By Sandy Fitzgerald | Fri Aug 12, 2011 3:38 pm |
Hewlett-Packard is dropping its TouchPad price and may be considering a smaller screen for a new TouchPad Go version of the device, both steps that could lure users to try the company's WebOS system.
Price drops are often a clue that a company is coming close to unveiling a new model, in this case the TouchPad Go, which is expected to have a 7-inch screen The Federal Communications Commission has been examining HP's newest TouchPad Go to determine if it meets federal standards, according to analysts, and the agency's examination offers several clues about what the new tablet might look like. A diagram from the FCC shows a required tablet label whose size compared with a tablet drawing in the FCC diagrams corresponds with a device with a 7-inch screen, analysts reading the FCC documents said. The FCC documents also show the device will use WebOS, which HP has been developing for its tablets, smartphones and computers since it bought Palm last year. However, HP has been having a difficult time enticing people away from Android and Apple, and has seen several setbacks with its WebOS devices. The original TouchPad has a 9.7-inch screen, which proved popular with some users. However, it has had difficulty competing with more the more popular Apple and Android tablets, which feature more apps and features than do WebOS. If HP's new TouchPad Go turns out to have a seven-inch screen, it could attract people who want the convenience of a tablet that has a screen not much larger than that on a smartphone. Only a few manufacturers offer tablets with a seven-inch screen, but those on the market, such as Samsung's 7-inch Galaxy, have proven very popular. No pricing information is yet available about the TouchPad Go, but HP might do well to remember the lessons it learned with the first TouchPad release and ensure the Go's price tag doesn't scare away potential new WebOS users.
|
] |
CellReception.com |
CellRisk.com |
Appedia.com |
Tabletedia.com
[