Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Ex-Palm Chief Says Goodbye to HP, WebOS

    By Peter Pachal | Mashable – Fri, Jan 27, 2012

    Jon Rubinstein, the former CEO of Palm and co-developer of the Apple iPod, has left Hewlett-Packard, the company confirmed to Mashable. Rubinstein came to HP after the company acquired Palm in 2012.

    The departure, which had been planned for some time, is symbolic of the trajectory of webOS, the mobile OS created by Palm. Rubinstein oversaw Palm's development of webOS after his appointment as CEO in 2007. He spent more than four years trying to push the platform forward.

    [More from Mashable: HP’s Plan to Open-Source WebOS: What’s Taking So Long?]

    WebOS launched in 2009 with much promise and many positive reviews but devices (such as the Palm Pre) struggled to compete in the marketplace against the iPhone and Android devices. HP, looking to craft a mobile strategy, bought Palm in 2010 and Rubinstein began revamping the platform for the new company. Rubinstein now says he planned to leave the company after the first HP webOS products came to market.

    Speaking to The Verge, Rubinstein says he had planned to leave HP "sometime after" the TouchPad tablet was launched, The Verge reported. He's now vacationing in Mexico but says he plans to return to the industry after he figures out his next move.

    [More from Mashable: Is the HP Spectre a Real Ultrabook? [VIDEO]]

    After acquiring Palm, HP launched its first new webOS devices, the HP TouchPad and Veer smartphone in mid 2011. The company discontinued the platform and products in August, shortly after the TouchPad's launch. It later said it would make webOS an open-source project. HP released its timetable for doing that earlier this week.

    Rubinstein also played a key role in the initial development of the iPod, recognizing early the utility of a small hard drive for portable music storage. He is said to have put together and managed the team of engineers that created the project, including Tony Fadell, the developer of the Nest thermostat. Rubinstein left Apple in 2006 and joined up with Palm the following year.

    Images courtesy of Flickr, Financial Times Photos

    This story originally published on Mashable here.

     

    5 comments

    • statuskwo5
      statuskwo5  •  27 days ago
      "Rubinstein came to HP after the company acquired Palm in 2012."

      You mean 2010. Sheesh!
    • heyhey
      heyhey  •  26 days ago
      It was all HP's fault to rush out their tablet product ... wish the guy(Jon) good luck
    • A Yahoo! User  •  27 days ago
      This guy keeps screwing the pooch over and over. See ya! I hope the door hits you on the backside on the way out!
    • Richard
      Richard  •  27 days ago
      "Rubinstein left Apple in 2006 and joined up with Palm the following year."

      I wonder how much he regrets making THAT move!!!
    • A Yahoo! User  •  24 days ago
      A good employee (no matter which rank) does not equal a good leader-innovator.
     Post a comment
    [ [ [['Dekraai', 10]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/mourners-remember-seal-beach-shooting-victims-1318620627-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/2c/32c8e92d889f42edb719cb5257afdf4e.jpeg', '461', ' ', 'Reuters/Lori Shepler', ], [ [['iPhone 4SXXXXXXX', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/thousands-line-up-for-apple-s-iphone-4s-1318602841-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/f/4f/f4f15e8f6f323f5386dc9fdf9e15dca8.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth', ] ]
    [ [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], '27013743', '0' ], [ [['keyword', 9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

    News For You

    Tech News »

    • Eastern Europeans fuel fight for Internet freedoms VANESSA GERA

      Eastern Europe's tradition of political revolt has met the digital age. This time it's not communists or food shortages fueling fury, but an international copyright treaty that opponents say threatens … More »Eastern Europeans fuel fight for Internet freedoms

      Eastern Europe's tradition of political revolt has met the digital age. This time it's not communists or food shortages fueling fury, but an international copyright treaty that opponents say threatens freedom on the Internet.

    • Taiwan's Foxconn raises wages for Chinese workers

      Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group said Saturday that it has raised wages by up to 25 percent in the second major salary hike in less than two years, as the world's largest electronics contract manufacturer … More »Taiwan's Foxconn raises wages for Chinese workers

      Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group said Saturday that it has raised wages by up to 25 percent in the second major salary hike in less than two years, as the world's largest electronics contract manufacturer comes under intensive scrutiny after a spate of suicides.

    • This image provided by Aereo shows a screenshot from the iPad showing Aereo.com streaming ìBob the Builderî on New Yorkís PBS station, WNET 13. The service launched this week in New York, giving access to live TV from local stations on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. (AP Photo/Aereo)
      Startup sends live local TV to the iPhone PETER SVENSSON

      A startup backed by media billionaire Barry Diller has launched a service that sends live local TV feeds to iPhones and iPads. But the service may be short-lived, since TV stations are likely to challenge … More »Startup sends live local TV to the iPhone

      This image provided by Aereo shows a screenshot from the iPad showing Aereo.com streaming ìBob the Builderî on New Yorkís PBS station, WNET 13. The service launched this week in New York, giving access to live TV from local stations on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. (AP Photo/Aereo)

      A startup backed by media billionaire Barry Diller has launched a service that sends live local TV feeds to iPhones and iPads. But the service may be short-lived, since TV stations are likely to challenge its right to use their broadcasts.

    • Just Show Me: 3 great cooking apps for the iPad Tecca

      Welcome to Just Show Me on Tecca TV, where we show you tips and tricks for getting the most out of the gadgets in your life. In today's episode we'll show three great cooking apps for the iPad. The Recipe … More »Just Show Me: 3 great cooking apps for the iPad

      Welcome to Just Show Me on Tecca TV, where we show you tips and tricks for getting the most out of the gadgets in your life. In today's episode we'll show three great cooking apps for the iPad. The Recipe Box All Recipes The Professional … Continue reading →

    • Mind-controlled skateboard is literally powered by your thoughts Tecca

      You don't have to be Professor X or Yoda to control the Board of Imagination with your mind. This futuristic skateboard by Chaotic Moon Labs can read your brain waves and take you to where you want to … More »Mind-controlled skateboard is literally powered by your thoughts

      You don't have to be Professor X or Yoda to control the Board of Imagination with your mind. This futuristic skateboard by Chaotic Moon Labs can read your brain waves and take you to where you want to go, even if you're … Continue reading →