The webOS platform is getting some serious updates in functionality, notably a new UI better optimized for handling multitasking (dubbed Stacks) and Exhibition which provides a vehicle for developers to build apps designed to run when the phone is on the Touchstone wireless charger. Version 2.0 of webOS also gains Adobe Flash 10.1 support for viewing web content.

The Palm Pre 2 is the third generation of the handset line that started the webOS movement. It is more streamlined than previous versions, but is largely unchanged. Sales of the Palm Pre and Pre Plus didn’t set the world on fire, and it’s not clear why HP believes a simple refresh will sell better. Those who follow the smartphone space have been waiting to see what changes to the Palm line HP would bring to the market, and this isn’t much different. HP must be counting on other webOS products to build the platform, but the Pre 2 may be a missed opportunity for the company in the highly competitive smartphone space.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req’d):

• Why RIM’s Future (Unfortunately) Hinges on BlackBerry OS 6
• Rogue Devices: The Consumer Influence on Enterprise Mobility, Part 1
• Transient Apps: The Consumer Influence on Enterprise Mobility, Part 2

Someone recently discovered that HP has trademarked the name PalmPad, and the logical assumption is that the company’s forthcoming slate running webOS is the reason for the trademark. The very idea of a webOS slate is quite exciting, and the company has hinted one is forthcoming.

However, putting a dual digitizer in such a tablet — and that is what would be required to allow both pen input and touch operation — is not very likely for a number of reasons. The cost of such a dual input system would be quite high (active digitizers with pens can add a hundred bucks), and the PalmPad is going to have to hit the market at a reasonable price to have a shot at success. Also, webOS wasn’t written to work with a pen, especially for using handwriting on the screen for data input. This is a big development effort, and there is no way that Palm has gotten this ready for the market; there’s no indication Palm’s even been working on it. Pen input is thus not an option for a tablet appearing later this year.

I am such a geek, and if I let myself dream about a wonderful package for some great technology, a slate with a dual digitizer would be a perfect fit for the Windows 7-based HP Slate. That tablet was first shown in January of this year, and then later said to have been cancelled by HP. I’d love to see the HP Slate with pen input; but then I’d love to see the PalmPad with webOS, too. I guess I’m just a hopeless romantic when it comes to tablets. Or how about a dual-booting slate with both of these tablets merged into one? Pinch me to make sure I’m awake.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub. req’d): How Microsoft Can Win Back the Tablet Market

The top item on the HP post-merger agenda involves sending a clear message to Palm’s webOS developers that states its full commitment to the platform. The development community is bound to feel some uncertainty over HP’s intentions with webOS, and the company would do well to assuage those fears. HP could do so by being clear in its intentions and communications. The recent move by Palm to waive the $50 application fee for developers, even retroactively, is a good first step.

With its vast resources, HP can ramp up this development effort  better than Palm could by itself. Hosting some app competitions that throw a few million dollars at top applicants could get some good coding happening quickly. HP should focus on getting both smartphone and tablet apps, as each device has a different usage scenario.

The tablet space is hot due to the success of the iPad, and HP has indicated it has plans for webOS in this area. Producing a webOS tablet should be a priority of HP, to help the company compete with the iPad and make its personal computing business more mobile. We will see a flood of tablets running Android hit the market late this year, and HP could certainly compete with them. The webOS system is a good fit for touch tablet operation, better than Android, and HP should prove that with its first effort. With Palm, HP is able to do so without input from Intel or Microsoft.

HP tc1100

Tablets have only recently gotten a lot of attention, but HP has been making them for nearly a decade. The HP-produced tc1000 slate computer was the precursor for the iPad, so HP knows how to build these things. The key now is timing — HP needs to beat the big Android tablets to market. Get a solid webOS tablet to market with the HP branding, and it will have a big impact on this space.

The smartphone area is going to be important for HP going forward. Palm created a good platform in webOS, but was hampered by hardware regarded as worse than the competition. HP has a long history of producing great phone hardware — previously on the Windows Mobile platform — and this expertise needs to be leveraged to take advantage of the strengths of webOS. Big screens and state-of-the-art hardware components can be coupled with webOS to make phones that are competitive with both the iPhone and Android.

HP needs to be tightly focused on these areas to make an effective run with Palm, and the company needs to act quickly. The mobile space has a very short product cycle, and HP must be prepared to meet that head-on. Companies that plan 18 months to two years ahead in the mobile space often miss the window of opportunity. Look no further than Redmond to see that truth.

Related GigaOM Pro content (sub req’d): HP/Palm Merger Yields Big Opportunities

HP’s new venture with webOS crosses two of the hottest segments in mobile devices — smartphones and tablets. The company has indicated it will be leveraging webOS in both of those categories, so the stage is set for an interesting ride. Developers of webOS apps would be wise to get talking to HP as soon as the merger is finalized later this year. One thing is clear — webOS is a very competitive platform for smartphones, and will be the same for the newly emerging tablet space. HP’s vast resources help set the stage for a very profitable run in both spaces, and developers have some outstanding opportunities.

These opportunities cross a number of areas in the mobile space, and I took a deep dive look at those (sub. req’d). There is a decent potential for reward in both of the mobile areas mentioned, and even the big printer business will get into play. The time is ripe for webOS to assume the legacy that good technology can create.

Palm has enjoyed a long-time relationship with developers; some would call them fanatical about the company. Yet the number of developers making apps for webOS has not produced a high volume of apps to date, even with many pulling for Palm to succeed. The merger with HP is exactly what Palm needed to survive, yet is bound to impact the effort by developers producing apps for the platform.

Even if HP makes a big effort to keep developers working with webOS, there will be uncertainty about the permanence of such an effort. HP does many things, and the webOS work will be just a tiny piece of its efforts. Who knows how long it would continue? Developers must be thinking about that already.

What if HP decides to take on the advancement of webOS itself? It may not care if developers build apps for webOS or not. That’s not as far-fetched as it may sound — the company’s first Linux netbooks had internally developed interface shells that controlled the user experience. It even prevented access to Linux by users. HP could take the same tack with webOS to simply produce its own gadgets totally “by HP.” In that scenario webOS app development wouldn’t be desired, much less pursued by the company.

One thing is certain — webOS developers must be as concerned as can be about the future of the platform for non-HP developers. That alone may cause some to jump to another platform. They must go where the potential money is.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub. req’d): To Win In the Mobile Market, Focus On Consumers

I nabbed an early build for Android very late last night, so I haven’t had too much hands-on time yet. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect:

• Ability to upload pictures & videos on iPhone, Android, Palm devices
• Ability to download files to iPhone, Android, Palm devices
• Ability to share content directly from iPhone, Android, Palm devices
• Improved media streaming on Android and Palm devices
• Password protection to lock the iPhone app

I easily uploaded a picture to my ZumoDrive account in the cloud from the existing photo library of my Google Nexus One. And of course, since I’m constantly listening to music, I fired up the music streaming feature. I already have a few MP3 albums stored on ZumoDrive and I’ve used this function in the past. This time around, the music began playing noticeably faster than I recall. I also saw a way to upload files from anywhere on my phone’s SD card, but found that it required another free app — a type of file explorer — and I simply didn’t have time to grab that software. I’ll do that later today though because I want the ability to move any file of my choosing from my handset to the cloud.

The ZumoDrive software is freely available in the app stores for each respective phone, but of course, you’ll need a ZumoDrive account to make the mobile magic work. ZumoDrive plans start at $2.99 per month for 10 GB of storage, but a free 1 GB is available for all. I highly recommend considering ZumoDrive — or another similar service if you prefer — for mobile file synchronization between the web, computer and smartphone. This type of functionality is priceless when you’re on the run.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub req’d):

• Who Will Design Your Private Cloud?
• Forget Syncing, Let’s Put Music in the Cloud!

Images courtesy of Zumodrive

HP is in a unique position to take advantage of the Palm takeover. It is in the phone business, but not really. HP was big in the PDA segment for years, but never made a successful transition into the smartphone age. There are good people in this area with HP, but they’ve never been allowed to innovate. The absorption of Palm into the HP Personal Systems Group will be an infusion of talent and know-how that HP can leverage immediately.

That is first and foremost what the new HP/Palm team must do — release a new webOS phone that blows Palm’s past phones out of the water. Take HP’s great skill at producing top-notch hardware, and pair it with webOS to make a smartphone that will take the segment by storm. I have no doubt it can be done, and it must be done quickly to create the buzz needed to make people watch HP’s phones going forward. Make a webOS phone with hardware that rivals anything in the Android segment. Prove that webOS, coupled with outstanding hardware, is the best smartphone platform available.

HP must focus on the Palm/webOS effort in its phone business after the merger is complete. Drop Windows Phone 7 and work solely with webOS; no dilution of effort in the phone business. Palm’s OS is as good as anything on the market, so take it and run with it. Continue to innovate and grow the OS with the help of the Palm team. Send a clear message to the smartphone community and market that this is your product.

Throw a lot of resources into the Palm developer community. This is crucial to the success of the platform, and HP has the muscle and money to make it a vital part of the equation. Get developers to embrace the platform, no matter what it takes. Bring back those developers who have dropped webOS due to Palm’s problems. Make this a priority within HP and the phone group. Throw a boatload of money at developers if you must, it is crucial to the future of the platform.

Drop the Palm brand. This is not something I say lightly, I am nostalgic about Palm and the brand. But I believe it is vital that HP send a clear message to the industry that it is behind the webOS platform 100%. A clear way to do that is to bring it into the HP branding scheme, and quickly. Go all in with Palm by bringing it totally into the HP family. On every front it is important to send a clear message — Palm is HP now, and we are going to run with it.

Produce a webOS tablet that rivals the iPad. I firmly believe the webOS platform is a good one for such a product, and HP’s expertise in making mobile computers can be leveraged to full advantage in such a device. This will create a new product line that has amazing potential for HP, and all of the pieces are already in place with the merger to make this happen. HP can still go with the HP Slate, although that is just a netbook without a keyboard. What will be better is a thinner, lighter tablet with a mobile OS. That will truly compete with the iPad.

An HP tablet with webOS opens up the possibility for an ecosystem that can take on the Apple/iTunes/App Store. HP has the clout and expertise to use the webOS phone and slate lines to add apps, music and video to the mix in such a way that eventually HP can take on Cupertino.

The merger of Palm and HP will not be without cost cutting, and that means losing good people. It is inevitable given the high price paid for Palm. HP must do this intelligently, and without hampering the Palm team too severely. Make the combined team work well together after the merger. The priority should be fast release of new products that make a difference.

Related content on GigaOM Pro (subscription required):

Hot Topic: Apple’s iPad

Sales of the Palm Pre and then the Pixi never set Sprint sales records. Palm then put big hopes on the updated Pre Plus and Pixi Plus, with its exclusive deal in the U.S. with Verizon. But in the quick paced smartphone space timing is everything, and Palm’s appearance on the Big Red network followed the carrier’s move into the hot Android market. The Verizon advertising campaign for the Droid Android line was massive, and the Palm phones arrived at Big Red with a whimper, not a bang.

The sales numbers for Palm get worse and worse; it’s clear the webOS platform is not saving the company as hoped. The company goes public that it is shopping for a buyer, and key executives are leaving by the shuttle bus load have left. Palm offers big bonuses to keep other executives from leaving the sinking ship, but that’s not enough either. The loss of a major distributor for Palm phones (RadioShack) proves how bad it is, and signals that it is only going to get worse. Palm is even waiving the developer’s $99 fee to submit webOS apps to the App Catalog, a move that smells of “too little too late”. There doesn’t seem to be a way forward for Palm, a sad situation for any company.

My Palm Pre is sitting forlornly on its Touchstone charger, a great phone but no longer sure when (or if) it can expect any further software updates. The Pre is a testament to how good the webOS platform really is, but that doesn’t seem to be enough to save Palm. That Touchstone charger is the single most innovative phone accessory to be released by anyone for years, yet it’s not enough either. It is a clear indicator of just how difficult the competitive smartphone market has become, when one of the best OS platforms coupled with great technology cannot turn the tide for Palm.

I have stated in the past that the only thing that can save Palm is an innovative (non-phone) product. A webOS tablet would at least break Palm out of the smartphone doldrums. Palm’s line of phones has not been enough to stave off disaster, so my thinking was that a radically different product would at least have a chance to make an impact. Now I’m not so sure, due to that timing thing. The iPad is selling like hotcakes, and as it’s the biggest competitor for a Palm webOS tablet, it’s probably too late.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub req’d):

How To Clean Up the Mobile OS Mess

Two companies mentioned to have an interest in acquiring Palm are Lenovo and HTC. Lenovo produces the ThinkPad line of notebook computers, and has recently entered the smartphone market through an acquisition of Lenovo Mobile Communication Technology Ltd. HTC is one of the largest makers of Android and Windows Mobile handsets. An acquisition of Palm by HTC would have definite ramifications in the smartphone world, as it would add Palm’s webOS to HTC’s already impressive product line.

HTC has recently been sued by Apple for alleged patent infringements, and an acquisition of Palm could play an unexpected role in that legal situation. Palm has a healthy portfolio of patents going back to the Palm Pilot days, and it’s possible these could be leveraged by HTC in its battle with Apple.

Related content from GigaOM Pro:

• Company Profile: HTC (free)
• Marketing Handsets in the Superphone Era
• With the iPad, Apple Takes Google To the Mat

The Sprint affiliation didn’t buy Palm much in the long run, and the carrier’s major marketing blitz behind the upcoming EVO with Android demonstrates clearly the webOS love is gone. Palm didn’t help its partnership with Sprint at all with the exclusive deal with Verizon, a desperate act to move handsets with the larger carrier. That hasn’t panned out with Verizon firmly in bed with Android, as the campaign behind the Droid and the buzzing about the Nexus One demonstrates.

Palm is going to bring its webOS phone line to AT&T, but that carrier is not going to make a splash with them either. AT&T is not about to upset the Apple cart for Palm, especially since sales numbers of Palm phones are not setting the world on fire. It’s just going to get worse for Palm, as sales numbers keep underwhelming analysts even with several U.S. carriers selling for them.

The time for incremental changes at Palm is over. No more minor hardware updates to the phones. No more incremental updates to webOS. This strategy has failed and it’s time to shake things up if Palm intends to make a serious run at survival.

How about if Palm announced the next major update to webOS, 2.0, would add support for larger slate devices? The webOS system would be outstanding on a tablet, and such an announcement would send the techerati into overdrive. That’s the kind of excitement Palm desperately needs, as long as they make good on such an announcement.

If Palm can’t produce a slate itself, maybe it should take on a partner. I suggest HTC, as they are often willing to jump on new things and they have the ability to make magic happen. Look what they’ve done with Android. Palm better do something unexpected this year, or the party may indeed be over.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub req’d):

How To Clean Up the Mobile OS Mess