HP TouchPad is Apple iPad’s number 2? February 12, 2011Gadgets & Mobile News7 Comment

HP’s TouchPad number 2 to Apple inc’s iPad.

The tablet industry is obviously booming, especially in the North America and Europe. So, manufacturers believe that we need more (and more) tablets.

When Apple launched the iPad last year, a bunch of manufacturers followed suit, and most of them have used Android as operating system, which is not actually endorsed by Google because they believe the current versions of their popular OS are not tablet friendly (like the Galaxy Tab’s FroYo).

So, the search engine giant’s Android team have updated the operating system, and released the “Honeycomb,” or the 3.0 version of the Android OS which is considered as the first-ever Android version that is fully compatible with tablets, or devices that have bigger touchscreen size, and enhanced technical specs.

Motorola is the first Android manufacturer to release a tablet that will use Honeycomb, the Motorola Xoom. According to latest reports, Xoom will arrive in USA this month, with an eye-rolling tag price of $799. Admit it, the device is magnificent, but the price.. not.

Surprisingly, HP also unveiled their very own tablet, the HP TouchPad. Aside from the “Pad” name, the design is almost identical to the Apple iPad especially the large bezel. eWeek is reporting that some analysts say that HP’s “iPad” will grab the second spot of the crowded tablet chart because of the impressive specs, and the subsidized price of $699.

HP TouchPad will use WebOS as operating system. Apparently, HP’s WebOS is the redesigned OS  from its $1.2 billion acquisition of Palm.

Based on rumors regarding HP TouchPad and iPad 2′s release dates, Apple’s second slate is scheduled to arrive earlier than HP’s. Latest rumors about iPad 2′s release date are pointing to March or April, while HP TouchPad is reportedly arriving in June or July.

More iPad 2, HP and tablet news:

• Sony Xperia T, TX, V and others getting Android Jelly Bean, soon!December 18th, 2012

• BlackBerry 10 leak confirms similarity with Android?December 18th, 2012

• Apple iPhone 5 sales in China reaches 2 millionDecember 18th, 2012

• Nokia Lumia 920 software update arriving soon, to fix the PureView cameraDecember 17th, 2012

• Exynos “security flaw” affecting the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S3?December 17th, 2012