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Hewlett-Packard (HP) is preparing a “Zeen” Android e-reader that interfaces with a new HP printer, says an industry report. Meanwhile, HP has postponed its WebOS-based “Hurricane” tablet to 1Q 2011, and the company — beleaguered by the recent resignation of CEO Mark Hurd — lost the lead designer of the WebOS-based Palm Pre, say reports. HP was recently reported to be abandoning its Android tablet project in favor of its "Hurricane" tablet, which runs the Linux-based WebOS operating system acquired when it purchased Palm. (The company is also said to be preparing a similar "Slate" tablet (pictured) based on Windows.

) Yet, a HP tablet of a different kind may end up running Android after all. FCC images of an Android-based "Zeen" e-reader were recently posted by Engadget, along with subsequent tips about the device. The Zeen is said to connect directly to HP’s new Zeus printer without the need for an intervening computer. The Zeen features "capacitive touch buttons," an SD card slot, and video support, and presumably has a color screen. Meanwhile, "at least some prototypes have cameras with a special webcam app installed," says the publication. The Zeen runs an HP skin on top of Android 2.1, and won’t be shifted to WebOS, says Engadget. The device is said to have integrated access to the Barnes & Noble Nook bookstore, and like B&N’s Nook e-reader, will offer a custom interface instead of a full Android installation.

The Zeen will sell both as a standalone unit at an undisclosed price, and as part of a $400 bundle with a new printer called the Zeus, says the publication. The Zeen is said to dock into the Zeus, offering a richer interface to printing functions.

  Over the last year, HP has released a number of web-connected printers running Linux, including the HP Photosmart Premium (pictured). The company has also said it plans to embed WebOS in its web-connected printers in place of its current versions of Linux. WebOS tablet pushed to 1Q 2011 HP Personal Systems Group VP Todd Bradley told an all-hands employee meeting on Monday that the WebOS-based "Hurricane" tablet will now ship in the first quarter of 2011, says another story in Engadget. (An Examiner.com report in may had quoted an unnamed HP insider as saying the Hurricane would ship in the third quarter of this year.

) No other details were supplied except that Bradley was said to have used the "Hurricane" moniker instead of the recently HP-trademarked "PalmPad" name that some have speculated will be applied to the final Hurricane tablet. Palm Pre designer exits in wake of CEO resignation Peter Skillman, the lead designer on a team that created the Palm Pre smartphone (pictured at left), has left the company, says a story in our sister publication, eWEEK.

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