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3 Prototypes From HP, In Outline

Posted by timothy on from the /_337-photoshop-sk1llz dept.

tekgoblin writes "Since the recent HP buyout of PALM we have been waiting for what HP may have in store for us. Well HP's CTO Phil McKinney has tweeted some pictures of 3 new devices that could be released in the near future." Note: the pictures' most relevant bits are blacked out with the subtlety of an expurgated FBI document, but they have me curious, especially about the wrist-worn device.

34 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. Those are awesome.. by black3d · · Score: 4, Funny

    ..designer frames. The black boxes.. eh..

    --
    "The true measure of a person is how they act when they know they won't get caught." - DSRilk
    1. Re:Those are awesome.. by BonquiquiShiquavius · · Score: 5, Funny

      Quick...someone zoom in on the reflections in the monitor and enhance!

    2. Re:Those are awesome.. by fermion · · Score: 2, Funny

      I going to do this next time I am asking for venture capital. Take a picture of an iphone, an ipad, and lg watch phone, black out the details, and say I have new cool devices that will take over the market.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    3. Re:Those are awesome.. by Lucky75 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Naw, don't you know? You can get a lot more reflections off the eyes than off the monitor. Zoom in on the eyes, extrapolate the reflection and enhance that!

      --
      DNA -- National Dyslexic Association
    4. Re:Those are awesome.. by BonquiquiShiquavius · · Score: 2, Funny

      Pfft...real techs go to the source and scan the retinas

    5. Re:Those are awesome.. by xtracto · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Both you and GP where close...

      If you zoom in the screen reflections you will only get the *back* of the devices.

      You were closer, however what needs to be done is to zoom on the screen reflections looking for the eyes, then zoom into those and zoom again on the respective eye reflections to get the image of the front of the devices.

      On a serious note, I have lost every desire to buy HP devices. Nowadays they are *very* poor quality.

      The last thing I bought was an HP notebook about 10 years ago... it lasted for about 3 years and suddenly the DC connector stopped working (it seems it was a known issue on HPs that the solder points of the jacks were crappy). In addition, my brother recently bought an HP netbook... it a bit more than 1 year (enough so that the warranty ended) before it just stopped working (the motherboard was fried).

      I have been buying ASUS since about 15 years (first, mainboards... GREAT mainboards along with ABit) and later I have bought 3 EEE netbooks (1 for me, 1 for my wife and 1 for a friend who liked our devices) and they all have been great so far (2 years the oldest).

      --
      Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
  2. MS Paint Prototypes? by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Here's some photos of my hand with black bocks over everything. But they're prototypes. I swear. Please don't buy something from Apple.

    1. Re:MS Paint Prototypes? by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The pics look like a blacked out iPad, iPhone and iWatch ... or HP Slate, Palm Pre and Casio digital watch. Either way I'm not holding my breath.

    2. Re:MS Paint Prototypes? by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh, I thought HP was buying Amazon.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  3. Worthless article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What the fuck is this? One short paragraph and three photos showing black rectangles?

    1. Re:Worthless article by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 2, Funny

      Maybe the featured device is a printer that automatically obfuscates any important details!

      If that's their new product they'll sell a million of them to governments around the world ;-)

    2. Re:Worthless article by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 2
      TFS:

      Note: the pictures' most relevant bits are blacked out...but they have me curious, especially about the wrist-worn device.

      That's his ESD strap. You've been trolled.

    3. Re:Worthless article by shadowrat · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's actually an ad for a new reality show from the makers of 16 and pregnant. You won't be able to tear yourself away from the trainwreck that unfolds as tech companies make ever more desperate attempts to take attention away from apple.

  4. Here's to hoping by Pojut · · Score: 3, Insightful

    WebOS is a decent piece of software...here's to hoping HP leverages it intelligently.

    --
    Living With a Nerd
    1. Re:Here's to hoping by mickwd · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Let's hope they use it intelligently.

      Why use a pretentious three-syllable management-wank-speak word in place of a perfectly acceptable single-syllable word which means the same thing?

    2. Re:Here's to hoping by bhartman34 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Probably because "using" something and "leveraging" it are not the same thing.

      They could "use" WebOS in any number of different pieces of hardware, but if the hardware they put it in doesn't really benefit from what WebOS can do (e.g., with the multitasking and Synergy, especially), then they haven't leveraged it well at all. Leveraging a product means you use it in such a way to make other products attractive, as well.

      For example: Let's say HP decided to put WebOS exclusively on tablets. You could certainly argue that tablets are a good use scenario for WebOS, but they certainly couldn't be said to be leveraging WebOS well, if that were the case.

  5. Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by skoda · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ooh! Look! They've invented paper and the $0.99 solar-powered calculator!

    HP's already announced and seemingly canceled amazing new Win7 tablet. They've bought WebOS and then suggested that they're going to stuff it in printers, so forget about tablets for now. So what are they doing here? More stuff that doesn't exist or won't leave the lab? Or won't be sold until I've already bought my iPad 2?

    Why don't these companies mimic Apple where it matters? Don't rumor, tease, prototype, spin, et cyk? Shut up until you've got something work talking about...and then release it!

    --
    ShoutingMan.com
    1. Re:Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by Eevee · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Shut up until you've got something work talking about...and then release it!

      They'll release it as soon as they figure out how to require it to use up an ink cartridge once a week.

    2. Re:Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by Martin+Blank · · Score: 3, Insightful

      They've bought WebOS and then suggested that they're going to stuff it in printers, so forget about tablets for now.

      They've already confirmed the WebOS tablet for Q1 2011 (once in an all-hands meeting and once in the quarterly results conference call), and have said a couple of times that the Win7 tablet is not dead.

      --
      You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
  6. A new low by ColdWetDog · · Score: 4, Insightful

    For content here at Slashdot. If you don't have the imagination to make up something, then redact some random shapes in a picture and call it 'news'.

    Come on now guys. This is embarrassing.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    1. Re:A new low by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's Sunday. This is just the Slashdot way of saying that this is an open thread and you can talk about whatever you want since the entire story is offtopic.

      So I was thinking, tritium-deuterium fusion is soo overrated. Proton-boron fusion is where it's at.

    2. Re:A new low by burisch_research · · Score: 2, Funny

      Absolutely. But the ideal of aneurotic fusion isn't quite with us yet. What I want to know is, why isn't anyone investing heavily in IEC fusion?!

      --
      char*f="char*f=%c%s%c;main(){printf(f,34,f,34);}";main(){printf(f,34,f,34);}
  7. No enhance?? by Pe_Ell · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm sure CSI could show us what was there... they can even show us encrypted IPs! ENHANCE!!

    --
    Midget Tosser
  8. Oh look, a [REDACTED] by MrEricSir · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wow, that's incredible! I have a [REDACTED] but it doesn't run [REDACTED] operating system, nor does it have [REDACTED] feature!

    I can't wait to see what [REDACTED] HP comes out with next!

    --
    There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
  9. It's a new type of GUI interface! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    All black controls labeled in black on a black background.

    (With apologies to Douglas Adams)

  10. I have been expecting this for a while now by erroneus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Computers and personal storage can get as small as imaginable. It takes decreasing amounts of power to process and store data. The more power is being used for wireless I/O and display devices.

    What I am guessing we are seeing here is that the data processor and storage device is on his wrist. Using a low power, high speed data link, the hand-held devices are little more than a display with input functionality. So, he picks one up, and the wrist device connects to it and that becomes his hand-held device. He picks up another, and THAT becomes the hand-held device. For an even more enhanced experience, a wireless I/O device and client software can be connected to your desktop PC, and you can sync and exchange data with your wrist device and also use the PC for its console.

    And since the wrist device needs little to no controls, it is pretty trivial to make it rugged and durable. And since it's attached to your wrist, it isn't getting lost or misplaced quite so easily.

    1. Re:I have been expecting this for a while now by erroneus · · Score: 3, Funny

      I hadn't considered that possibility. However, with the right attachments, it could also be used as a screwdriver and to open cans and bottles.

    2. Re:I have been expecting this for a while now by dakohli · · Score: 5, Interesting
      So, this is HP's plan:

      Put out a few pictures of nothing, and let the geeks speculate on what it is. Then mine the responses for the best ideas. Voila, a plan for the future!

    3. Re:I have been expecting this for a while now by evilWurst · · Score: 2, Interesting

      IMO, it would be a better idea for it to be the other way around; have a microsd and low power bluetooth inside the watch casing with the battery. Store things like program personalization profiles, bookmarks, ebooks, and maybe some mp3s in there, and authorize other devices to access them. This works out nicely because the watch can probably do all this and still be the same (small) size and have the same long battery life that we expect out of watches, still be waterproof, and since it's strapped to your wrist you're unlikely to lose it or run it through the washer/dryer or have it stolen.

      With a decent display, it should also be able to show info from other devices. Specifically, maybe caller ID/text message/email alerts from the cellphone that's sitting in your pocket in silent mode. Since the display is very tiny, this shouldn't make it all that much more expensive, judging by what some mp3 players in the $50 range have today. Nor should it make the watch ungainly large; watches with these features can still be traditional fashion accessories for those that want them to be.

      It'd be nice if it all integrated well with the blacked out... smartphone-pda and tablet/bookreader?... in the pic, as well as your laptop/desktop. Since microsd cards already come in 4/8/16 GB capacities, then in addition to automagical profile synching, you could actually store a decently useful amount of additional data in a watch and have it more easily accessible than the USB flash drive on your keychain.

  11. Take that, CERN! by Sean_Inconsequential · · Score: 3, Funny

    In other news, HP has beaten CERN in the race to create miniature black holes.

  12. Re:Why would anyone by Zorque · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "people who just do not like Apple"

    I think you underestimate just how many of us there are. Aside from that, any HP product is probably going to be 2/3 to half the price of the competing Apple product, and likely be more open as well.

  13. Remember the pocket-watch? by howzit · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Look at old photographs in the 1800's. How long did people carry pocket-watches on chains before some-one thought--'why not wear the watch on your wrist?' Same with mobiles and I/O devices. It HAS to come. 'Do you remember Dick Tracy, do you remember Shane ?'

  14. Re:Why would anyone by mjwx · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Until Apple does something monumentally stupid.

    That has already happened. We are just waiting for the other shoe to drop now. Lets compare some history shall we.

    Apple Computers: Released an overpriced PC that was eaten alive by cheaper more functional competitors.
    Apple Inc: Releases an overpriced tablet that will be eaten alive by cheaper and more functional competitors.

    Apple Computers: Sues Microsoft over allegedly infringing the "look and feel" of their OS claiming ownership to basic elements. Apple Computers lose.
    Apple Inc: Sues HTC over allegedly infringing software patents which are spurious and overreaching at best. Apple Inc will lose here.

    Apple Computers: Nearing bankruptcy due to poor products and losing expensive law suits accepts a cash injection from Microsoft in order to get the DOJ of Microsoft's back claiming Apple as a competitor.
    Apple Inc: Nearing bankruptcy due to poor products and losing expensive law suits finds themselves acquired by a larger, more successful entity (my money's on Microsoft).

    History has a habit of repeating itself. Apple began to fail when they determined that money was better spent suing HTC over spurious software patents (most, if not all have prior art and SW patents are only recognised in the US, HTC is a Taiwanese company with global reach). We've seen this happen countless times before, including to the now defunct Apple Computers of the 70's and 80's. When a business model turns from innovation to litigation then failure is inevitable. Yes Apple will lose a lot of money as they depend on their stock price too much, that 50B in the bank wont even pay for 1 quarter if their stock drops. I'm tipping it to be a .bomb 2.0 or iCrash if you will.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  15. Back to the future by Yeechang+Lee · · Score: 2, Informative

    This wouldn't be the first wristwatch from HP. The company sold the HP-01 from 1977 to 1980. It was a calculator watch that was very advanced for its time (At $750, it should have been!).