They say dynamite comes in small packages. We all know the damage that can be done by a piece of dynamite. Yes, it is not a pretty sight. When HP bought Palm last year it was for one major reason, the WebOS software that Palm makes for mobile devices. So it is not surprising that they first launched a Tablet that uses the software. I think the TouchPad got a luke warm appraisal at best.
This week sees the launch of the first smart phone that features the HP WebOS (note the name change). The HP Veer is according to HP “the smallest smart phone in the world” and is a very important little device. The importance is not hyped but it is a significant moment for HP. Will the crowd that bought the Palm in years gone by purchase the Veer?
I think they might, simply because of the fact that these people were very loyal to the WebOS software brand. Loyal customers in general have a bond with a specific brand (Palm) .We go back to brands we have knowledge about and trust from previous experience. The counter argument is they might have already moved on, by purchasing themselves an iPhone, a BlackBerry or an Android based smart phone. The number of sales will be the barometer of how successful the Veer will be and nothing else.
I have a concern with the Veer and this is an ergonomic issue. Will they be able to cope with users who have large hands? Yes, I know that sounds like a comedy skit but the small nature of the Veer might detract from the powerful software it features.
HP Veer features and specifications according to HP:
- HP webOS
- Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7230 800-MHz processor
- 2.57-inch multitouch screen with a vibrant, 18-bit color, 320 x 400 resolution display
- Gesture area, which enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation
- Full slide-out QWERTY keyboard
- 8 GB of internal storage
- High-performance browser with full access to the web, including support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 beta for access to rich, Flash-based web content
- Wireless connectivity:
- Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n with WPA, WPA2, WEP, 802.1X authentication
- Integrated GPS
- Bluetooth wireless technology 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support
- Wi-Fi router functionality for up to five devices using HP mobile hotspot
- Multimedia options, including music, photos, video recording and playback, a 5-megapixel camera with geotagging and 3.5 mm stereo headphone adapter
- Email, including EAS (for access to corporate Microsoft Exchange servers) and personal email support (Google Gmail push, Yahoo!, POP3, IMAP)
- Robust messaging support (combining IM, SMS and MMS capabilities)
- Proximity sensor, light sensor and accelerometer
- Rechargeable 910 mAh battery
- USB mass storage mode to transfer your media and other files quickly between desktop and device
- Ringer switch, which easily silences the ringer with one touch
- Compatible with HP Touchstone
- Tri-band UMTS, quad-band GSM/EDGE world phone
- Dimensions: 54.5 mm x 84.0 mm x 15.1 mm (2.1 inches x 3.3 inches x 0.6 inches)
- Weight: 103 grams (3.6 ounces)
I guess the next thought is, are you going to buy one?
