Palm’s WebOS is coming to “Web-connected printers,” and possibly tablets! Yes, HP is soon to launch printers that runs webOS and comes with touchscreens that make it easy to print from the web without having to use a computer. HP also wants to make printing from smartphones, and other mobile devices, easier for consumers.
During the Reuters Global Technology Summit HP’s executive vice president of Imaging and Printing, Vyomesh Joshi confirmed this idea. “The usage of that printer is going up by double digits,” said Vyomesh Joshi. HP has planned for years to make it easier to print from the Web, but Joshi said it was difficult to keep up with the pace of Internet growth. “The Web is where the content creation is happening, the content explosion is happening and we want to capture that content,” he said. However, he added, “It’s not formatted for easy printing.” Joshi also added that his focus is on capturing a greater share of printed pages rather than simply selling printers, since a relatively small number of printers account for the lion’s share of printing.
The company last year said it would roll out printer app partnerships with the likes of Walt Disney Co, CBS News and Yahoo Inc’s online photo service Flickr. HP agreed to buy Palm last month for $1.2 billion, acquiring the company’s award-winning WebOS and a deep library of patents on mobile technology. Shortly after the announcement, HP showed a slide deck suggesting WebOS would run on an upcoming tablet from HP.
But Using Palm’s WebOS throughout HP’s product line doesn’t mean that the company is abandoning Microsoft. HP is the world’s largest manufacturer of Microsoft Windows-compatible PCs, and HP hase committed to introducing a smartphone based on Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7 OS also.
Tags: cbs news, compatible pcs, computer hp, content creation, double digits, flickr, global technology, internet growth, mobile technology, technology summit, touchscreens, walt disney co, webos, windows phone
makes you wonder if traditional printers will start to disappear