It’s finally the end of the line for Palm and WebOS. HP killed off the Palm name a few months ago and it now looks like it’s fatal for WebOS too.
In a press release today, HP reported “that it plans to announce that it will discontinue operations for webOS devices, specifically the TouchPad and webOS phones. HP will continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward. ”
I’m writing this on a Pre 2 and there’s a TouchPad on my desk, the last in a long line of Palm devices, starting with a Palm III, followed by a IIIxe, a Sony Clie SJ30 and a Clie TH55, possibly the greatest PDA of all time. There was a Tapwave Zodiac 2 somewhere too. Then the era of the smartphone arrived with a Palm Treo 650 and 680, before the long wait for WebOS and the Palm Pre. That’s about fifteen years of close personal friendship.
There’s a small glimmer of hope that WebOS will continue without the devices or perhaps it will be picked up by another manufacturer, but let’s be honest, it’s not looking good.
Farewell, friend.
I had (still have, in fact) a US Robotics PalmPilot. The original one, that ran on AA batteries and had a non-backlit screen. Also had a Clie NX 80V and a Treo 650.
What a shame they’re gone. I especially like the way the card stack interface looked in WebOS, and it is a shame to imagine such an elegant style will be gone. I never had the opportunity to play/own and WebOS device, though (iPhone user now, Palm was retreating from Brazil).
I’ll keep an eye on eBay. A cheap Touchpad may make sense just to see the (raw) diamond that OS was/is.
Goodbye Palm, you are missed.
I still remember when I unboxed my III.
All my information, there in my fist,
what a wonderful time we had.
Through III, m130, to the wondrous world of connectivity
with my Treo 600, 650, and Centro
things just kept getting better.
Then the Pre came out, and oh how marvelous you were,
the promise of a bright future sullied,
hardware failures multiplied.
I had to leave, a robot beckoned,
(feeds me Gingerbread, and soon Ice Cream Sandwiches).
I am waiting, and continue,
futile as though that may sound now.