The act of placing the Android operating system onto Hewlett-Packard’s tablet device, the Touchpad, enables users to replace the device’s original webOS with Google’s mobile operating system. This procedure allows a device originally designed for a specific, and ultimately discontinued, operating system to function on a different platform. For example, a Touchpad, after undergoing this modification, can run Android applications available on the Google Play Store.
Implementing a different operating system on the HP Touchpad can offer continued functionality and expanded capabilities beyond its initial lifespan. The availability of a broader app ecosystem, performance improvements based on specific Android distributions, and access to ongoing software updates are potential benefits. The user community’s efforts to adapt Android to the device ensured its utility long after official support for webOS ended, demonstrating the potential for community-driven adaptation and repurposing of hardware.
