You are reading the article Ces 2012: Vertical Macbook Air Dock, Griffin’s Twenty Amp For Airplay, D updated in November 2023 on the website Hatcungthantuong.com. We hope that the information we have shared is helpful to you. If you find the content interesting and meaningful, please share it with your friends and continue to follow and support us for the latest updates. Suggested December 2023 Ces 2012: Vertical Macbook Air Dock, Griffin’s Twenty Amp For Airplay, D
CES 2012 officially kicks off today despite a ton of announcements from just about every major company in the days leading up to the event. We already gave you a peek at Thunderbolt enabled external drives from Western Digital, Hitachi and Seagate, and we showed you new accessories and hardware from LaCie, Belkin, and Elgato. Today, we bring you some of the newest accessories and peripherals shown off and announced in Las Vegas. Among them: A vertical dock for MacBook Air, an amp enabling Airplay playback on non-powered speakers, and a new lineup of cloud routers and cameras from Dlink.
Henge MacBook Air Dock: You might remember the vertical Henge Dock for MacBooks that the company has sold versions of since 2010. Henge introduced new models today for the 11-inch ($55) and 13-inch ($60) Thunderbolt MacBook Airs. This is probably the nicest MacBook docking solution around with mini Display Port and USB access, rubberized cradle, and a clip to secure your MagSafe cable. You can preorder now from Henge for a mid-February launch. A video of the previous model can be viewed here.
Griffin Twenty digital audio amplifier: Griffin did not announce pricing or a release date, but it did unveil a new accessory for AirPort Express that enables you to stream audio through any set of speakers using AirPlay by connecting them to the Twenty through S/PDIF and TOSLINK connector (included). The “low-profile digital amplifier” known as Griffin Twenty will essentially enable any non-powered speakers for untethered, AirPlay playback. It also includes 20 watts per channel, a frequency response of 0 Hz – 20 kHz +0 – 0.34 dB, and an RCA subwoofer connector. Cnet said the device would land later this year.
AirPlay streams Apple Lossless-encoded audio from your iTunes library or an AirPlay-enabled app. The Twenty Audio Amplifier uses your Airport Express to capture the AirPlay stream, decode it, then send the sound through your speakers… Note: This is an amplifier. Which means you’ll need to BYO speakers and a powered subwoofer. So drag those 201s out of the attic. They want to sing.
D-Link routers & cloud-camera: D-link announced a number of new routers at CES including the industry’s first sub-$50 cloud server with the D-Link Cloud Router (DIR-605L). The router (pictured above, left) will provide full access to D-Link’s cloud services through mydlink on the web or by way of the mylink iOS app.
The company also announced the Cloud Camera 5000 (DCS-5222L), a new 340 degree surveillance solution that will let you access live video feed from the mydlink iOS app on your iPhone or iPad (pictured above, right). It comes with a built-in microSD slot, pan/tilt control, and it records 720p video at 30 fps. According to the press release, the Cloud Camera 5000 will cost around $150 when it ships in April.
The Airport Express-like All-in-One Mobile Companion (DIR-505) router (pictured right) that provides access to Wi-Fi as well as a USB port for connecting external drives and sending its content to an iPhone or iPad. You can grab it for under $75 in April. (Image via PC World)
Lantronix xPrintServer: Lantronix’s new xPrintServer is about the size of your iPhone, and it will enable iOS devices to print to virtually any printer connected to your network. The company has a list of thousands of supported printers from HP, Canon, Dell and just about every other vendor here, and the world can expect the device to land for $150 in 2012’s first quarter. It is already available for pre-order here.
(image via Engadget)
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
You're reading Ces 2012: Vertical Macbook Air Dock, Griffin’s Twenty Amp For Airplay, D
Ces 2012 Preview: Handfulls Of Leaks
CES 2012 Preview: handfulls of leaks
It’s less than a week before we’re diving face-first into the most gigantic gadget show of the whole year the Consumer Electronics Show 2012: and it’s time to take a look at everything that’s been teased and leaked thus far. There’s official previews, invites, unofficial photos and bits let loose by people whose goal in life it is to bring you in on the good stuff before its masters reveal in ernest, and a real schedule so you can see where we’ll be the whole time. Our team will be spread out like the fingers of a hand, and when we bring them together we will CRUSH the news each day for you!
Check out first the LG Google TV launch tip, it telling us that CES is very well possibly the place where LG shows Google TV 2.0 for the first time. On that note, there’s the massively anticipated LG 55-inch OLED HDTV everyone’s been losing their mind over, along with the LG DM92 IPS display with a 1mm bexel. That’ll be a thing to see for sure – but what’ll they be using to show it off? That’s the real question. Of course then there’s Samsung’s Smart TV CES preview which assures us that LG and Samsung will be bringing out the boxing gloves for this show, no doubt.
As far as mobile devices go, Sony Ericsson’s been showing off some smartphones under a sheet. There’s also a 13-megapixel photo set that popped up last month said to be coming from the Sony Ericsson LT28at Android AT&T device of unknown nature. Of course AT&T will have more than just a little bit of presence with the Samsung Galaxy Note, more than likely showing up at the show right at the front door.
Intel’s Medfield 32nm process chip will be there in force, not least of all in such dreams as the mystery LG smartphone they say they’ve certainly not got. Nokia noted that they’d have some cool bits such as Windows phones like the AT&T Ace, the regular stuff they’ve had over the past couple of months, but also such possible gems as this this strange little nametag that, although they probably wont sell, will be on their vests. ASUS will be bringing their Transformer Prime for some sweet Ice Cream Sandwich action I’d be willing to bet, and although they’ve not officially said so, a 4-inch Eee Pad may well be appearing as well.
There’s a report that says Microsoft is in trouble with the CES crew, but they’ll certainly be showing up at this year’s event, Windows-a-blazing. Sony will be having a wedding-type event. Android will be appearing on TV. And one whole heck of a lot of other completely disparate releases will be taking place at all times of the day. We’ll be going to visit such fabulous brands as Audi, Lenovo, LG, Panasonic, and Qualcomm.
SO, without giving away our whole plan of attack at once, know this: you’ll be able to crunch on our whole set of coverage here on SlashGear through our [CES 2012 portal]. We’ll be releasing additional previews through the rest of the week – stay tuned!
Does Macbook Air Have Usb Port?
Macbook Air underwent an extreme design change after Apple launched the 2023 version of Macbook Air, specifically in the USB ports. The 2023 and earlier versions of the Macbook Air came with 2 USB-A/USB 3 ports, a mini display port, a headphone jack, and an SD card reader. However, this differs from the type of ports the 2023 and later models of Macbook Air.
Keep reading this article to learn more about the USB ports in the recent versions of Macbook Air and your way around them!
Apple drastically changed the ports for Macbook Air in 2023. The trend has remained the same over the years. Two USB-C ports on the Macbook Air replaced the multiple ports. You can find these ports on the left side of the base of your laptop. Using these ports, you can connect devices with USB-C cables and devices to your Macbook Air.
Additionally, with the USB-C ports, the Macbook Air comes with a headphone jack with a 3.55mm jack either on the back or the left of the base.
Macbook Air before 2023 had various ports, while the later models only supported two USB-C ports. You can identify the model of your Macbook Air on the About This Mac window from your Apple Menu.
After identifying your Macbook Air model, you can view the specifications through Apple’s page. Scroll down to the device you own and select Tech Specs. View the ports you have under Adapters.
If you’re unsure what version of Macbook Air, you can manually look for the types and numbers of ports you have on your device. Follow these instructions to identify the ports of your Mac:
Apple puts weight on its minimalistic design. Macbook Air is targeted primarily at students and professionals with little to nothing to do with CPU-intensive tasks. They wanted to redesign the Macbook Air to be slimmer in structure and therefore got rid of most of the ports. The lightweight Macbook now has increased practicality among its targeted group, as users can now carry around their Mac more.
With all the ports Apple removed from the Macbook Air, why did it keep the USB-C port? The answer is simple; it’s better than the rest. The USB-C port takes on the roles of all other ports for power, data transfer, audio, video, and so much more. It can even efficiently transport data up to 10Gbps!
Thunderbolt also supports data transfer up to 40Gbps and can connect to two 4K displays, outputting quality audio and video simultaneously!
Additionally, USB-C and Thunderbolt support the trend of fast charging. It can maintain up to 100W of strong power transfer.
As if they couldn’t get any better, the cables are reversible. Apple wanted to solve the most common confusion among cables; which end fits on which port. So, they utilized the functionality of USB-C. No more fumbling around and testing cables on each port. Needless to say, if Apple had to choose a USB type, it would be USB-C.
Regardless of how amazing USB-C is, not all devices support the port. Furthermore, only two USB-C ports are not enough for many of its users. Fortunately, you can purchase adapters from the Apple Store. These adapters act as a bridge to connect other devices to your Macbook Air.
Some adapters include USB-C to USB adapter, USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable, USB-C to Lightning Cable, and many more. When choosing an adapter, make sure you purchase an Apple-authorized adapter to ensure compatibility. You can also look for the adapter that best suits you from the Apple Store.
Here are some adapters in the Apple Store that you can choose from:
USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter: This adapter lets you connect your Mac to an HDMI display, USB-A, and USB-C connection. To use it, connect the adapter to the USB-C port on your Mac. You can then use the adapters to connect your peripheral devices.
USB-C to SD Card Reader: If you want to connect your Mac to an SD card, you must purchase the USB-C to SD Card Reader. Connect the USB-C cable to your Mac and insert your SD card into the card reader.
USB-C to Lightning Cable: You can use this adapter to form a wired connection between your Macbook and iPhone/iPad. Connect the USB-C to your Macbook and lightning to your iPhone/iPad.
USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter: If you want an additional headphone jack for your Mac, purchase the USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter.
Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter: If you want to connect your Mac with fast ethernet, you will need the Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter. You can connect to 10/100/1000BASE-T networks with this adapter.
Macbook Air 2023 Vs Surface Laptop 2 Review
Our Verdict
These two laptops offer plenty of features and aesthetics that make them desirable. If you’re a Windows fan then buy the Surface, otherwise the new MacBook Air is a solid workhorse.
Best Prices Today: Apple MacBook Air (2023)Apple and Microsoft have both updated their lightweight laptops, offering users a straight choice between the best in macOS or Windows 10 as their respective creators intend. We compare the two to see which one you should be putting at the top of your shopping list.
MacBook Air 2023 vs Surface Laptop 2: Price & Availability
Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop 2 on 2 October and it comes in a range of options that can be configured on Microsoft’s site:
Core i5, 8/128GB – £979, $999
Core i5, 8/256GB – £1,249, $1,299
Core i7, 8/256GB – £1,529, $1,599
Core i7, 16/512GB – £2,079, $2,199
Core i7, 16GB/1TB – £2,529, $2,599
It’s also available from a number of other popular retailers, including John Lewis, Argos, and Amazon.
Apple released its new-look MacBook Air range on 7 November 2023, with a similarly wide-range of configurations.
Price start at £1,199/$1,199 and go up from there. Here’s the list of options;
Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD £1,199/$1,199
Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD £1,399/$1,399
Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD £1,599/$1,599
Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 1.5TB SSD £2,399/$2,399
Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 128GB SSD £1,379/$1,379
Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD £1,579/$1,579
Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD £1,779/$1,779
Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 1.5GB SSD £2,579/$2,579
You can buy the MacBook Air directly from Apple, as well as from John Lewis, Currys/PC World, Argos, and other retailers.
MacBook Air 2023 vs Surface Laptop 2: Design & Build quality
Microsoft has kept with the excellent design aesthetics from last year’s original Surface Laptop. The attractive, slim metal chassis comes in a range of pleasing colours – Platinum, Burgundy, Cobalt Blue, and a new Matt Black – all of which have the keyboard surround adorned with matching alcantara fabric.
This gives a comfortable and unique feel when typing, and those worried about the material getting dirty over time should be encouraged by the numerous reports of the original’s stain-resistant qualities.
The 13.5in PixelSense display, with a resolution of 2256 x 1504, is a touchscreen panel. This allows users to get the most out of Windows 10 and its touch-enabled interface.
Ports also remain consistent with its predecessor, although this is a little disappointing as it means Microsoft has omitted USB-C once more. Instead there’s 1 x USB 3.0, 3.5mm headphone jack, 1 x Mini DisplayPort, and the Surface Connect Port.
Since the MacBook Air’s introduction back in 2008 the design has stayed pretty much the same. Now, as the platform enters its second decade, Apple has revamped the entire construction, making it a lot closer to the current MacBook and MacBook Pro line.
It still boasts a unibody chassis, this time made entirely from recycled aluminium, and comes in three colours; Gold, Silver, and Space Grey.
The body is also smaller and lighter than the old design, while finally including a 2K Retina display. Thinning down the device has brought with it a few changes that might not exactly thrill MacBook Air fans.
A new butterfly keyboard replaces that tried and tested classic, and while it’s a third generation variant that includes rubber skirts under the keys to help alleviate some of the issues suffered by earlier versions, the low key travel has split opinion among users.
Apple includes a Force Touch trackpad this time around, one that’s 20 percent larger than before, plus there’s the very welcome addition of a dedicated button for Touch ID, allowing you to log in without a password.
The Surface Laptop 2 also has a biometric security feature, thanks to its Windows Hello compatible webcam that allows facial ID to unlock the device. Ports are at a minimum on the Air, with dual Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack on offer.
Both machines are elegantly styled and stand out from most other laptops you’ll find around today.
MacBook Air 2023 vs Surface Laptop 2: Features
As you’d expect with laptops released in 2023, 8th generation Intel Core processors are at the heart of each device, but different types. The Surface Laptop 2 employs Core i5-8250U and Core i7-8650U chips, which are both quad-core, while Apple has opted for the Core i5-8210Y processor, which is dual-core.
In theory this should mean the Surface Laptop 2 is faster, while the MacBook Air returns better battery life.
Display
One of the biggest upgrades to the Air is its display. Gone is the fuzzy, sub-HD panel that was good when first released but quickly fell behind the pack. Instead, Apple has graced its 2023 models with a 13.3in display running at a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution.
Microsoft is equally benevolent, with its 13.5in PixelSense display running at 2256 x 1504, but having the additional benefit of being a touchscreen and supporting the Microsoft Pen. A 3:2 aspect ratio makes it taller than a traditional laptop (but better for viewing websites), while the Air retains the normal 16:9 widescreen format.
Biometrics
This information is secured in a new T2 Security Chip that keeps everything encrypted and away from hackers.
Microsoft has Windows Hello, that uses the onboard camera to unlock the Surface Laptop 2 just by looking at it. This information is secured by its own TPM 2.0 chip, which the company states offers ‘enterprise-grade’ security.
Either solution works fine, and are certainly an improvement on having to type long and complex passwords to access the device.
Keyboards
The Surface Laptop 2 has an excellent typing surface, with well-spaced keys that respond pleasingly to the fingers.
Apple’s butterfly design is something of an acquired taste. The minimal travel (0.5mm) takes getting used to, and we’ve heard users complain of finger fatigue due to its shallow nature. Conversely, others have said they love the new design. One thing is absolutely certain, you’ll want to try the MacBook Air for several minutes before deciding whether you’re in the former or latter camp.
Battery life
We’ve only just started our MacBook Air deep review at the time of writing, so battery life is only speculative, but Apple is usually very good at delivering on its longevity claims.
It states that the MacBook Air (2023) should get up to 12 hours of life from a single charge, or 13 hours of continuous video playback in Airplane mode.
In our full Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 review, Chris found that the device survived for 12 hours and 41 minutes in a looped video test. So, it looks like both will provide very similar performance.
Here’s a breakdown of the specifications for both machines;
MacBook Air 2023Surface Laptop 2Processor1.6GHz Dual-Core Processor, Turbo Boost to 3.6GHz
1.6GHz Quad-Core processor, Turbo Boost to 3.4GHz
RAM8GB/16GB8GB/16GBStorage128GB/256GB/512GB/1.5TB128GB/256GB/512GB/1TBDisplay
13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560×1600 native resolution at 227ppi
13.5in PixelSense Display, 2256 x 1504 (201ppi), aspect ratio 3:2, 3.4 million pixelsGPUIntel UHD Graphics 617
Intel UHD Graphics 620
OS macOS 10.14 MojaveWindows 10 HomePorts2x Thunderbolt 3/USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack1x USB 3.0, 1x Mini DisplayPort, Surface Connect Port, 3.5mm headphone jackWireless
802.11ac
802.11ac
Bluetooth4.24.1BiometricsTouch IDWindows Hello facial recognitionBattery50.3-watt-hour lithium-polymer batteryNot statedCameras720p FaceTIme HD camera (front-facing)720p HD camera (front-facing)Dimensions30.41cm x 21.24cm x 0.41-1.56cm x 30.8cm x 22.32cm x 1.44cmWeight1.25kg / 2.75lbs1.25kg / 2.75lbs
MacBook Air 2023 vs Surface Laptop 2: Software
As these are showcases for the two main desktop operating systems (no offence to Linux and ChromeOS) you’re getting access to the latest features macOS and Windows 10 has to offer.
Sensibly, Microsoft has stopped pre-installing the hobbled Windows 10S platform, and decided on the far more tempting Windows 10 Home instead.
macOS 10.14 Mojave comes as standard on the MacBook Air, replete with the various suite of free productivity and creative apps that make it such a useful device out of the box.
With both operating systems having their strengths and weaknesses, the choice of which is better will come down to your personal requirements. To help see the differences between them, read our macOS vs Windows 10 comparison guide.
Should I buy the MacBook Air or Surface Laptop 2?
Your choice of device will mostly hinge on the flavour of operating system you prefer. The MacBook Air is a solid reimagining of the Apple classic, while the Surface Laptop 2 is one of the best Windows machine available today.
For our money, the latter offers more in terms of aesthetics, features, and allure, but we doubt very much that you’d regret buying either.
Review: $999 Macbook Air (2023) – Apple’s Cheapest Laptop Is A Great Entry
Should you consider the 2023 MacBook Air? Should you upgrade if you’re coming from one of the last two updates? Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for the details.
SpecificationsAs I mentioned during our MacBook Air 2023 top features overview, I opted for the base model $999 configuration, simply because I was interested to try the cheapest laptop that Apple sells. The base configuration comes with the following specs, but you can upgrade the RAM, SSD, and even the CPU if your budget allows for it.
Retina display with True Tone
1.1GHz dual-core 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
8GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory
256GB SSD storage
Intel Iris Plus Graphics
Backlit Magic Keyboard – US English
Touch ID
Force Touch trackpad
Two Thunderbolt 3 ports
MacBook Air (2023) video reviewSpecial thanks to Intego for sponsoring 9to5Mac: Get 50% off Intego’s Mac Internet Security X9
Subscribe to 9to5mac on YouTube for more videos
Well-built and decently-appointedAlthough no-frills, the 2023 MacBook Air is a well-built machine. The aluminum unibody chassis with the teardrop design remains just as attractive and functional as it’s ever been.
The display on the MacBook Air, while not enjoying key benefits such as P3-wide color support found on the MacBook Pro, still looks great. It features less brightness than the MacBook Pro (400 nits vs 500 nits), but unless you’re in bright sunlight, it should be adequate enough for most situations.
To avoid sounding like a broken record, I’m going to resist making the majority of this review about the updated keyboard, but that’s hard to do given how big of a change the keyboard is when compared to the previous two MacBook Air releases.
The keyboard, which adopts a scissor switch design with more perceived key travel and generous spacing, makes the typing experience feel much improved. This is accentuated by Apple’s willingness to include fan-favorite features like the inverted-T arrow keys and a hardware escape key. Granted, the MacBook Air has always had a hardware escape key, because it’s never been weighed down by the Touch Bar, an unnecessary feature that’s present on every current MacBook Pro model.
If you’ve been hesitant about buying an Apple laptop because of the bad things you’ve heard or experienced with the previous butterfly keyboard, then there’s no longer a need to worry. In fact, after Monday’s update to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple no longer sells the butterfly keyboard on any of its laptops.
But besides the keyboard, there are other physical design details that matter as well. For example, the inclusion of two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the left side of the MacBook Air facilitates both charging and external expansion capability.
As I’ve waxed about before, Thunderbolt 3 is perhaps one of the most useful ports in the recent history of computer I/O. Not only does it handle recharging your MacBook Air, but it also handles display output along with PCIe SSDs, audio interfaces, even GPUs. In other words, there is no shortage of handy Thunderbolt 3 peripherals available to connect to, and I’ve already covered a few of my favorites in a previous post and video.
If you’re a Pro Display XDR user, one of the most important characteristics of Intel’s 10th-generation CPUs is the inclusion of updated Iris Plus Graphics. Intel’s integrated GPU is now capable of driving Apple’s high-end display at full 6K resolution. With the release of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, every MacBook in Apple’s lineup is now capable of running the Pro Display XDR at its highest resolution (except for the lower-priced 2023 13-inch MacBook Pro models with 8th gen Intel chips).
I guess the consensus here is that, from a build and design perspective, the MacBook Air isn’t spectacular in any one area. But it’s a highly functional machine for everyday computing, and the small and lightweight form factor makes it an ideal travel companion.
PerformanceAs you may expect, the biggest question mark going into this review of the MacBook Air has to do with performance. Being that I opted for the $999 version, the only 2023 MacBook Air model that comes with a dual-core CPU instead of a quad-core CPU, I didn’t expect to be blown away by the machine’s performance.
My expectations were largely confirmed after putting the 2023 MacBook Air to the test. It should go without saying, but this is not the machine that you’ll want to use for intense video rendering, editing, exporting, etc. For editing simple videos shot on your iPhone it’ll be fine, but for complex work in apps like Final Cut Pro X, where you’re pushing color correction, adding effects, and using plugins, this is not the machine you’ll want to use.
But again, this should come as no surprise, as this computer obviously wasn’t designed with such workflows in mind. Of course, in a pinch, you can technically edit high-quality videos in the aforementioned scenarios, but it’s not something you’re going to wish to be subjected to on a regular basis.
If you know you’re going to be engaging in more intense activities on a more regular basis, then you should at least consider upgrading to the quad-care Intel i5 CPU, and 16GB of RAM. Both of these additions will help considerably when it comes to editing high-quality 4K videos.
The question of iPad…Herein lies the issue with recommending a basic Apple computer like the $999 MacBook Air. If you’re just doing basic work, then why not opt for an iPad Pro? Depending on your needs, you may still prefer a traditional desktop computer with a traditional desktop operating system like macOS, but much will depend on the types of apps you regularly use, and how you typically use a computer.
In other words, do you need full-featured multi-window support? Are there apps that you use that aren’t offered on iPadOS? Do you ever need to run Windows whether via a virtual instance or via Boot Camp? If you answered yes to those questions, it will make more sense to stick to a traditional laptop like the MacBook Air.
But for more casual usage — browsing the web, researching, writing, etc. — I’d pick the iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard in most instances. After all, the iPad Pro is like having two machines in one — a really great tablet, and a solid, albeit somewhat limited, laptop computer.
9to5Mac’s takeIn the end, what I found was a machine that performed largely as expected. The MacBook Air gives you the full macOS experience that you can take with you on the go for just $999. Regardless of the build-to-order configuration you decide on, the MacBook Air is the machine that most casual users looking for a “traditional” desktop computer should consider.
The MacBook Air is about as vanilla as it gets when it comes to Apple products. From a marketing standpoint, it’s probably the most “boring” machine that Apple makes. But boring isn’t a bad thing when it comes to needing a reliable traditional laptop that just works. That’s largely what you can expect from the 2023 MacBook Air.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Hp: Investing Heavily In Webos R&D, Looking Into Tablets
HP: Investing Heavily in webOS R&D, Looking Into Tablets
We’re still reeling from the news that Palm has just been bought by HP. It’s a bold move by both companies, but one that we’re sure is going to take off well. HP wanted to clarify their position on the purchase, along with shine a light on a few of the reasons why they thought buying the house that built webOS would be a good idea. To do that, they had Todd Bradley of HP take the reigns of a live webcast and go over some of the major points, along with some of the finer details. You can find a Q&A session after the break, which does a good job of bringing it all together.
Q. Android has a tremendous amount of momentum in the marketplace, why pick up webOS?
A. The breadth of products represents an enormous opportunity. It’s an early market – we believe developer support for webOS will grow. We believe in choice, and we believe to remain a strategic partner with Microsoft. There’s a unique opportunity to create products with webOS.
Q. What’s the timeline to evolve webOS to run on HP hardware and specifically on different form-factors with larger screens?
A. We need to get the transaction closed before we talk timelines.
Q. Can you talk about the competitive landscape – where do you see devices running webOS, are they consumer first or corporate?
A. While Palm currently has smartphones, that’s a space that’s very consumer oriented. We’re looking at how to broaden our distribution. Tablets and slates are such new categories, we’re still looking at that. There’s terrific interest in terms of vertical deployment.
Q. You referenced leveraging your strategic positions, what would you characterise HP’s position at the carrier level, and how will they help alleviate the challenges Palm has faced?
A. Investments in building out application/developer capabilities will be very important. As we build our execution plans we focus on leveraging several larger carriers – that will provide a significant growth platform going forward.
Q. Will the Palm R&D team remain separate within HP?
A. We intend to operate it as a business unit, in line with the structure today. Jon Rubinstein is excited at the opportunity it represents to build out the platform.
Q. Will iPaq remain on WinMo and Palm on webOS, or will they merge?
A. We haven’t made those decisions, and won’t until after the deal is finalised.
Q. We’ve seen Apple succeeding as a content platform in addition to hardware – they’re doing a lot of content aggregation. Do you intend to get into that side of the business moving forward?
A. Our focus is to provide connected devices that allow people to connect seamlessly to their information whether that be work or entertainment. We’re not going to get into specifics of strategy until we finalise the transaction.
Q. Palm are spending around $190m a year on R&D – do you think that’s adequate?
A. We’ll be putting more money into all of it – investing heavily not only in R&D but in sales & marketing
HP is taking this very seriously, just as we expected them to. And while the details are being kept close to the vest right now by both companies, we can expect to learn a lot more as the months lead us into the future. There’s obviously a point where Palm and HP will have to decide on the current Palm handsets being worked on, and which of those will make it to the real world, but with HP’s wide range of funds, R&D, and reach into almost every angle in the tech market, Palm seems to be in capable, and wealthy, hands.
Update the detailed information about Ces 2012: Vertical Macbook Air Dock, Griffin’s Twenty Amp For Airplay, D on the Hatcungthantuong.com website. We hope the article's content will meet your needs, and we will regularly update the information to provide you with the fastest and most accurate information. Have a great day!