As if HP hasn’t had enough problems, a batch of TouchPad units running Android was recently shipped out.
When an individual sent HP an email asking for the source code, the following response was received (emphasis added by yours truly):
Hello Joe:
It’s nice to meet you. I too am an open source advocate.
Let me begin by saying that HP is a proud and committed member of the open source community, and the Linux development community in particular. We take our participation and obligation to this community, and the licenses associated with its software very seriously.
As for the Touchpad units that have been allegedly purchased with a version of Android on them, we have begun an internal investigation on this within HP. 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. Hence, we presently believe that some person or persons unknown may have facilitated the delivery of these Android-based units strictly against the policy and authorization of HP.
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. Therefore, HP is not under any license obligation to provide any corresponding Android source code to you. Hopefully, this doesn’t come across too harsh. As always, any member of the public can access all open source software source code distributions and other open source software licensing information for the HP webOS software products at any time at http://opensource.palm.com/.
For those of you in the development community actively working to port Android to the Touchpad, we applaud your efforts. HP has a strong commitment to your freedoms as a developer and technology enthusiast. It is your device and you can do with it what you want. If you want to put Android on your Touchpad, or Meego, or one of the altered webOS kernels from webOSInternals.org, you are welcome to do so (at your own risk of course). While HP supports your freedom to do this, we are not part of the community behind such efforts. HP believes that the version of webOS that we deliver on the Touchpad is a superior user experience for our customers, and the best development platform for today’s and tomorrow’s mobile applications and services. WebOS is where HP spends its development and support efforts.
Thank you very much for bringing this matter to our attention. As you know, it is a significant detriment to HP and HP’s participation in and relationship with the open source community to have non-authorized Android software delivered on HP Touchpad devices. If you can provide any information that will help us track down who is providing these unauthorized Touchpads and where they might be coming from, I would greatly appreciate it.
Best regards,
Phil.
Given that an Android port is minimal effort at best for people who have the full specs, this could very well be an internal bork-up – which now, of course, will make webOS developers even more nervous than they already are.
Stay tuned for further info as we get it…
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