Jon Rubinstein, once a prominent voice in the mobile community as he sought to reinvent Palm, has gone quiet in recent months at HP — and that's not often a good sign for any top-level executive's future prospects. Indeed, Rubinstein has apparently left HP effective immediately, according to a report from AllThingsD. The move isn't a surprise considering how many management shuffles HP has gone through as of late, and Rubinstein has all but disappeared from the webOS landscape in its recent transition to an open source platform.
An HP spokesperson simply says that "Jon has fulfilled his commitment and we wish him well," a reference to the fact that he was under contract to continue employment at HP for a set period after Palm's 2010 acquisition. It's entirely possible that he'd plan to leave as soon as the commitment was fulfilled from day one, but it's also possible that the previously mentioned musical chairs on the executive floor simply left him without a seat. AllThingsD says that Rubinstein apparently hadn't been seen on HP campus ever since now-departed CEO Leo Apotheker put webOS in a choke hold in mid-2011, which would suggest his disenchantment with HP's strategy ran deep.
Image credit: Robert Scoble

There are 122 Comments. Add yours.
Surprised. /s
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:54 AM EST reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
I must agree that this is the most shocking news since we found out Ricky Martin is not straight.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:00 PM EST reply Recommend (28) Flag actions
I find your obtuse lack of subtlety offensive.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:01 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
I find your obtuse lack of humor offensive.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:28 PM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
I’m half shocked to be honest. With webOS being open sourced he no longer has any control over it and its essentially his baby for better or worse….
Why stick around and watch it be mutilated into something you don’t recognize? Especially without your guidance?
@ The Verge.
Love your site but when I’m posting here I can BARELY see the freaking words I’m typing. Its like they are in ghost form or something. Please FIX this. Its really hurting my eyes
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:34 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The typography used in the form for comments might be a little light in my opinion as well. Perhaps they could increase the font-weight a tad?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:38 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Agreed. With most websites that use light grey fonts (why?), I’ll use an overlay like Readability or Clearly, but they don’t work for comments.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 4:06 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I find your obtuse lack of subtle humor inoffensive.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:57 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
When did Ricky Martin become crooked?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:02 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
he ist not straight?….
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
According to Tiger Beat he is.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:38 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Wait, Ricky Martin is gay??
Posted on Jan 29, 2012 | 2:07 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Anyone mind telling me what /s means?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:40 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
sarcasm
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:44 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:50 PM EST reply Recommend (58) Flag actions
<333333333333333
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:51 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Lord Vader, That is the best thing I’ve seen on this website. Thank you.
But good for Jon, he deserves better. I hope he joins Apple or Microsoft.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:59 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
He should join his pal Mathias Duarte.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 3:56 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Perfect.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 1:51 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Awwww, they changed the title picture. Spoil sports
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 2:45 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
To become the self appointed CEO of Open WebOS.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:55 AM EST reply Recommend (12) Flag actions
not exactly…
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
exactly…
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:03 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
would you like to have a cup of tea?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:07 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Is it Earl Grey?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:11 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
EXACTLY
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:14 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Are we having a Folgers moment?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:36 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
NOTHING comes closer to home.
NOTHING.
Posted on Feb 08, 2012 | 6:57 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He should come to Google and true to get some cool hardware built w/ that Motorola acquisition. Maybe some quality Google TV cable boxes, and better Moto phones (Moto Nexus this year??)
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:36 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Seems it was never meant to be.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:56 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
What a crock of shit the phrase “never meant to be” is. Nothing is fated that we don’t make so. HP screwed up.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:27 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
With the recent breakthroughs in time travel technology, if we can go into the future, wouldn’t that mean that we do have a fate? Or is the Terminator meant to come back so that we would have a future? Or is this more of a Marty McFly universe where we can change our or fate on a whim?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 2:16 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The universe is very large.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 2:59 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Expected/10
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:56 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Not unexpected but it’d be nice to know a few more details.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:56 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It’s margarita time again for Jon.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:00 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Smart guy. He’ll land on his feet.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:57 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
…or back on a beach in Mexico if all else fails.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:58 AM EST reply Recommend (14) Flag actions
Can’t wait to see his next project.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:57 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
“left”…..i doubt it….
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:58 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Lots of folks from webOS’s team have quit. Quite a few are now at Apple and I’m sure Google are picking up some folks too.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:57 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
More time for margaritas on the beach!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:58 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
High-fives I remember that podcast too!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:59 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
One of my all times favorites. Love Josh’s Ruby impression, cracks me up.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Now’s a good time for Ruby to start working on the beard.
(from the same podcast)
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:26 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
What was the podcast number? I’ve probably still got it somewhere. Might re-live the memory…
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:43 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Bummer. Jon is a good guy, WebOS is/was really clever, the idea of having two unique mobile OSs duking it out was much more appealing than the two models we have right now. Hopefully Microsoft’s billions can force Windows 7 in to contention.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:59 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Hope he leads webOS into a new era.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:59 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
WebOS belongs to HP now, he won’t have anything to do with it anymore.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:01 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
But Open WebOS belongs to everybody!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:02 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Exactly!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
What the what?
Jon, I hope you find a place where you are appreciated and can be successful. HP obviously didn’t know how to sell creativity.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:00 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Ironically HP can creatively kill creativity like no one else.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:02 PM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
Definitely the right decision from his point of view. He needs to start fresh and come up with something really awesome!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:01 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
this really is not surprising to me, at all.
it still sucks, though =(
there’s fewer and fewer of you guys left any more =|
<3 webos
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:01 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Best Wishes to Jon.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:01 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Unless he strikes out on his own, I’m guessing microsoft, apple, or google will be his next home.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:01 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You realized he not only worked for Apple in the past, but helped create the iPod? If he wanted to continue working for Apple, I’m sure he wouldn’t have left for Palm in the first place.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:05 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I hope he goes to Google.
Matias Duarte – helped create a masterpiece in the form of webOS.
Jon Rubenstein – helped create a masterpiece in the form of webOS.
Or, alternatively, makes a phone manufacturer and uses webOS as his OS of choice. Although this is unlikely.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:36 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
OH GOD WHY
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Google should go get him, him and matias redesigning android!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:02 PM EST reply Recommend (12) Flag actions
Rubinstein’s a hardware guy. I’m not sure how much he contributes to the software side of things… I’m not against google getting into the hardware biz though! (yes I know about the motorola mobility purchase, but we haven’t seen anything of it yet)
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:23 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s an idea! Go to Motorola after the Google merger completes and help Google really take back control of Android.
Meanwhile, the other manufacturers (Samsung mostly) use webOS. (OK, I’m dreaming here, but I can dream, right?)
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
No, there’s the updated, polished UI (Matias), and then we could see some polished hardware devices from Moto (directed by Ruby). Also, he could possibly help with a Moto-built Nexus Tab, and a new Nexus phone later in the year.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:40 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I hope things go well for him. His intentions were good, but HP (more specifically Leo) ruined his plans.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:04 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Since no one else will say it
Maybe Apple will hire him back!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:06 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
damn you beat me to it! :D
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:06 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
he’s going back to Apple. no im jk! would be interesting though.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:06 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He ran an arms race with Apple that allowed the Pre to be recognized by iTunes. He blatantly defied them in circumventing technology that he helped develop. I don’t think they’re anxious to get him back.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:13 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You’re forgetting a handful of jailbreakers has been hired by Apple.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 2:14 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Microsoft should hire him on the wp team
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:08 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
What would be ironic is if MS does hire him to develop the UI on WP, and in effect Windows 8, and it ends up on HP laptops.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:16 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Or a hp windows 8 tablet
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:20 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Would love seeing this, wp needs more awesome!! Competitions ftw
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 2:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’ll definitely miss he and Josh’s back and forth in interviews. He was one of the better interviewees. It’ll never happen in a million years, but imagine if he went to Google and joined back up with Mattias. How awesome would it be to see Matias and John together again with the power of Google’s resources behind them!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:10 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The next Verge headline “Jon Rubenstein is joining The Verge team!” lol
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:11 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Verge needs more cards
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 2:49 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Sad plight for the ex-Senior VP at Apple. Should’ve stayed in Engineering instead of dabbling in administration, he’s not suited for it. The only way to make up for lost cred is to go back to the roots and do an awesome startup.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:11 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
The second greatest trick the devil ever pulled was making Josh T. believe that Palm Computing could live forever and ever.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:13 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Rubenstein should have left HP the day they announced the Touchpad’s demise.
I am SURPRISED it took him so long
This was a given.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:14 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He’s been gone, mentally and even physically on the HP campus, for a while now (probably since that exact moment). This just makes it official.
Posted on Jan 29, 2012 | 2:16 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
See you on the beach, Ruby.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He should have been the new RIM CEO.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Come on he already has enough heartbreaks with failed products joining rim would be a waste of talent.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:16 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Good point. I’d have liked to see what he did with a falling giant such as RIM.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:39 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
HP buying Palm has to be one of the more WTF moves these past couple years
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:16 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
A wonderful leader. I would gladly accept Jon as my surrogate father.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:16 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Heck I’d take the money he earns as an exec any day.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 1:07 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
There it is. The somber close to this chapter in Ruby’s life. I’ve been asking “where’s Ruby” for a while, always liked him. Hopefully we’ll see him in some startup someday. Safe travels, sir. And thanks for iPods and bringing webOS to market.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:17 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Apple should hire him back.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:20 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He may be the only available exec who could possibly save RIM. There’s no one in-house over there with the kind of bold vision solving their problems requires.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:21 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Here’s a brilliant person who got the shaft, big time. Had a marvelous product and it was almost ruined by the Palm hardware, then HP ruined everything he built, and now I hope it hasn’t ruined him.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:21 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I’m sure he’ll be fine with the massive multimillion dollar salaries executives are given.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 1:06 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yeah, but I’m in the old school belief that money can’t buy happiness. Just happiness on an hourly basis…
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 1:42 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
C’mon Microsoft, hire the guy.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:21 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
i think it would be nice if he was back at apple.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:22 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Go back to Apple! He’s got great vision.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:23 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It would be awesome if he took advantage of Open webOS to create the Handspring to HP’s Palm. Not exactly the same dynamic, but it might be doable.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Apple is always hiring.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:25 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He would make a great retail employee.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:26 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Photo needs more mutton chops.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Josh just cried a little. And poured out some lemon vodka.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:31 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You’re crying for a guy who earns 100 times as much as you every year despite in the end accomplishing very little.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 1:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
And on the same day refurbed TouchPads are on Woot. Funny how things work out.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:33 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
..I hear RIM is running dangerously low on CEOs..
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:34 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
He’s over qualified.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:44 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
What happened with WebOS was disheartening. They had a nice little family of products lined up, and HP got all pushy.
I don’t think that WP needs him from the OS perspective, but his take on the hardware and where that could go would be interesting to see.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:35 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Finally a proper microsoft phone? Oh how I want that!
/applelover
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 2:17 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
How does someone in charge of something creative can wear those shoes.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Wtf is wrong with his shoes?!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 2:20 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
My bet is Google will hire him to head the Motorola subsidiary and infuse some design sense in their products. And boy, does Motorola need some design sense.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You’re all wrong. He’s going over to Nest with his best buddy Tony.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:58 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Don’t worry guys, WebOS is in fact leading the marketshare in smartphones in an alternative universe, where Touchpads own the tablet market and the app selection on iOS really blows.
Also, everyone has a Courier there.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 1:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Goodnight, sweet prince
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 1:24 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I wouldn’t be surprised if Windows snagged him ASAP.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 1:25 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
For a man with as much talent as Ruby has it’s a shame to see him, once again leave the industry to do well absolutely nothing if he repeats the same path he took after “being forced out of apple” by Job’s (Or so that’s what was rumored happening.) He had to be tracked down by Palms former CEO and promised a CEO position after what became webOS was released just to come back to the industry. This time I see him staying far away where MS won’t be able to find him lol. Sad though, the guy did a tremendous job with webOS. Getting Mattias Duarte on the team was an awesome talent acquisition. webOS MADE Duarte much the same way he made its beauty. Good luck Ruby, hope we’ll see you back in the mobile OS industry Soon!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 2:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 3:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Maybe Jon will join Matias at Google? (:
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 4:21 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I used to like my Palm, and my Blackberry someone ruined them and look at how poorly they did and are doing. I am not too sure how much he was responsible for the changes but this does not bode well.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 6:33 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Palm had great ideas but a leadership team that had NO CLUE on how to execute well
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 6:50 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m really excited to hear home automation mentioned as potentially the next frontier by someone as connected as Rubinstein.
Technology has finally made home automation an affordable endeavor. I look forward to the day that I pull up to my house, a server detects I am within range, kicks up the heater, turns on my stereo, kicks off some scents, and turns on the oven because on my way home, i opened up an app and set the oven to preheat to 350degrees.
Posted on Jan 28, 2012 | 2:26 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Come on Jon, join Mathias and help make Android beautiful. Better yet, develop the Amazon Fire’s equivalent of a mobile phone. An affordable unlocked mobile phone with an elegant UI (ala webOS) that really changes things. That would make a dent.
Posted on Feb 04, 2012 | 4:08 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
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