Though HP was expected to finally unveil its webOS devices at CES 2011, it seems that it decided it doesn't need a big stage like CES to reveal its long-rumored webOS tablet. Instead, the company has since revealed that it will hold an event on February 9, one which will most likely be used as a platform to announce the webOS tablet from HP.

"On February 9, we [will] have a broad public set of announcements about the future of webOS and the breadth of products that it will enable," said HP Personal System Group Executive VP Todd Bradley during an interview with CNBC.

When Bradley was asked about how the company intends to compete with the Apple iPad, he responded, "You and I will talk about that on February 9," all but confirming HP's webOS tablet.

Though the event on February 9th could feature the first official announcement of a webOS tablet from HP, it did mention its intentions to develop one when the company acquired Palm for $1.2 billion in April of 2010. The motivating factor behind that acquisition, said Bradley, was webOS, something that HP believes is far more than just a smartphone OS.

There are few specifics about the webOS tablet that are currently known, but on July 9th of last year, HP filed a trademark for the term 'PalmPad', which has since led to speculation that this will be the name of the device.

As previously reported, the PalmPad will have WiMAX support, running on Sprint's 4G network. Other features include a mini-HDMI port, USB 3.0 port, a "multi-switch" like the Palm Pre, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing and a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera and two LED flashes. Reportedly thinner than an iPad, the PalmPad will weigh 1.25 pounds and will have rounded edges, akin to the Kindle.


Related Articles:
View the original article here