PCWorld: HP Shipped Android on Touchpads?

[kjk]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/24117...touchpads.html

HP is investigating how several TouchPads reportedly shipped to end users running Android, instead of webOS.

Shortly after HP announced it would stop selling TouchPads and began offering the remaining tablets for US$99, reports surfaced from a few users who say they received TouchPads that run Android instead of HP's webOS software. At the same time, developers have been working on porting Android to the TouchPad, since it's uncertain how much support and development HP will dedicate to webOS in the future.

That just seems too bizarre to be true.

[wodin]

I don't see it as bizarre at all, having owned both an original Palm Pre (WebOS) and several Android phones and one tablet; I am well aware that WebOS and Android both have strong and weak points.

WebOS' strongest point is in it's user interface and I'm amazed that some smart dev has not yet come up with an Android skin that emulates it.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by wodin

I don't see it as bizarre at all, having owned both an original Palm Pre (WebOS) and several Android phones and one tablet; I am well aware that WebOS and Android both have strong and weak points.

It isn't bizarre that a company ships versions of its devices running a completely different operating system than they are meant to run? It isn't just that someone is running Android on a Touchpad, but that HP sold them like that.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by kjk

http://www.pcworld.com/article/24117...touchpads.html



That just seems too bizarre to be true.

HP was initially developing this tablet under Android, when they bought WebOS. They stopped development and shifted to porting WebOS. It is why it took them so long to get a tablet out.

Here is their press quote. Note they don't deny wring Android on the device rather they state that never intended to ship with it.

“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.”

“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.”

=X=