Rumor gives HP Opal and Topaz music and movie apps

HP's Opal and Topaz webOS tablets may have a heavy media leaning based on rumors this evening of its content deals. Its cloud storage is now thought to be used for a media store. Clayton Morris, the source of past claims, understood that it may initially involve a deal with Amazon for its MP3 and VOD services but could switch to a semi-independent service based on To round out the media strategy, HP would also press for key apps to be ported over to webOS. Amazon's Kindle reader app would be ready shortly after the launch. HP would also have promises for Hulu Plus and Netflix apps before the end of the year.

Topaz specs leaked out most recently have been changed, Morris heard, but not necessarily in positive form. The tablet was originally to have targeted 12 to 14 hours of battery life but had been pared back to eight hours to save weight. HP's goal was to reach the 1.5-pound weight of the iPad and the roughly comparable Motorola Xoom.

The Touchstone 2.0 support, which gives it not just wireless charging but Exhibition mode apps, may be built into a non-removable back and may have been moved to allow for the Opal and Topaz to stand upright while still supporting the Exhibition feature.

An educational version had been scrapped, and universities will instead get 4G (likely WiMAX) versions of the Topaz unaltered from their usual form. A version of the Opal has supposedly been seen on Sprint's 3G network.

HP's naming hasn't yet been settled despite recent trademarks, and the company is reportedly upset at the frequency and substance of leaks, which have included product renders. An emergency meeting reminded staff that they could be fired if caught.

Other than the February 9 event, it's unknown when the webOS hardware would ship, but earlier production leaks had it shipping in March. Production will have already started in China, according to the tip.

How accurate the details might be isn't clear. Morris has a mixed track record and had the tablets showing at CES, which never came true for at least regular press showings. Rumors have nonetheless circulated that HP might have shown one or more devices behind closed doors, and the new details are more realistic. HP already has a deal with OmniFone in Europe for its desktops, and it would likely need to count on major app support to attract customers that would otherwise skew towards the iPad or Android tablets.

By Electronista Staff