webOS Coming To HP Products Such As Slate and Printers

When HP acquired Palm, rumors of HP products running the webOS were about, but it turns out that’s actually part of the plan. HP CEO Mark Hurd told analysts that the webOS would hit a “verity of form factors, including slates and web-connected printers” on the company’s Q2 financial results call today. webOS tablets were obviously a no-brainer, but printers are slightly more intriguing in a way. While we’re not surprised that HP wants to leverage webOS on its line of advanced touchscreen printers. We’re curious to see what that looks like in practice though, a printer with synergy level Facebook integration for easy photo printing? Or a priner that can play 3D games? A multitasking printer? The possibilities are endless if you think about it. HP’s printing and imaging division is a $6.4 billion dollar business, so the money and motivation to push this idea into strange new places are certainly there. Speaking of money, HP’s doing well so far. Profits were up 25% this quarter to $2.9 billion on total revenues of $30 billion, so Palm certainly has the money and resources it desperately needed. Now it just needs some new products and sharper execution.