Adding value
Computing giant HP is hoping the addition of special media apps and services will give its late entry into the tablet market a boost.
The webOS-powered TouchPad was initially well-received, but suffers from being late to market and having a much smaller developer ecosystem than the iPad or even Android. It seems that HP is attempting to compensate for this by spearheading the app effort itself.
The latest addition is called the HP MovieStore, which is a unique app for the TouchPad that allows users to rent or buy films and TV shows. It's powered by arguably the biggest player in Internet video content - Rovi - via its RoxioNow service, but only available in the US for now.
"HP is committed to creating a connected and consistent consumer experience across its broad portfolio of products," said Richard Kerris, VP of webOS worldwide developer relations at HP. "Collaborating with Rovi will ensure we deliver an entertainment experience that embodies this commitment and provides our customers with seamless access to high-quality entertainment."
HP has made a few other media apps available to TouchPad users, such as an exclusive 7Digital MP3 Music App (screen shot below. "HP is a worldwide leader in consumer electronics and we are very pleased to deliver the 7digital global music experience to their sleek-designed and highly functional tablet device," said Ben Drury, CEO of 7digital. "Through the use of 7digital's platform, HP TouchPad users will have an optimized music experience at launch."
These all seem like nice additions, and will definitely add value to the end-user. But HP can't possibly hope to compete with the sheer volume and variety of apps available on the iPad by itself, and so needs to find a way to persuade developers to give webOS some love.
