Techmeme: Google+ Rolls Out Verified Profiles, Still Struggles With Real-Name Policy (Robin Wauters/TechCrunch)

2:55 PM ET, August 20, 2011

Top Items:

Derek Kessler / PreCentral.net:

HP begins TouchPad liquidation; 16GB cut to $99, 32GB $149 — We were wondering how exactly HP was going to handle the glut of TouchPads in the market now that they've decided they're done making hardware for webOS. Now we have our answer: fire sale! — In a memo sent to HP affiliates …

Terrence O'Brien / Engadget:

Best Buy stops selling the TouchPad, HP offers refunds to owners — Tempted by the promise of a $99 TouchPad, in spite of its imminent demise? Well, it looks like American Best Buys won't be enjoying the same liquidation sale as our neighbors to the north.

Discussion: VentureBeat, Gizmodo, webOSroundup, Mashable! and @bestbuy

Zach Epstein / BGR:

No, HP, you're off the mark — Oh nooo. That was the first thought that crossed my mind as I began to read Jon Zilber's post on HP's company blog. Quoting Mark Twain? Oh no he didn't. In a nutshell, Zilber's intent was to correct the world's press, which collectively played Taps while standing over webOS's grave this past week.

Discussion: The Official HP Palm Blog and blog.chron.com

Derek Kessler / PreCentral.net:

Kerris: work on webOS and app ecosystem will continue — Like you, we're wondering about where the future of webOS will take this community. At the very least, HP intends to continue working on the operating system, even if they're not going to be making any devices of their own.

Discussion: HP webOS Developer Blog, PhoneArena, Electronista and Bloomberg

Marco Arment / Marco.org:
Rose-colored glasses — Since HP's announcement yesterday …

Discussion: Tech Shout!, Mike Cane's xBlog, Techie Buzz, PhoneArena, PadGadget, Techland, The Business Insider, Technologizer, The Next Web and Ars Technica

John Paczkowski / AllThingsD:
Worth More Dead Than Alive: Could HP Turn a Profit on Palm's Patents?

Discussion: MacDailyNews

Marc Andreessen / Wall Street Journal:

Why Software Is Eating The World — This week, Hewlett-Packard (where I am on the board) announced that it is exploring jettisoning its struggling PC business in favor of investing more heavily in software, where it sees better potential for growth. Meanwhile, Google plans to buy up the cellphone handset maker Motorola Mobility.

Discussion: @jason, Felix Salmon, Data Central, Pitos Blog, @blam and Slashdot, Thanks:hpnews

Tom Warren / WinRumors:

Microsoft slams post-PC idea, claims “PC isn't even middle aged yet” — Microsoft rejects the idea of a “post-PC” era of technology. — The company is labelling the current era as the “PC Plus” realm where PCs are surrounded by new devices designed for a specific niche purpose.

Discussion: PC World and Electronista

Peter Bright / Ars Technica:

Feature: “A sort of PC”: how Windows 8 will invade tablets (and why it might work) — For the first time in fifteen or more years, Redmond faces a genuine challenge to its Windows desktop monopoly. The threat isn't coming from Linux or from Mac OS X or from any other operating system.

Discussion: Slashdot

Robert X. Cringely / I, Cringely:

Losing the HP Way — Hewlett Packard was different from other Silicon Valley companies and always a leader. By the time I met Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in the late 1970s they were nearing retirement but still active and I knew them, working occasionally for both men and for their respective foundations.

Discussion: Bloomberg

Robin Wauters / TechCrunch:

Google+ Rolls Out Verified Profiles, Still Struggles With Real-Name Policy — William Shatner, rejoice! Earlier today, Wen-Ai Yu from the Google+ team announced with a post on Google+ and an accompanying YouTube video that the social network now boasts ‘verification badges’ for celebrities …

Discussion: Search Engine Land, CNET News, PC Magazine, jwz, Computerworld, PC World, Wen-Ai Yu, Gizmodo and WebProNews

Erick Schonfeld / TechCrunch:

Apple Sneaks A Big Change Into iOS 5: Phasing Out Developer Access To The UDID — Apple is making a lot of big changes to its mobile operating system with iOS 5, which is dribbling out in betas for developers ahead of a general release later this year. But there is one big change some developers …

Discussion: Inside Mobile Apps, App Advice, AppleInsider, MacStories, SlashGear, TUAW, AllThingsD, Engadget, MacRumors, TiPb, iClarified, 9to5Mac, Electronista, Daring Fireball, CNET News and 9to5Mac

Ronny Kerr / VatorNews:

StumbleUpon bests Facebook in sharing... maybe — StatCounter: StumbleUpon now leads in social media sharing, but HTTPS security may be a factor — The social media sharing war rages on. Let's take a little walk through some StatCounter data for U.S. social media sharing traffic over the past couple years.

Discussion: ReadWriteWeb, @gmc and Digital Trends

Kellex / Droid Life:

DROID Bionic Hits Verizon MAP at $299 Starting September 8 (Updated) — The DROID Bionic just hit Verizon's MAP (minimum advertised price) list and is looking poised for a $299 on 2-year contract price along with a second confirmation that September 8 should be the day that it finally lands in stores.

Discussion: TechnoBuffalo, GottaBeMobile, Softpedia News, VentureBeat, Neowin.net and Crave

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