HP Touchpad nearly triggered Apple-Facebook fallout

Before Hewlett-Packard’s ill-fated TouchPad tablet got the axe earlier this year, it nearly caused a major fallout between tech giants Apple Inc. and Facebook, a tech site reported. Mashable cited multiple sources who said a Facebook for TouchPad application was very nearly the last straw in the testy ties between Facebook and Apple. It was in stark contrast to the apparently good relations the two tech giants are enjoying now. Both firms are expected to launch a long-overdue Facebook app for Apple’s iPad October 4. “We also expect announcements on a new Facebook for iPhone application, a Facebook HTML5 mobile app platform, and perhaps even Facebook integration in iOS 5," Mashable said. Google, the common enemy Mashable said the app for iPad is the closest Apple and Facebook have been to creating something meaningful together, but most likely because they are united against one enemy – search giant Google. It quoted one source as saying Apple and Facebook are partnering because they share a common enemy, Google. Jobs vs Zuckerberg Mashable reported that, three months ago, then Apple CEO Steve Jobs visited Facebook to discuss a Facebook for iPad application with CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg promised Jobs that the social network would release its first-ever tablet application for iPad, but Jobs learned HP was about to release a native webOS Facebook app for TouchPad. As early as February 9 this year, HP SVP of Applications and Services Steven McArthur claimed the company had been working closely with Facebook. But he Facebook application HP finally launched in July appeared to be an unofficial build that disappointed users. “When Jobs learned of the webOS Facebook app during his summer visit to Facebook, he was livid. Zuckerberg vowed to get the app pulled. But Jon Rubinstein, the former CEO of Palm and then the GM of HP’s webOS division, refused to halt the release of the app. Facebook responded by restricting HP’s access to its APIs — just as it had done with Apple’s Ping, a year earlier," Mashable said. Mashable quoted a source close to HP as saying Facebook was playing both sides. It said its source claimed Facebook was made aware of the application and device integrations, and knew what was coming, changed its tune right before release — and only did so to appease Apple. For its part, HP was furious, hoping the Facebook application would help differentiate the TouchPad from other tablets on the market. “Another source says that HP may have considered legal action. In any case, the TouchPad was discontinued shortly after," Mashable said. History of butting heads The relationship between Facebook and Apple began well when Apple first set up an Apple Students group on Facebook in 2006. But in September 2010, Apple attempted to form an iTunes social network, “Ping." When Apple’s “Ping" launched with Facebook integration in September 2010, Facebook pulled Apple’s access to its APIs, indicating a growing rift. Mashable cited a source familiar with the chain of the events who attributes the “Ping" debacle to a disagreement over iOS 4. Apple had fully integrated Facebook into the iPhone and iPad’s operating system, and was ready to launch the mobile-social fusion when API negotiations broke down. Lacking confidence in Facebook’s ability to build a great application, Apple asked to build its own Facebook for iPhone app. Facebook responded with a firm no and negotiations stopped. Meanwhile, Apple was working away on Ping — and due to the stalled iOS 4 talks, decided to keep Facebook mostly out of the loop. — TJD, GMA News