Several HP TouchPads have been shipped out to consumers running Android’s software, with the company launching an investigation to determine how the software was coded and loaded onto the WebOS native tablet.
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HP maintains they’ve never authorised the development nor distribution of Android software for TouchPad. In an email to developers, HP’s Director of Open Source Program Officer Phil Robb, said said all TouchPads were shipped out with webOS software.
“We have confirmed that HP never authorized the distribution of any version of Android on the HP Touchpad. In addition, from a review of our manufacturing process, we believe that all Touchpad units have been shipped out of manufacturing with the webOS operating system only, and that no Touchpad units were shipped with Android, even by mistake.”
So far the company believes an unknown person has directly opposed HP’s instructions and has “facilitated the delivery of these Android-based units,” said Robb
Since HP dropped the TouchPad, members of the WebOS community fear support for the OS will halt, and have turned to Android’s Honeycomb.
With the programming being shipped on several TouchPad devices, the Android coding used has become highly sought after. However, HP has declined to share the source code.
“Regarding your specific request for source code below, I must decline at the present time. HP has never authorized the distribution of any binaries for Android in association with the HP Touchpad,” he said.
