Image Source: CNET
We had thought about HP introducing printers running WebOS when we learned about the Palm acquisition by HP, but we didn’t know it would come so soon. HP CEO Mark Hurd told analysts that WebOS would hit a variety of form factors, including slates and web-connected printers on the company’s Q2 financial results call.
“HP will acquire Palm in order to enhance our intellectual property…in the connected-mobility space. We expect to leverage WebOS into a variety of form factors, including slates and Web-connected printers,” Hurd said Tuesday. “With a whole series of Web-connected printers, as they connect to the Web, they need an OS,” he added.
The company has been pushing touchscreen printers that are connected to the Web, like the PhotoSmart printer. HP actually has an app store for these printers that allows users to download, for example, a Fandango or Snapfish app, and print movie tickets or photos directly from the printer over the Web.
While we’re not too surprised HP wants to leverage WebOS on its line of advanced touchscreen printers, we’re very curious to see what that actually looks like in practice – a printer with Synergy-level Facebook integration for easy photo printing? A printer that can play 3D games? A printer that can… multitask?
Just wondering how far will HP printers go. We have already seen an HP 3D printer becoming more than reality. What do you expect future HP printers to do?
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