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Apple Releases Thunderbolt Display Firmware Update [Mac Blog]
Dec 12, 10:32PM
Apple has released the Thunderbolt Display Firmware Update for the Thunderbolt Display released earlier this year. This update addresses a fan noise issue affecting a small number of Apple Thunderbolt Displays and improves stability.The update totals 942KB and can be downloaded direct from Apple, or from Software Update for eligible users.
The updater application will be installed in the Utilities folder inside the Application folder and will be launched automatically when you close this installer.
Please follow the instructions in the updater application to complete the update process.
Microsoft OneNote Arrives on iPad [iOS Blog]
Dec 12, 10:15PM
Microsoft's Office team introduced an iPhone version of OneNote to-do/notes application earlier this year, and has now followed it up with an iPad edition. Whether you need to track and share shopping lists, gift-giving plans, recipe clippings and collections, or event and travel planning, you'll never forget or miss a thing with OneNote by your side.
What's new in this version
OneNote for iOS builds on previous releases with the following new features in version 1.3:
- Support for iPad and iPad 2
- Localization into several new languages and markets
- Tabbed user interface
- Quick note creation in the Unfiled Notes section
- Table rendering
- Improved Windows Live sign-in experience
- Option to sync notebooks only over a Wi-Fi connection
- Integrated upgrade option
New for the latest edition of OneNote is a limit on how many notes can be created in the free edition. Now, up to 500 notes is free for all users, but to unlock unlimited functionality is unlocked via in-app purchase, $4.99 on the iPhone and $14.99 on the iPad.
OneNote is free on the App store for the iPad [Direct Link] or the iPhone [Direct Link].
Apple Releases iTunes 10.5.2 with iTunes Match and Audio Distortion Fixes
Dec 12, 10:08PM
Apple today released iTunes 10.5.2, an update bringing improvements to iTunes Match and fixes for an audio distortion issue experienced with certain CDs.
About iTunes 10.5.2The download is currently available via Apple's downloads page and the dedicated iTunes download page. It should begin rolling out to Software Update shortly. The full download weighs in at 102 MB for Mac, 66.13 MB for 32-bit Windows, and 68.01 MB for 64-bit Windows.
iTunes 10.5.2 includes several improvements for iTunes Match and fixes an audio distortion problem when playing or importing certain CDs.
Apple launched iTunes Match in the United States with the release of iTunes 10.5.1 in mid-November.
Apple Obscures Future Device Hints in iOS 5.1 Beta 2 with Fake References
Dec 12, 8:43PM
One popular hobby of those interested in discovering hints of Apple's future iOS devices has been the examination of various configuration files in each beta and public version of iOS for new entries referring to future iOS devices.
While the references provide essentially no information on the new devices themselves, as they simply appear in the form of "iPhone4,1" for what ultimately became the iPhone 4S as one example, they are carefully watched as hints of what devices Apple is likely to be testing with the software and perhaps how many variations of an upcoming device there might be.
With today's release of iOS 5.1 beta 2, Apple has now taken steps to obscure that information, planting numerous fake references within configuration files typically examined for such evidence.
One file in particular, USBDeviceConfiguration.plist, had formerly listed about two dozen different device variants. As discovered by 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman, that list has now ballooned to well over 100 such entries as Apple has seeded it with dozens of new fake references to such future products as "iPad10,1", "iPhone11,3", "iPod11,1", and "AppleTV8,3".
The change is likely to make it more difficult to detect new additions, as the new entries will serve as placeholders until Apple quietly begins using the software on its latest devices under development.
Update: As noted by @chronic, the change does not shut out examination of the evidence entirely, as unaltered listings are still visible in other locations. Apple also apparently began adding the fake references in the first iOS 5.1 beta, but only with beta 2 did they make it into the closely-watched USBDeviceConfiguration.plist file.
Apple Posts Gyroscope-Friendly Panorama of Grand Central Retail Store Opening
Dec 12, 8:19PM
As noted by The Next Web, Apple has posted a 360-degree panorama of its new Grand Central Terminal retail store on opening day, showing the large crowds and the new store in the context of the massive terminal building. The panorama supports gyroscope input on compatible iOS devices, allowing users to experience the panorama simply by rotating the device.
The panorama is accessible by visiting Apple's Grand Central retail store page and tapping on the "View More Photos" link on the featured store photo. The panorama is the final image in the gallery, and can be navigated by gyroscope on newer iPhone and iPad devices and by clicking/tapping and dragging on other devices.
The gyroscope-supported panorama is a new inclusion for Apple on its site, adding a new immersive experience for site visitors right from the mobile Safari browser.
Mobile Safari was updated to support gyroscope input late last year with iOS 4.2, and developers quickly began taking advantage of the new capabilities once they became publicly known. Occipital was among the first developers to integrate the functionality, using it in its popular 360 Panorama app to allow users to view panoramic photographs in the same way Apple has now done with its Grand Central panorama.
Share of Tablet Owners Utilizing Cellular Connectivity Declining [iOS Blog]
Dec 12, 7:32PM
Research firm NPD today announced the results of its latest survey of tablet and notebook usage trends, finding that the share of tablet users taking advantage of cellular connectivity for their devices has declined compared to earlier this year. According to NPD's numbers, 60% of users reported using their tablets on Wi-Fi only back in April, but that number has risen to 65% over the past six months.
"There are multiple reasons for greater Wi-Fi reliance," said Eddie Hold, vice president, Connected Intelligence. "Concern over the high cost of cellular data plans is certainly an issue, but more consumers are finding that Wi-Fi is available in the majority of locations where they use their tablets, providing them 'good enough' connectivity. In addition, the vast majority of tablet users already own a smartphone, which fulfills the 'must have' connectivity need."Apple's iPad is the dominant product in the tablet market, and 3G-compatible models continue to carry a $130 premium over their Wi-Fi-only counterparts. While carriers have attempted to make data access for tablets flexible by offering as-needed access without the need for a data contract, cellular data service is still not a major add-on for most consumers. With the growing prevalence of Wi-Fi and features such as mobile hotspot functionality on smartphones, it is becoming less common for users to require on-board cellular data connectivity for their tablet devices.
There are also many more tablets hitting the market that do not provide cellular connectivity, such as the Kindle Fire. While many early adopters opted for tablets with embedded cellular – primarily as a "future proof" play – mainstream consumers are more likely to choose a lower price point and forgo the promise of constant connectivity.
One development that could increase cellular data usage is shared data plans, which could allow users to draw from a single allotment of data on multiple devices. Such plans could make it easier for tablet users to sign up for occasional data usage on their tablets drawn from their current smartphone data plans, without incurring a full month's data charge for the tablet alone.
Apple Seeds iOS 5.1 Beta 2 to Developers, Enables Photo Stream Photo Deletion
Dec 12, 7:01PM
Apple has released iOS 5.1 Beta 2 to developers, with a build number of 9B5127c. The biggest change is the addition of a much-requested feature related to the management of photos in the Photo Stream:
NEW: Photos taken using iOS 5.1 can be deleted from Photo Stream on your device and will be removed automatically from Photo Stream on your other iOS 5.1 devices. Older photos can be manually deleted from your iOS 5.1 devices.New versions of Xcode 4.3 and Apple TV software were also released. iOS 5.1 Beta 1 was seeded two weeks ago on November 28.
Apple TV Set-Top Box Predicted to Sell 4 Million Units, Grab 32% Market Share in 2011
Dec 12, 6:49PM
Market research firm Strategy Analytics today reported on the release of its new research report covering "connected TV players" such as the current Apple TV and Roku boxes. According to the report, Apple is predicted to reach sales of four million Apple TV units for 2011, leading the way in a rapidly-growing market with a 32% share.
"Apple is leading this nascent market, which it still considers a 'hobby'." says Jia Wu, Senior Analyst at the Connected Home Devices (CHD) service. "As Apple prepares for its expected launch of smart TVs in 2012, rival platforms must accelerate their development plans to keep Apple from running away with the connected TV business, as it has done in smartphones and digital music."The report also notes that Apple TV users tend to spend more money on TV shows and movies than users of other set-top connected TV players, with 30% of Apple TV owners reported have rented content compared to 20% of owners of other devices.
Overall, Strategy Analytics estimates that the market for connected TV players has doubled this year, reaching almost 12 million units on the momentum of considerably lower pricing compared to previous years. The current Apple TV debuted in September 2010 priced at just $99, substantially cheaper than the $229 price tag on the original hard drive-based Apple TV.
Apple has long considered the Apple TV to be a "hobby", but rumors are increasingly pointing to the debut of a connected television set from Apple as soon as late next year. Such a device would presumably integrate many of the aspects of the current Apple TV box such as iTunes Store access and streaming from iOS devices directly into the television set. Apple is also said to have been working on revolutionary Siri-powered voice input for interacting with the television.
Case-Mate Rolls Out Exclusive Marvel Comics iPhone Cases [iOS Blog]
Dec 12, 6:33PM
Case-Mate has partnered with Marvel Comics to offer iPhone cases emblazoned with comic book heroes. Each Marvel star -- Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Thor, and the X-Men -- appears on three different cases for the iPhone 4/4S and 3G/3GS.
"We all remember running around the kitchen wearing a cape, fighting evil villains and pretending to be our favorite superhero," said Shashi Reddy, Chief Executive Officer at Case-Mate. "A Case-Mate Marvel phone case is like a cape – an outward expression of who we are and what we love."The cases start at $35 and are available from Case-Mate's website.
BBC iPlayer for iPhone Launches in UK, 3G Streaming of Live TV and Radio [iOS Blog]
Dec 12, 6:10PM
The BBC's iPlayer for iPhone has arrived in the United Kingdom with 3G streaming of live BBC TV and radio. In a blog post announcing the app, the BBC noted that 1.5 million users have installed the iPlayer for iPad app, and 16.5 million programs were watched on mobile devices, up 129% year-over-year. With the new iPhone and iPod Touch app, that number should continue to aggressively increase.
The UK version of iPlayer allows domestic viewers to view live BBC TV and radio and watch catch-up TV over Wi-Fi and 3G.
The BBC iPlayer app for the iPhone and iPod touch puts all of the BBC's national television channels and radio networks in your pocket. You can now watch live television channels and listen to live radio stations wherever you are.The 3G streaming works on the iPhone 3GS or newer as well as 3G-capable iPads. The app uses extensive adaptive bitrate technologies to adjust streaming speeds depending on signal strength, and the BBC's tech team has worked closely with UK carriers to optimize the experience for users.
We have developed a neat live channel switcher so you can easily flick between channels just like on your TV or radio. If you want to see what else is on right now just tap on the 'Live Channels' button while you watch. So, if I'm watching BBC One on my phone and want to see what's on BBC Two, I just tap on 'Live Channels' to switch over. It's an easy way to see what's on now and flip over.
The app is compatible with Apple AirPlay. If you are running iOS 5, you can connect your iPhone or iPod touch to Apple TV and watch your favourite programme on your television.
You can listen to any of the BBC's national radio stations in the app. To make this easier, we have enabled background audio so you can do other things on your phone, like check mail or surf the web, while listening to your favourite BBC radio station.
BBC iPlayer is a universal app for iPhone and iPad, free on the App Store for United Kingdom users only. [Direct Link]
The BBC global iPlayer app, which was updated last week, is available in most of Western Europe and Canada -- and is coming to the United States. The app doesn't have the Live-TV, DVR and TV catch-up features that the British version does -- instead, it's a video-on-demand subscription service that gives access to selected portions of the BBC archive.
'Steve Jobs' Tops Amazon's List of Best-Selling Print and Kindle Books for 2011
Dec 12, 3:53PM
Last week, we noted that Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Steve Jobs had become Amazon's top-selling book of 2011, a feat all the more notable due to the fact that the book was not released until late October.
But that ranking only encompassed print sales, and with digital books now representing a majority of book sales at Amazon, rankings including Kindle e-book sales need to be included in order to generate a more complete picture of overall book sales.
Amazon has done just that today, releasing its list of best-selling books of 2011, and Isaacson's Steve Jobs once again topped the list.
"After the year of recommending books to our customers, it's always fun to see what books really resonated with them," said Chris Schluep, Senior Editor of Books, Amazon.com. "We chose 'Steve Jobs' as one of the Top 10 best books of the year, and even though it was published in October, the sales have been phenomenal in both formats. And we're really excited that Kindle Direct Publishing authors have taken two of the top spots this year for book sales overall."Amazon's list includes all books that were published as first editions in 2011 and includes only paid sales. Highlighting the growing influence of digital books and their impact on publishing, Amazon notes that both The Mill River Recluse (#4) and The Abbey (#9) are independently-published books made available only via Kindle e-book.
The top 10 best-selling books overall are:
1. "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson
2. "Bossypants" by Tina Fey
3. "A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard
4. "The Mill River Recluse" by Darcie Chan
5. "In the Garden of the Beasts" by Erik Larson
6. "A Dance with Dragons" by George R.R. Martin
7. "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain
8. "The Litigators" by John Grisham
9. "The Abbey" by Chris Culver
10. "Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle)" by Christopher Paolini
Apple Pulls App for Creating Fake Driver's Licenses Following U.S. Senator's Complaint
Dec 12, 2:46PM
The Coalition for a Secure Driver's License today announced that U.S. Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania has sent a letter to Apple requesting the removal of a free app that allows users to easily create digital fake IDs from the App Store.
The "License" application by DriversEd.com for Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad allows users to electronically insert any digital photo and the biographic information of their choosing into a template for a driver's license of a state of their choosing. The "License" application contains templates for driver's licenses for all 50 states, many of which are of designs that will be valid for the next several years. The user is then able to send the high quality digital image of the completed template to an email account. From the email attachment, the image can then be printed and laminated, creating a high quality counterfeit driver's license difficult to discern from one that's genuine.Casey reportedly noted in his letter that the ease with which the app allows counterfeit licenses to be produced poses significant risks related to identity theft, underage alcohol and tobacco purchases, and national security.
In his letter, Senator Casey stated that, "I believe this application poses a threat to public safety and national security…it can be used in a way that allows criminals to create a new identity, steal someone else's identity, or permit underage youth to purchase alcohol or tobacco illegally. National security systems depend on the trustworthiness of driver's licenses, yet with a counterfeit license created by the app, a terrorist could bypass identity verification by the Transportation Security Administration, or even apply for a passport."While the app had been available in the App Store for over two years, it appears that Apple has now quickly responded to Casey's letter by removing the app from the App Store. The Coalition for a Secure Driver's License had sent a letter to Apple's Scott Forstall back in April, requesting removal of the application. Apple apparently did not, however, respond to that initial request.
This is not the first time that elected government officials have gotten involved in disputes over App Store applications. Earlier this year, a group of four U.S. senators sent letters to Apple, Google, and Research in Motion requesting removal of several apps that alert users to the locations of sobriety testing checkpoints. Apple took its time responding to the issue, which is considered controversial as some law enforcement agencies support public notification of the locations of such checkpoints. Ultimately, Apple updated its review guidelines to prohibit the use of DUI checkpoint location information except in cases where the information has been made publicly available by law enforcement.
Mac App Store Hits 100 Million Downloads
Dec 12, 2:11PM
Apple today announced that its Mac App Store has surpassed 100 million downloads in less than one year of availability."In just three years the App Store changed how people get mobile apps, and now the Mac App Store is changing the traditional PC software industry," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "With more than 100 million downloads in less than a year, the Mac App Store is the largest and fastest growing PC software store in the world."The press release also offers promotional comments from representatives of Autodesk, Pixelmator, and algoriddim highlighting the value of the platform for app distribution on the Mac platform.
The Mac App Store's pace pales in comparison to that of the App Store for iOS, which easily surpassed 100 million downloads in less than three months of availability back in 2008. But with a smaller user base, a smaller library of applications, more expensive average pricing, and the fact that the Mac App Store is not an exclusive official distribution platform for OS X, it is unsurprising that the Mac App Store has grown more slowly than its iOS counterpart.
Apple has worked hard to shift Mac application distribution to the Mac App Store, moving most of its own software, including OS X Lion, to the store and in many cases also discontinuing or severely limiting availability of boxed versions of its software. The Mac App Store is also gaining traction with even the largest developers of Mac App Store, and while flagship products such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop are not yet available through the store, Adobe does offer several applications including Photoshop Elements via the store. Microsoft is also said to be "actively working" to bring Office to the Mac App Store.
Update: Apple provided some additional information on the milestone to The Loop, noting that the number does not include purchases of OS X Lion, updates to previously-downloaded apps, or repeat downloads from a single user installing apps on multiple computers.
iPad 3 Expected to Launch in Around March-April
Dec 12, 7:00AM
DigiTimes reports that Apple's next generation iPad will become available in about 3-4 months. The publication's supply chain sources indicate that the next generation iPad parts are starting to ramp up while the iPad 2 production is starting to decline.
OEM production of iPad 2 will remain high at 14-15 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011 but decline to 4-5 million units in the first quarter of 2012, paving the way for the launch of the new iPads, the sources noted.Volume production is expected to start in February and reach 9.5-9.8 million units in the first quarter of 2012.
March or April should come as no surprise to regular Apple followers. While Apple first announced the original iPad in Jan 2010, the company didn't start shipping the first units to customers until April. In 2011, the iPad 2 was announced around the same time of year.
The iPad 3 is widely expected to carry a high resolution "Retina" display.
Apple Planning to Add Bluetooth Support for AirPlay, and Expand iOS Accessory Capabilities
Dec 11, 9:40AM
Japanese blog Macotakara (via AppleInsider) reports that Apple held a MFI Conference conference in Shenzen, China this past week. "MFI" is Apple's Made for iPod / iPhone / iPad certification program for accessory manufacturers. During the talk, Apple reportedly revealed that they were going to provide a new certification chip for their MFI program to encourage more iOS-compatible accessories. The new chip will allow access to iOS devices over AirPlay, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. While Macotakara does not specify how this differs from the current program, the current program seems to be limited to physical dock accessories and specific AirPlay vendors.
In fact, TouchArcade recently touched on this fact in a recent article on iOS gaming accessories. TouchArcade noted that the reason why all the current gaming accessories such as the ThinkGeek iCade relies on Bluetooth keyboard emulation is due to the restrictions Apple has placed over bluetooth connections. It seems that this restriction will be loosened with the new certification chip, though details are sparse at the moment. TouchArcade suggests this could open the way to low-latency analog control sticks for iOS gaming.
Apple was also promoting the use of the new version of Low Energy Bluetooth 4.0 which was added in the iPhone 4S, noting that it could be used to support new applications in health care and gaming markets. We profiled the possibilities for Bluetooth Low Energy back in July.
Finally, Apple reportedly revealed that they would be adding support for AirPlay over Bluetooth, though it's not entirely clear what advantages this will offer.
RadioShack Offering $30 Off AT&T iPhone 4S and 4 Next Week [iOS Blog]
Dec 10, 6:58AM
RadioShack today informed MacRumors that it will be launching a $30 discount program for AT&T; iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 models on Sunday, bringing pricing down to $69.99/$169.99/$269.99/$369.99 after the instant savings. The sale will run through Saturday, December 17th.
In addition, trade-in credits of up to $200 for customers' used iPhones can bring the price down even further and in some cases leave users with additional store credit to spend.
Starting Sunday, Dec. 11, customers in the market for AT&T;'s iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S can get a great deal when they take advantage of RadioShack's $30 instant savings paired with the company's Trade & Save program, which will guarantee $100 to as much as $200 off when they trade in their eligible iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4. Furthermore, those who need a little more memory and wish to purchase an iPhone 4S (32/64GB) may pay as little as $69.99 for the iconic device with a qualifying 2-year plan/data pack and eligible trade-in.As usual, the prices require a 2-year contract, activation fee and potential early termination fees related to existing contracts. The maximum $200 trade-in is awarded for fully-functional, "cosmetically excellent" iPhone 4 units in 16 GB and 32 GB capacities when the charger is included with the trade-in.
RadioShack also offers AppleCare+ as an optional add-on at the time of purchase.
'Flight Control' for iPhone and iPad is Now Free for One Day [iOS Blog]
Dec 10, 5:22AM
Firemint has dropped the price of their critically acclaimed Flight Control game to Free for the first time ever. The game is part of a daily promo from EA, and will only be free for one day. Flight Control was one of the first "classic" iPhone games that first pioneered the line-drawing game mechanic. The early Flight Control game video shows how its played:
Firemint followed up with an iPad version called Flight Control HD and just recently released an update to the game that added new levels and a 'rewind' feature that can be purchased in-app.
The game is a must have for anyone with an iOS device, and it's a great time to get it while it's free.
App Store Links: Flight Control, Flight Control HD (for iPad)
Apple Posts a Beatles iTunes TV Ad: Covers
Dec 10, 1:35AM
Apple has posted a new TV ad on their YouTube page promoting The Beatles on iTunes. The ad is called "Covers" and shows off many of different album covers from The Beatles in an animated fashion. The ad ends with "The Beatles on iTunes".
The Beatles first appeared on the iTunes store back in November 2010. The new TV ad seems part of another promotion announced earlier today of a free animated version of the band's Yellow Submarine book as an exclusive on Apple's iBookstore.
Peter Oppenheimer Serving as Interim Head of Apple's Retail Division?
Dec 09, 9:13PM
With Apple still searching for a new head of retail operations in the wake of Ron Johnson's departure to become CEO of department store chain J.C. Penney, 9 to 5 Mac claims that Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer is overseeing the division on an interim basis.Oppenheimer, a financial guru has been put in charge of Apple's retail operations according to sources familiar with the search for Ron Johnson's successor. Oppenheimer is obviously an interim leader with a lack of retail experience, but his executive leadership experience is enough to give orders to his new troops: [Jerry] McDougal, [Bob] Bridger, and [Steve] Cano – who have immense retail experience. Oppenheimer won't stay retail chief forever, and is simply holding the spot until the new Senior Vice President of Retail is selected. Oppenheimer's title at Apple has not changed from Senior Vice President and CFO, he has just gained the new responsibility of the Apple retail division for the time being.A report from last month claimed that Steve Cano had been selected to assume Johnson's former role as head of retail. Apple quickly denied the report, however, noting that the search for Johnson's successor was still ongoing.
Oppenheimer has been at Apple since 1996, and took the reins as Chief Financial Officer in 2004.
Today's grand opening of the company's new Grand Central Terminal store is the first major store opening since Johnson's departure as of November 1st. Obviously the store's development was nearly complete by the time Johnson left the company, and there are a number of key executives within Apple's retail division keeping things running, but it appears that Apple has turned to Oppenheimer's expertise in financial issues to steady things until a new retail chief can be brought on board.
Apple has made a few changes to its leadership team since Tim Cook became CEO in late August, with Johnson's departure being the most significant move remaining unsettled. In another change, Eddy Cue was elevated to the senior vice president level as his role has expanded to oversee the iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore, iCloud, and iAd. The company is also looking to fill vacancies in other executive positions at slightly lower rungs, including head of government sales Ron Police, who has reportedly left the company.
HP Turns WebOS Open Source, Could Offer Manufacturers Alternative to Android
Dec 09, 7:17PM
HP today announced that it will be open sourcing its webOS mobile operating system acquired when it purchased Palm last year. The fate of webOS has been unclear since the company's August announcement that it would be spinning off its PC division and exiting the tablet and smartphone markets. HP later reversed course on its planned PC unit spinoff, but has continued to weigh its options for webOS amid the discontinuation of its mobile hardware effort.
"webOS is the only platform designed from the ground up to be mobile, cloud-connected and scalable," said Meg Whitman, HP president and chief executive officer. "By contributing this innovation, HP unleashes the creativity of the open source community to advance a new generation of applications and devices."As ZDNet notes, the open sourcing of webOS adds a competitor for Android, offering hardware manufacturers wary of relying too much on Google's open source platform an option to diversify their own slates of products.
HP will make the underlying code of webOS available under an open source license. Developers, partners, HP engineers and other hardware manufacturers can deliver ongoing enhancements and new versions into the marketplace.
Android is the king of mobile as well as open source operating systems. However, carriers and smartphone makers want to diversify away from Android as well as Apple's iOS. WebOS could be a nice diversification tool that could splinter Android support. The other reality: The WebOS UI is better than Android's, but Google's platform has the apps.The availability of webOS for use by numerous manufacturers could also threaten Microsoft and its efforts to make Windows Phone competitive by partnering with Nokia.
Update: In an interview with The Verge, HP CEO Meg Whitman reveals that the company is planning to use webOS on future tablet products, indicating the company is not abandoning mobile hardware entirely. No timeframe for such products has been announced.
Will HP be creating any new webOS hardware?
Meg: The answer to that is yes but what I can't tell you is whether that will be in 2012 or not. But we will use webOS in new hardware, but it's just going to take us a little longer to reorganize the team in a quite different direction than we've been taking it in the past.
Are we talking printers? Or tablets and phones?
Meg: In the near term what I would imagine — and this could change, in full disclosure — is I would think tablets, I do not believe we will be in the smartphone business again.
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