Fun Stuff, News

Video Tribute and Plea to Save webOS, by Heiko Thies

By: Dan Ramirez, 8/21/2011 11:30 am | 85 comments

In the annals of webOS lore, you’re sure to run into Heiko Thies (ThiesFX), video producer extraordinaire… he’s been the recipient of a couple of awards from our site in as many video contests.

This video, however, comes straight from his core. Mr. Thies has created a tribute YouTube video extolling the many virtues of webOS, and makes his plea to HP: “Save webOS.”

Although we’re not sure what the finicky corporate minds over at HP are thinking, it’d be nice if this video gives them some kind of pause, however short. For those who believe webOS is dead, let this at least help the healing. Video is below:

[Source: YouTube; Thanks to Heiko Thies for letting us know about this.]

About Dan Ramirez

Dan is a senior editor at webOSroundup. He is a physician in South Texas with an unbridled passion for webOS. He is very active on Twitter (@vara411) and enjoys engaging the webOS community.

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Kevin

Why couldn’t HP hire this guy to make commercials?!?!?!
Kevin

Why couldn’t HP hire this guy to make commercials?!?!?!

Glwheeler

YESSSS!!!!
Tikkanen

totally agree. Thies makes the best videos, far better than the Madison Ave. types made for Palm/HP.
MikeW

This guy serious needs to be in charge of webos marketing. He did webos justice. If only we could market to our friends and show them this video. The sky is the limit.

JMO

Damn! I’m not a film critique, film student, nor a high powered executive. Nope, just you average joe or as some would say, a “nobody”. Point I’m trying to make is that I found this one minute clip awsome! This would have made one hell of an add. But HP, don’t bother yourself with us “nobodys”. Hell, there’s only about a Billion of us out here.
Randy

they should have had him doing ads
Randy

they should have had him doing ads
Pete

You guys MUST see the YouTube video showing Hitler’s reaction to the recent HP announcement.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=660232206 Mihai Ski

i just spammed this on HP’s facebook and twitter pages. (and also on vzw’s, att’s, and sprint’s twitter pages)

I am weasel

Don’t you think this should be a good time for Leo to do something right for the webos users and actually prioritize buying the TP before others, sort of a item lock thing? I mean, at least a good thing to be remembered about Leo.

Anonymous

That video gave me goosebumps because I feel like we’re all in survival mode. I do not want to go to another platform and its not because I do not want to change. WebOS meets my needs and I want it to grow and add new things. Some say, its dead just move on. Until something gets taken away that you love then you will feel it.

http://sorli.com sorli

Oh I agree completely and thankfully I’ve ordered two TP to keep my webOS life in the mix. I love my TouchPad and it only went back to save $400 (thanks HP) that I can now use to buy more apps and move on with my life come the Christmas season!

The video was fantastic and I’m still blown away by what happened, but thankfully artists like Heiko are keeping busy and reaching out, and developers are beginning to show support even where HP may not. I’m still hopeful that webOS makes a rebound, I’ll have my new TPs soon to keep moving on, and maybe just maybe HP has some rabbit up their sleeves. Sorli…

Anonymous

That video gave me goosebumps because I feel like we’re all in survival mode. I do not want to go to another platform and its not because I do not want to change. WebOS meets my needs and I want it to grow and add new things. Some say, its dead just move on. Until something gets taken away that you love then you will feel it.
Anonymous

That video gave me goosebumps because I feel like we’re all in survival mode. I do not want to go to another platform and its not because I do not want to change. WebOS meets my needs and I want it to grow and add new things. Some say, its dead just move on. Until something gets taken away that you love then you will feel it.
FlexJeff

Very tight video! A true tribute to WebOS.

It’s just ridiculous that HP is rejecting WebOS after 6 months! They failed with promoting it in Europe (at least Holland), because a lot of people think WebOS rocks! That also includes Iphone android users! There is nothing out there that comes close to it and never will be (RIM tried to copy it, but failed).

If I had a few billion, I would have bought “Palm” from HP and make it populair again! I have to save some money… Fast!! :S

Spenser

Heres an idea for everyone that loves webos what is we all got together some money and bought it I mean really how many of us are there and if we each gave 100 we would probly be able to get it well that all depends on how many of us there are and how many would be willing

Kussface

i got money on it!
Kussface

i got money on it!

FlexJeff

Very tight video! A true tribute to WebOS.

It’s just ridiculous that HP is rejecting WebOS after 6 months! They failed with promoting it in Europe (at least Holland), because a lot of people think WebOS rocks! That also includes Iphone android users! There is nothing out there that comes close to it and never will be (RIM tried to copy it, but failed).

If I had a few billion, I would have bought “Palm” from HP and make it populair again! I have to save some money… Fast!! :S
FlexJeff

Very tight video! A true tribute to WebOS.

It’s just ridiculous that HP is rejecting WebOS after 6 months! They failed with promoting it in Europe (at least Holland), because a lot of people think WebOS rocks! That also includes Iphone android users! There is nothing out there that comes close to it and never will be (RIM tried to copy it, but failed).

If I had a few billion, I would have bought “Palm” from HP and make it populair again! I have to save some money… Fast!! :S
eid

Beautiful and more so because it’s from a passionate webOS user. I will be paying attention to news over the next 2 weeks to find out the webOS plan.
Anonymous

I just noticed one of his e-mails in his inbox @ 00:47 says “Screw You HP”. lmao

Danar

It really does! Awesome. Good eye markm. Lmao too.
Danar

It really does! Awesome. Good eye markm. Lmao too.
Danar

It really does! Awesome. Good eye markm. Lmao too.

Webos

open source webos plz

PalmOn

What do you expect will happen if they open source webos?

Chirurgie

Great video, nice job!

I think webOS will die even quicker if open sourced and just bits which you barely recognised will get copied by other companies.

What they need is to sell (not license) webOS to another manufacturer. Who? Depends is anyone interested!
Keep getting feeling Samsung may be but then maybe HP willing to write off their billion dollars?

http://profiles.google.com/anayagamingllc Jason Buffalo

If HP Scarps WebOS they company will go under as Well, they Need WebOS to get off the dependency of Oracle and Microsoft, if they want to be a Software Company with Services, it’s hard to do that if you only limited to what somebody else has to offer and let’s not forget how much cost saving it would be also, so if and i mean IF Leo got some sense ”What right now really speaks against it” he keeps WebOS and work on it.

PalmOn

They will probably reinvest with Microsoft. HP probably figures Microsoft is a safer bet than webos.

http://profiles.google.com/anayagamingllc Jason Buffalo

Not Really, i think HP got the idea what needs to be done, when Oracle said that there Software no longer supports Intel Itanium Chips, that was a big blow for HP, what sold Oracle Software with there Servers, now those Customers have to either buy new Hardware or stick with a Old Software in there Servers, and guess what HP is getting blamed for that and not Oracle, since HP is the Seller, now if they reinvest with Microsoft they still at risk what ever move MS makes in the Future that it can Harm them, so if HP want to be like IBM, then they need to control there own faith and not depend on others.

Anonymous

Where is PAAAAALM!!!!! Guy when you need him?

Mtv757

I think he’s on android now…..

PalmOn

Yup. They should have had him doing ads. Don’t get me started on HP’s lousy marketing……
JohnK

Over on androidcentral they’re all talking about ruining the TP by porting Android to it. I hope they fall flat on their faces with that.

PalmOn

I just read the posts. Webos is quite the joke on Androidcentral.
PalmOn

Now we know who is buying up a large portion of the touchpads at fire sale prices. And it’s not for any love of webos, but for the purpose of trying to have a $99.00 Android tablet.

Capt4Chris

That is a huge assumption. You’re just looking at one group of people and trying conjure a whole reality.

The important thing that people seem to be forgetting is that HP is NOT killing webOS. They are just not building the hardware for it anymore. They are licensing out webOS so other manufacturers can create the devices. Now that the user base just got a shot of adrenaline, new manufacturers have til the end of the TouchPad’s lifespan to release a new generation of devices. That should be about a year or so/ plenty of time!

Malette

Partially “true” but check twitter and more online forums. Half people saying they didn’t know how awesome webOS was and other half talking about loading android. So sadly many of those sold will not see it’s true future and though I think this may be HP’s stupid way of pushing webOS if it isn’t I don’t believe they will help webOS anymore.

Capt4Chris

Well hopefully more people fall in the former category! A lot of average joes went to buy the TouchPad. The type of people the you may not necessarily find in forums, etc.
PalmOn

And when the average Joe’s TouchPad starts cracking, and finds there is no support or warranty, what do you think will happen then?
Steele_paladin

When Joe’s touchpad starts cracking I guess they will send it in for warranty work like the rest of us with touchpads. The warranty didn’t go away. Even the firesale touchpads get 1 year.

Malette

Partially “true” but check twitter and more online forums. Half people saying they didn’t know how awesome webOS was and other half talking about loading android. So sadly many of those sold will not see it’s true future and though I think this may be HP’s stupid way of pushing webOS if it isn’t I don’t believe they will help webOS anymore.

Shmulik2514

Common hp don’t be a fool (I just thought that if hp would give the touchpad a 99$ price tag right off the begaining so much praline would buy it and discover the fact that webOS is awesome after that hp would release a perfact tablet that would be worth a $499 price tag
Celestiz

webOS is a great system. HP is not the company that will help webOS. All HP is doing is hurting the system. If webOS was with a better company, it would have kicked Android’s and Apple’s butts some time ago

Earthling

Ya, the best way to save webOS is to get it away from the duds at HP.
bibiana

Amen!

Malette

I’m hoping this is all part of a conspiracy theory. One last chance for HP to get it somewhat right. Maybe webOS won’t die.

sad believer

I’m with you dude.. earlier today i spent a good 1.5hrs in line at my local best buy trying to get a touchpad (unfortunately i didn’t get one); the line when around the front and the side of the store.
If your conspiracy theory is correct, i think hp just wanted to get the product out to as many people as possible (and what better way to do that than selling it for $99) to then try and focus on WebOS alone. Seriously sad i couldn’t get one, and I’m also bummed because I’ll never get to hold a pre3, but as long as another manufacture carries on with WebOS, then everything will be ok; I just hope my pre minus, which ive owned for two years, can make it that far.
But focusing back to the video… dude, this commercial is way better than the ones hp put out with the boxer, comedian and tv star.

Capt4Chris

I agree. This burst of sales is great incentive for new manufacturers to now license webOS. They have til the end of the Touch’s lifespan (a year?) to come out with new hardware!

Malette

My point of view: HP simply has said they are getting out of the hardware business. So that will be a separate empire now. They use all their money and resources to improve webOS along with app creation. Either have another hardware lined up or have their own split off sector focusing on the hardware alone. They closeout the touchpad to avoid any legalitys and to put it in as many hands as possible to see it’s awesomeness. Commercials and ads are still running? Granted I’m sure they set up an amount of time beforehand but I’m sure they could get out of that if need be. I don’t know anything for sure I just hope for the best and prepare for the worst. This whole situation just seems a bit odd to me.

Danar

Very, very good video. Better than what HP had. Now if someone would make a video about the creeps who bought fifteen TouchPads at time so they can turn a profit on ebay maybe it will show them as the punks they are. Still can’t find one in minnesota but I will have one somehow. But not from ebay. Don’t want one with creep boggers on it.

Malette

Don’t blame them it’s the stupid people that are willing to pay over twice as much on there as in store. Sure it sucks but that’s capitalism.

Danar

I blame them because if they didn’t buy so many to resell I would be typing this on one. BTW the definition of capitalisum is simply that the people own bussines and not the government. Free enterprise may be a better description. But that aside, I just want a TouchPad. I would have gotten one at full price but I thought they would for sure update the back pannel to match the pre3.

Malette

Well if you would have been up earlier. They were on sale all friday night online and stores yesterday. Now as a fellow webOS users I’m not trying to say anything bad, I’m just saying if people that aren’t hardcore fans can get one we shouldve found a way too. Most stores actually had limits of one or two. Also many of those ebay sellers are their business so capitalism is used correctly. They own their own business and simply use ebay as a “store”. Besides the whole purpose of capitilism is for the collection of wealth and is that not what they are doing? It’s like the war on drugs or any other thing it’s the demand that drives the supply. Can’t blame people for doing what they can to make some money. I’m more upset at HP shouldn’t they have offered this price to legacy users first? Wouldn’t that be better? Anyways I hope you don’t take all that the wrong way. I for one am just boycotting HP. $99 is a good deal but it’s still $99 I’m putting in HP’s pocket. What I find silliest is that people didn’t buy these for $299 in stores but now they are $99 in stores and people are bidding up to $300 on ebay. People are so odd sometimes.

Danar

You are correct on all counts malette. I never thought they would fly off the shelves like they did. I was not lazy, just stupid. I can’t figure out how every body new about this in my neck of the woods. In the last two years I have not seen one other person using a Pre. I have my name on the list at HP to be notified when more are in stock from retailer returns. I think at the price they are selling most people here just bought them as if they are ereaders and web surfing devices and have no idea what WebOS is and what it can do. Good for them. As for the term capitalisum it is a system based on private ownership of capital (wealth). If we lived in China and the government wanted WebOS to live it would. As HP knows free enterprize is the part of our economy that relies on market forces to allocate goods and resources and to determine prices. Sorry to ramble on but I still think those guys are bogger eaters.
Danar

UPDATE: Just got a 32g ordered and confirmed at Amazon thanks to a heads up from Ms. Hazelton on the previous page. I feel like “somebody” now! lol.
Sorry about the booger stuff. Capitalisum can be painfull.
Danar

UPDATE: Just got a 32g ordered and confirmed at Amazon thanks to a heads up from Ms. Hazelton on the previous page. I feel like “somebody” now! lol.
Sorry about the booger stuff. Capitalisum can be painfull.
Malette

Yay glad to hear you got one. Anyone else needing one go bn.com as of writting still in stock.
Malette

Yay glad to hear you got one. Anyone else needing one go bn.com as of writting still in stock.
Malette

Yay glad to hear you got one. Anyone else needing one go bn.com as of writting still in stock.
Malette

Yay glad to hear you got one. Anyone else needing one go bn.com as of writting still in stock.
Malette

One word: Twitter. That’s how everyone is finding out everything. Since I don’t twitter I missed some info. Whoever is looking for one follow touchpad on twitter and you will get updated info on where you might get one.

IamEvilHomer

Well I guess I am a good guy because I only got 10. I think when I wake up tomorrow I will call my guy at HP and try for 20 more. BTW can the veer work with the TP? I might go to att and get one tomorrow

Danar

My apologies. I stand corrected. My emotions have been frayed since early july due to a family crisis. Sorry to vent here. Wish you all the best in your endeveavors.

sad believer

I called a few BestBuy stores around my area and most of these did end up shipping a lot of their tablets back (or so they said)… so i decided to call hp directly (on hold for like 15 mins while i listened to the “we are out of touchpads, check back in a week” message) and spoke to this cool guy who told me that they are out, but should be expecting a few back from some stores within the next 7 days. He explained that right now they are just taking contact info down and that an hp rep would follow up via phone/email as soon as some become available; i guess now i just have to wait approx 7 days to see what happens.

Hank

Barnes & Nobles has the 16 GB go get one before it is too late

Chillipesto

Anyone hear if the price drop is happening in the UK yet? Everywhere I’ve chacked still selling at full retail price.

Chirurgie

Check out the PreCentral forum post watching for UK Fire Sale. None as of yet…

PalmOn

Anyone who buys a TouchPad at this point is crazy. The last company I would want to support and give my money to is HP. Guess what? HP is finally selling the TouchPad for the price it is worth. For $100 you can get a tablet that is sluggish, that has few apps, and that is almost certain to start cracking and falling apart within the first 6 months of ownership. Tack on the lack of support and you’be for yourself a $100 tablet.
Forgewizard

HP should definitely hire thus guy! Great perspective, shows true life integration. Sadly I’ll never know a touch pad. Can only pray my Pre classic holds up until contract ends. The way that HP scuttled the WEB OS boat gives me pause for ALL of HP’s products!
PalmOn

I just saw an “HP Ink” advertisement while playing the game “Words with Friends” on my HTC EVO 3D. Yes, HP has ads running with Android users. I think that about sums up their commitment to webos.
Malette

Just realized that some of my comments were off subject from the video and just responses to comments. So first off sorry didn’t mean to take away or forget to say how awesome this video is. You always make some kick a** sh*t. Great job and thanks for sharing.
Malette

Just realized that some of my comments were off subject from the video and just responses to comments. So first off sorry didn’t mean to take away or forget to say how awesome this video is. You always make some kick a** sh*t. Great job and thanks for sharing.

PalmOn

Given what’s happened with webos over the last few days, I think you’ve earned the right to comment on whatever you like.

Malette

Just realized that some of my comments were off subject from the video and just responses to comments. So first off sorry didn’t mean to take away or forget to say how awesome this video is. You always make some kick a** sh*t. Great job and thanks for sharing.
Lala04

Had HP’s Ads been half as brilliant, the TouchPad may not have been the fire sale darling it currently is. But they weren’t. So they are. Frankly, I don’t think HP cares; they have Oracle in their sights and Leo has tunnel vision. I wish HP nothing but Karma.
Lala04

Had HP’s Ads been half as brilliant, the TouchPad may not have been the fire sale darling it currently is. But they weren’t. So they are. Frankly, I don’t think HP cares; they have Oracle in their sights and Leo has tunnel vision. I wish HP nothing but Karma.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Edwin-Mauricio/100000496164725 Edwin Mauricio

Este vídeo es preciosamente
Tobias H

Beautiful movie – but: in the end it should not mean: @HP #save webOS.
That does not make sense: a decisive intention to stay with webOS and further its development definitely looks quite different!! The wording is : We will see what to do about webOS. This soft balls expression means: webOS is death!
Let’s add an alternative end to the movie/a bonus :-) :
@Samsung #savewebos

let me see wether the windows phone 7 SDK dowload has finished yet! bye
Tobias H

Beautiful movie – but: in the end it should not mean: @HP #save webOS.
That does not make sense: a decisive intention to stay with webOS and further its development definitely looks quite different!! The wording is : We will see what to do about webOS. This soft balls expression means: webOS is death!
Let’s add an alternative end to the movie/a bonus :-) :
@Samsung #savewebos

let me see wether the windows phone 7 SDK dowload has finished yet! bye
Tobias H

Beautiful movie – but: in the end it should not mean: @HP #save webOS.
That does not make sense: a decisive intention to stay with webOS and further its development definitely looks quite different!! The wording is : We will see what to do about webOS. This soft balls expression means: webOS is death!
Let’s add an alternative end to the movie/a bonus :-) :
@Samsung #savewebos

let me see wether the windows phone 7 SDK dowload has finished yet! bye
Tobias H

Beautiful movie – but: in the end it should not mean: @HP #save webOS.
That does not make sense: a decisive intention to stay with webOS and further its development definitely looks quite different!! The wording is : We will see what to do about webOS. This soft balls expression means: webOS is death!
Let’s add an alternative end to the movie/a bonus :-) :
@Samsung #savewebos

let me see wether the windows phone 7 SDK dowload has finished yet! bye
Brother Al

That was a fantastic video/commercial!!!.

Too bad few in Mgmt @ HP had enough guts or vision to “Think Beyond”…

We would all love to see Samsung or HTC step up to the plate with webOS…

Downside is that HP has mismanaged this VERY BADLY & likely destroyed any commercial value for this OS. Any business crazy enough to take on a license with HP for webOS would need to make an epic effort to push a new webOS product & would positively need to understand our collective level of “webOS love ” to woo us back, & also only if they worked really closely with webOS Internals & the Devs.
…Very sadly, I don’t see any of the “big fish” being able to pull this off… With today’s MBA-mantra of quick profit, w/ minimal investments of time, labor, & money… That closed-mindedness kills any hope of this becoming reality.
That “Reality” is… HP has been pissing off the remainder of webOS lovers, it burned the Devs, laid off the founding employees they aquired “Palm”, screwed Sprint (Pre-), AT&T, & others, along with the countless retailers that just took a sideways shafting & buried them in an avalanche of consumer complaints/questions.
Thanks to HPs completely unprepared & fully irresponsible pullout, webOS’s future is pretty bleak, no matter how much we want it to succeed.

And the fact these Touchpads are selling-out rapidly is quite a bit of proof that HP really, REALLY screwed up…
No one buys into a dead product unless there is some real value in them, & there are obviously enough folks still familier with “Palm’s legacy”, willing to jump into ownership of an unsupported device, and that’s very much despite those few Android hackers.

Video Tribute and Plea to Save webOS, by Heiko Thies

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