigable modders at RootzWiki have released their second version of CyangonMod 7 for the HP TouchPad, which might be making its way into more consumers’ hands very soon. According to Liliputing, limited orders are shipping again from HP, filling out the rush of initial $99 and $149 orders from August. Apparently retailers aren’t getting any more stock, so it’s safe to put the camping tent and lawn chairs away.

The initial rush of orders when HP started its $99 firesale over-extended the PC maker’s supply, but since they already had some going through the manufacturing process, they finished out their production order. The latest batch is almost certainly the very last to ever be created or sold. In the unlikely event that the amount of new TouchPads made exceeds the amount that were oversold two months ago, keep an eye on HP’s web store in case a “buy” link appears.
Hp is still supporting WebOS in a backhanded sort of way – they released version 3.0.4 for the tablet just this week. But of more interest to Android users is the active CyanogenMod 7 Gingerbread port, which is progressing nicely. The second Alpha was released by the team just yesterday, although the large amount of bugs and difficult install process will deter all but the most dedicated of Android modders. Here’s hoping that once Google releases the source code for Ice Cream Sandwich and CyanogenMod 8(?) releases a stable version, the TouchPad will be up and running with a full Android tablet OS.

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CyanogenMod Releases CM7 Alpha 1 For The HP TouchPad

Soon after HP started their TouchPad fire sale, a version of the device running Android 2.2 appeared on eBay and went on to sell for almost $700. Hopes for an Android port were high and the developer community swung into action offering a $2300 bounty for anyone who could load Android on the TouchPad. The CyanogenMod team, Android developers extraordinaire, did not disappoint and soon the news broke that they had managed to successfully get Android running on the TouchPad. Over the next few weeks the CM team made a number of tweaks to the various hardware and software components of the HP TouchPad, including GPU acceleration, Wi-Fi, Sound, Accelerometer, 3D Games, and video acceleration to ensure that CM7 worked smoothly.

And now, after a month of waiting, the CM team feel that it is time for the first alpha release of CM7 for the HP TouchPad. However, be warned, this is an early alpha release and intended for "those technically competent hobbyists and developers who are interested in testing an early development version and fully understand the risks of doing so may find interest in it". Although HP have indicated their "moral support" for the project, it is prudent to assume that installing CM7 onto your TouchPad will VOID your warranty.

If you are unsure of how CM7 will look on the TouchPad, have a look at Mr Chekov demoing some of its features:


The video shows him play around with the Bluetooth, Netflix, a bit of gaming, and in between he is interrupted by a few Skype calls. To my untrained eye CM7 seems to be running pretty well on the TouchPad, the screen appears responsive, the video is clear, and the audio is crisp. Indeed, the list of working components includes, touchscreen support, GPU acceleration, Bluetooth, dual-core processing, sound, accelerometer, camera, vibration, backlight, LED, softkeys, and Wi-Fi. However, most of these components are not functioning at 100% and there are app compatibility issues.

If you wish to report any bugs (and there are a lot), check out the list here:http://code.google.com/p/cmtouchpad/issues/list.

Finally, if all this is too much for you and you want to start over simply launch the WebOS Doctorand reset your device.

Head on over to the Rootzwiki thread to read the complete installation instructions and download the necessary files.

And remember folks "ETA's are a bad omen".

Source: Rootzwiki

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HP decides on Palm and webOS future this week

I’m not quite sure what the game plan HP had in mind when they purchased Palm some time ago, but it seems as though that is one plan that had fallen apart at the seams. The HP TouchPad did receive some buzz when it was introduced, but then again the tablet’s sales were stopped barely a month into its release. Signs point towards HP deciding on the future of Palm and its operating system, webOS, later this week after rumors of the company completing the initial bidding process for its webOS unit. An all-hands meeting is touted to be held tomorrow in order to reveal the future plans on whether HP will be selling or spinning off the group.
That would basically mean $1.2 billion or so down the drain after acquiring Palm, so it remains to be seen who else is going to pick up Palm and webOS. Perhaps the next Silicon Valley visionary is able to see what webOS can be in its entirety, or would Palm just be killed off, ending its relatively short life as a company?

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HP TouchPad Go clears the FCC, HP gearing for launch?

Now we have some potentially good news for folks who didn’t manage to pick up the HP ToucPad after HP decided to slash its price to $99 – there is a chance that you might be able to pick up the TouchPad’s smaller brother – the TouchPad Go. According to reports online, it appears that the 7″ webOS tablet has paid a visit to the office of the FCC and gotten the stamp of approval. Now this isn’t the first time that the TouchPad Go has visited the FCC, so it shows that HP has actually made some changes to the device – but why would you make change to a tablet after you announce its cancellation? Unless you’ve got plans to put it up for sale.
Now of course, that’s just being a bit optimistic about the whole situation. After all, it could just be a case of HP forgetting to inform the FCC that the tablet was discontinued, or it could be that HP didn’t care at all. With no official announcement from the company, it’s hard to say what’s going to happen – but until then, don’t hold your breath. It’s okay to keep those fingers crossed though; HP is capable of surprises after all.

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HP searching for answer to TouchPads that shipped with Android installed

This is a very strange story. According to PCWorld, some of the last few HP TouchPad tablets that were built apparently arrived to the buyers with Android installed rather than webOS. The TouchPad tablets are supposed to run webOS and apparently only Android was on the tablet according to some users that received the gadgets.

HP has stated that it never authorized the distribution of any form of Android on the TouchPad. HP also claims that it has reviewed the manufacturing process and believes that no TouchPads were shipped with Android on them by mistake. Apparently the developers that reached out to HP about the Android confusion think since the TouchPad shipped with the Android OS, HP is obligated to tell people what version is being used.
The devs that approached HP have apparently also contacted Qualcomm since some versions of the OS on the TouchPads flash the QulC logo. An investigation is under way to figure out just how Android ended up on the TouchPads when the users received them. It sounds to me like some sort of hoax, we will have to wait and see how this all pans out. I would bet the bulk of the TouchPads that were sold end up running Android so getting it out of the box with Android installed is a good idea for many buyers.
HP’s Phil Robb said:

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. Regarding your specific request for source code below, I must decline at the present time. 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.

[via PCWorld]

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Download dual-boot Android on your HP TouchPad now

Just Monday we saw an extremely early version of Android living happily with WebOS on the same HP TouchPad, but the developers hadn’t released the necessary files to try it out yourself. Rejoice, cheap tablet modders: the indefatigable denizens of XDA-Developers have done it again. You can now download and install an alpha version of the WebOS Android installer, keeping your TouchPad’s core software intact.

The process isn’t for the faint of heart. In order to install the app you need to use the community-authored tool Preware, sort of an alternative app store with a selection of tools and tweaks. Even when you get Android up and running, it’s still in the extreme early stages. Limitations include almost no usable storage, no Google apps or Android Market, and the only available language is Chinese, so brush up on your Mandarin before downloading. The developers say that the wrinkles will be ironed out in future released, even allowing android to run as a “card” in the unique WebOS interface.
For those who are familiar with the Preware system, the install is relatively easy. You can download or remove the entire 80MB installation at your leisure, and a simple button combination returns you to the TouchPad’s WebOS immediately. Adventurous users, go ahead and give it a try, but those of you who want a smoother experience might want to wait a few weeks at least. And keep in mind that CyanogenMod’s Gingerbread version is coming some time in the future.

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Amazon considering the acquisition of Palm from HP

It has been reported that Amazon could possibly be looking to acquire Palm from HP. According to a report from VentureBeat, the internet shopping giant is said to be in earnest talks with HP to buy what still remains of the franchise and its beleaguered mobile platform, WebOS.
The report cites a source which is well placed, stating that as HP is looking to do away completely with Palm, and Amazon has come up as the likeliest name in the list of prospective buyers which are likely to make the deal. The report also noted a connection between both the companies as the CEO of Palm, Jon Rubinstein, who is currently working with HP on the WebOS platform was a member of the board of directors of Amazon last year.
Rubinstein had pointed towards such a possibility of a potential partnership with Amazon in an interview back in July. He said that Amazon is an ideal partner in this regard as the company has a lot of characteristics which will help it in expanding the WebOS platform and its ecosystem. He, however, did not comment about whether there were already negotiations taking place between both the companies. During the interview, the WebOS chief from HP, Stephen DeWitt, also played up the qualities of the retail giant Amazon.
He said that Amazon has a very close relationship with its customers, which is unlike any other company in the market. He added that it helps Amazon in knowing about the preferences of its end users. A spokesperson from HP did not comment on the news, stating that the company doesn’t comment on rumors, whereas the representatives from Amazon weren’t available for a statement.
Palm was acquired by HP in April last year for a price of $1.2 billion in an attempt to gain recognition in the global mobile market. However, the company eventually struggled to get Palm’s WebOS to give decent competition to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms. The company recently discontinued both WebOS and its recently released tablet, the TouchPad, a couple of weeks ago.
HP also announced some time ago that a split of the WebOS business is underway as the software operations are going to be transferred to another part of the company and that it will not develop any more hardware based on the OS during the fourth quarter.

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ACME Installer demo shows off Android/WebOS dual-boot on HP TouchPad

There are geeks working hard out there to get Android onto the HP TouchPad that failed so brilliantly. The future of WebOS might be murky and the future of updates is something that many that own the TouchPad may be worrying about. With a port that allows Android to run on the TouchPad the little HP tablet would get a second life and more usability for the average geek. A video has landed on YouTube that shows a demo of ACME Installer with dual boot for the TouchPad.

The demo shows a geek with the ACME Installer mounting the TouchPad to a Mac and then moving some needed files over to the tablet. Once the files are over on the TouchPad, the files can be executed. To do this they create a folder called cminstall, copy a zip file over, and use the novacom program to start the ACME installer.
It doesn’t take that long to get Cyanogen 7 running on the tablet and you can swap back to WebOS whenever you want. The addition of the new OS needs only three files including the ACME installer, novacom, and cm-update payload file. The video points out that the demo doesn’t mean the ACME installer is close to release though. The Cyanogenmod was benchmarked not long ago.
Thanks for the tip Tony.




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HP TouchPad Go images leak, show us what could have been

We knew that HP was working on delivering a 7-inch version of its TouchPad tablet, but when the company announced it was to cease development of its webOS hardware and look to either license or sell its mobile operating system, we never got the chance to see it.
A new leak, which surfaced on a Chinese forum, shows the TouchPad Go (codenamed Opal) in all it’s 4:3 glory, suggesting the company was actually working one something a little more unique than a like-for-like iPad competitor.

That the person who posted the new shots has been in possession of the TouchPad Go for around three months and claims it has the same 1024 x 768 resolution as the larger TouchPad and the same 1.5GHz APQ8060 Snapdragon processor. It is also said to have 16GB of storage, and both front and back facing cameras.

Interestingly, the device may also have included an NFC module.
In August, we spoke with a source close to HP who said that when the company announced it was to stop webOS device manufacturing, the TouchPad Go was already in production and was fully expected to launch in the coming months. Internally, HP employees saw the TouchPad Go as a better looking and nicer feeling device that had the potential to sell, with it believed that sales of the device would outpace the TouchPad’s if it had been released before its larger cousin.
Why the company decided against launching a 10-inch model over its small counterpart we may never know – we will just have to console ourselves with images that emerged today.

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CyanogenMod team continues to make progress on Android for the HP Touchpad — Wi-Fi, accelerometer now working

The project to port Android over to the $99 HP Touchpad is making great progress, thanks to the CyanogenMod team. Since the last video updated that we posted, the team has made significant progress on getting Android properly working on the HP Touchpad.
In their latest video update, we see that many new features have been added to the CyanogenMod port of Android on the HP Touchpad. Major updates include working Wi-Fi and accelerometer.
In the last video update, the Wi-Fi wasn’t working and the team used a USB connection to get internet connectivity. Now with the accelerometer working, you can automatically rotate screen orientation by holding the tablet in portrait or landscape mode. As a matter of fact, the accelerometer is working so well that a labyrinth game can be played on the Touchpad.

Angry Birds on the HP Touchpad

There are still some issues that need to be worked on with Android on the Touchpad. For one, the Touchpad is only using one of its dual-cores, and to make matters worse, there is a mediaserver program that is using up 50% of the core, something that should not be happening.
There are still problems with the sound, as you probably heard. In addition, there are some programs that simply don’t work at the moment. The Youtube program is one of them. While watching videos directly from the Youtube app isn’t an option at the moment, the videos do still load when accesses via the web browser.
In case you’re wondering why the CyanogenMod team isn’t porting Honeycomb to the Touchpad, it’s because the source code isn’t available yet. Another reason is because they would like to focus on building from the Gingerbread source (which CyanogenMod 7 is based on) to pave the way for when Google releases the source code for Ice Cream Sandwich, the next version of Android that is supposed to work on both phones and tablets.

Accelerometer on Android running on the HP Touchpad now works

Check out the video below to watch Android running on the HP Touchpad. As always, a big thank you goes out to everyone who is working hard to make this a reality for many people. Keep up the good work, and as always, we appreciate everything.

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HP TouchPad with Cyanogenmod Benchmarked [Early Build]

If you’ve got a TouchPad and you’re here reading Android Community, chances are you know what CyanongenMod 7 is and what it means for TouchPad users. Last we spoke, CyanogenMod was THIS CLOSE to being complete – of course even THIS CLOSE is relative, so we’re still not quite there yet. That said, some intrepid folks out there in alpha-build-land have taken it upon themselves to benchmark the still incomplete software / hardware combo. Would you like to know more? Click!

Of course getting CyanogenMod working on your TouchPad isn’t the only reason why you may have purchased the ultra-inexpensive tablet, reading John Scheible’s analysis of the situation should give you a handful of reasons why an Android user may have jumped on the situation. It’s time to take a check though of what it could basically feel like to roll with the Cyan flavoring of Android via some basic benchmark tests. A mister fattire from RootzWiki took a few minutes out of his otherwise busy day to rack up these tests for you!
The closest to average scores for Linpack were as follows:
[multithread]
MFLOPS 70.958
Time: 2.38 seconds
Norm Res: 3.24
Precision 2.220446049250313E-16
[single thread]
MFLOPS: 44.333
Time 1.89 Seconds
Norm Res 5.68
Precision: 2.220446049250313E-16
Then there’s some information on Quadrant and frames per second tests:

~28fps on the fractal thing ~6fps (!) on the staircase ~60fps (!) on the planets, & 25 fps on the DNA.

And the final score is thus: 2753.

Mister fattire reminds us of course that all of this is for fun for so many more reasons than one, and to take it all with a grain of salt and pepper.
)

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Best HP TouchPad accessories

So you picked up a HP TouchPad. Big woop. Just because we didn't manage to grab one in the £89 fire sale doesn't mean we aren't jealous. Not one bit. Nada.
Ok so maybe we grabbed one, but we wanted more. Greed aside, we've been having a good play with both the TouchPad and the Pre 3 for a while now. Sure they have their faults and WebOS can be a bit glitchy at times but for the price they are unbeatable.
More importantly all that money saved means you have likely plenty to spare for accessories, not easy however when most TouchPad shopping remains thin on the ground. Thankfully Pocket-lint has done the searching for you, rounding up the best bits for your TouchPad to enjoy.

Touchstone Charging Dock for TouchPad (£35)

HP and Palm devices both feature a wireless charging system called Touchstone. The hardware is built into the back of the new HP launches and unlike things such as Powermat, doesn't require an additional case.

Being able to simply plonk your TouchPad into a stand and leave it to charge is damn cool. Better still the official Touchstone dock follows the smooth black design approach of the TouchPad itself. This means it is matte and we like matte things over at Pocket-lint.
The stand itself is height adjustable so you can get the right viewing angle for your tablet. It also costs around £35, which for a charger and stand combo is a decent enough price. This does however seem astronomically expensive when you think the TouchPad itself set you back just £89.

Zagg Invisible Shield TouchPad screen protector (£15) 

The TouchPad screen is a little bit fingerprint friendly. As such a good protector or screen wipe is a necessary, particularly for the more sweaty geek fan.
Zagg's Invisible Shields have been making appearances on iPhones and Android handsets for some time now and more than proved their protective capabilities. They are military grade tough and hardy enough to stop even the worst keys in same  pocket session.

Sticking Zagg stuff onto your TouchPad without air bubbles is not massively straightforward so we recommend picking up a pair and using the first one for practice. Get it right though and you will have a scratch proof and shiny HP tablet to enjoy.

Protectyourbubble.com gadget insurance (From £2.13)

Touchpads have become sought after gadgets, with the rapid selling out of the fire sale making them highly desirable.
Sure you are more likely to lose an iPad than HP's tablet oddity but getting it insured is worth it all the same. Protectyourbubble.com listed a TouchPad as £2.19 per month when insured for 0-£150. Those with multiple gadgetry can also add them to their policy, granting them a ten per cent discount.

This means should you drop/smash/lose or generally ruin your TouchPad it will in theory get replaced. Good luck finding a replacement however. At least you will be getting your money back or who knows, even an iPad 2 as a like for like (although we doubt it).

A subscription to Spotify (£10 per month)

There is plenty of memory to go round in the TouchPad and not very many apps to fill it with. As such we encourage you to cram the thing full of as much music as you can.
Make this easier by signing yourself up for a Spotify Premium subscription and storing as much music locally as possible.

Lucky WebOS users get a properly decent Spotify app and access to nearly all the functions found on both iOS and Android. Just remember though, it can be a fair bit of a battery drainer at the best of times.
Don't forget as well that your new TouchPad has beats audio stuck inside. This means the tablet speakers put out a fair blast of decent quality noise, making Spotify well worth it.

Trinity Black protective case (£15) 

This reminds us quite a bit of the original iPad case in its foldable functionality. Either opt for keeping your TouchPad safe in an upright or flat position, making watching media or typing on the go a lot easier.

The Black approach to things also helps not interfere with the TouchPad's smooth design and could even trick a few into thinking you are an iPad owner.
Ports and connectivity all have their own access holes as does the swipeable area below the TouchPad's screen.

HP TouchPad International Travel Kit (£24)

Hey Mr TouchPad owner ... look at how cool you are with your exclusive tablet. I bet your an international jetsetter and all round globetrotter. If you are (which is likely), then you will want this TouchPad travel kit, which is an exciting collection of plug-based electronic fun.

It means you can keep your TouchPad going in just about every country you visit, even say as far as the depths or the Australian outback.

Duracell PPS1 Pocket Charger (£3.45)

Imagine you are a super international traveller. So James Bond that even the furthest reaches of the outback are childs play for your adventuring. This is one for the Ranulph Fiennes among us that would take our TouchPad to the top of Everest if we could.

Portable chargers mean power wherever you go and this Duracell accessory will manage just about one full charge of your HP tablet. Good times if you plan on a bit of Spotify while crossing the north pole.

Overboard Multi Purpose Waterproof Case (£34)

Keeping gadgets dry, particularly something as rare as the TouchPad is vital. Any accidental toilet or bath dropping could result in unhappy face times for your new HP device.
We hold ours in such high regard that we personally keep it in an Overboard case 24/7, only taking it out to mop away some of the condensation trapped inside the bag. These waterproof sacks will mean you can swim the channel without worrying about getting your tablet moist.

The jumbo size of the case also allows you to stick the rest of your gadgetry in safety. Another decent use we discovered was if you are planning on keeping kids occupied with the TouchPad, as it prevents food/vom/juice or squashed bananas from incriminating your screen.

HP TouchPad Wireless Keyboard (£30)

Typing on a touchscreen isn't for everyone so some will likely want to opt for HP's wireless keyboard, particularly if you picked up the TouchPad as a bit of a 'my first tablet'.

The keyboard behaves like any normal computer QWERTY setup bar the extra special HP tablet-centric features. You can dim the screen, lock it, force the on-screen keyboard to pop up or even control music. It is a useful accessory and one that can transform your TouchPad into a nice mini computer for the kitchen. Not exactly sure why HP didn't take the Apple approach and go for a stand and keyboard combo, perhaps they were afraid the TouchPad was going to get banned in Germany.

HP Pre 3 (£269)

You bought a TouchPad already so why not go all out WebOS and pick up a Pre 3 on the side. It means you get a tablet and phone Bluetooth friendship quite unlike any other. Calls and information can be shared between devices or you can take advantage of the super cool Touch to Share functionality.

Say you are about to run out the door but only want to bring your Pre 3 with you. Anything you are browsing on the TouchPad can be switched onto the phone by simply touching the tablets screen. This means instant info transfer in the coolest way possible.
Sure it might be a bit of a marketing gimmick but think about it it, £89 for a tablet and £269 for a phone, that is less than an iPad by itself.
Anything else you can think of the TouchPad could do with? Let us know!

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HP TouchPad CyanogenMod 7 Build THIS CLOSE to Complete

If you thought you’d never see CyanogenMod 7 working on that $99 TouchPad you picked up a few weeks ago, you’ve clearly got no faith in the awesomeness of others. Last we heard, the TouchPad had been given multitouch support for an Android port, but now we know the CyanogenMod 7 build to be a few steps ahead, nearly ready for a full release! All they’ve got left to get working, apparently, is Wi-fi support and a few other tinier bugs. Sound like the system for you?

Certainly John Sheible isn’t looking back at his multi-pad purchase with regret as CyanogenMod 7 makes this tablet a fully functional and fully awesome Android tablet to behold! Touchscreen support is working, accelerometer is working, and all graphics drivers are ready to roll. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can get internet over a USB cable like the rest of the weirdos using alternate means for internet. You’ll be working hard on your unique 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core processor, appearing to work faster here than it ever did in review units before Android was planted.


Also note that with this release comes dual-boot to both Android and webOS, this meaning of course that you wont have to uninstall this tablet’s original operating system to get the newly minted CyanogenMod 7 build working inside. As for the touchscreen issues, which appear to be at the forefront of development woes here on the device as far as Android goes, the CyanogenMod developer in the video does not reveal the driver that was used to make this build work, but does note that it was originally, of course, another CyanogenMod build that made it happen.
Stay tuned as we ramp up to a final build.
[via Liliputing]

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HP TouchPad Android Port Moving Along, Gets Multitouch Support [Video]

If you’ve been watching the HP TouchPad Android ports news lately you’ll know that things are slowly but surely getting there. Developers are making some great progress with Android for the failed HP Slate that recently has seen huge sales thanks to the $99 firesale price. The developers TouchDroid, are hard at work and have a booting and running CyanogenMod 7 Android 2.3.5 port for the TouchPad but things are still very beta.

Today we have another video to tease everyone with showing off not only CM7 booting, but full touch support with 10 point multi-touch fully functioning. Not only is everything working but it appears extremely quick, responsive, and we don’t see any lag from the video. This my friends is what we call progress! While I’m sure things are still a long ways away from being fully functional, this is a great start and enough to get plenty of users excited.


The last video we saw things were not too far along and nothing was working but today’s shown above shows not only the progress that has been made, but that things are moving quite fast thanks to team TouchDroid. They still have a long ways to go but I figured a few would be glad to see the video and the TouchPad in action. Stay tuned as we will be keeping our watchful eye on the TouchPad as more develops.
[via Android Police]

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One last batch of TouchPads on the way, HP says

HP’s public relations manager Mark Budgell wrote a blog post Tuesday afternoon confirming a report from Reuters earlier in the day in which HP vice president Todd Bradley suggested the company would resurrect its TouchPad tablet. “Despite announcing an end to manufacturing webOS hardware, we have decided to produce one last run of TouchPads to meet unfulfilled demand,” Budgell wrote. “We don’t know exactly when these units will be available or how many we’ll get, and we can’t promise we’ll have enough for everyone. We do know that it will be at least a few weeks before you can purchase.” HP says it will manufacture the tablets during the fourth fiscal quarter of this year, which ends on October 31st. It is unclear if the new batch will be priced from $99, which had previously resulted in a quick fire sale of the tablet.
[Via AllThingsD]
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