PC Peripherals Microsoft's Origami Project

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dipdude

Forerunner
Microsoft's Origami Project

A strange site has popped up recently and caused a little stir amongst the Windows communities.

Origamiproject.com is owned by Microsoft and hints at some announcement being made on the 2nd March 2006.

Origami revealed!

The cat, as they say, is out of the bag. Origami looks to be small (approx 7"), Tablet PC style device. A marketing company has a promo video for it online - see it here (click work, then 'brandtheatre', then Microsoft Origami). From the video, it would appear that these devices can play back music, connect to WiFi networks (and possibly Bluetooth devices), and has enough power to handle graphics work and games. Like Tablet PCs, Origami makes use of a pen input device, as well as buttons on either side of the screen. The video also reveals the device will be available in at least two colours (black / beige), and has a docking station to match. We await Thursday for more details.

Origami Project - 2nd March
 
Microsoft Origami Video and Pics!

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To watch the video. Go to:
http://www.d-kitchen.com/main.html

http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/24/microsofts-origami-project/
Click to expand...

Then navigate the flash site: Enter > Work > BrandTheatre > Microsoft Origami
 
Wonder why the name origami tho? And news appearing this late for a march 2nd launch, could be a hoax no?

edit: and i don see microsoft written anywhere on that thing so..
 
Microsoft's "Origami" Project Leaked Early

Origami is Microsoft's vision of a small pen-based handheld

There has been some buzz surrounding Microsoft's mysterious “Origami” project, but the device has now stepped out into the open a few days ahead of schedule. Digital Kitchen has posted a Shockwave Flash video of Microsoft's new portable media device ahead of its scheduled March 3 unveiling.

From the main site (pop-ups must be disabled), Click "Enter" on the pop-up, click “Work,” then click on "BrandTheatre." From there, click "Microsoft Origami" and you should be presented with a rather lengthy video on Origami. If that link gets taken down, you can also view it here.

From watching the video, Origami looks to be a primarily pen input based “mini TabletPC” device with USB host functionality and built-in GPS. Origami of course has wireless access and can tap into your existing Windows Media Center based PC to playback music/video from anywhere around your home. Also shown in the video is a person playing what appears to be Halo.

Could this all-in-one device really be all things to all people?

Source

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Microsoft's so-called Origami Project, due to be launched on Thursday, appears to be its early version of the ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) concept Intel has been touting of late, if an allegedly leaked Flash version of a promo video of the product is anything to go by. Quite apart from being a potential iPod competitor, the device could well prompt some interesting techology ownership questions.

The video shows a series of media-savvy twentysomethings using a paperback book-sized tablet that's part PC, part PDA and part digital media player. It's wireless too, and would appear to have GPS on board too. So, instead of carting around notebooks, we'll all soon be carrying pen-based micro PCs with decent enough handwriting recognition we won't need a keyboard any more.

Another scene shows the machine running a game, so perhaps the unit's also the much-rumoured PSP-rival, MS is said to have been working on.

It's nothing new, of course. Sony has been offering one of these for over a year now, and a variety of compact mobile PCs have come to market from the likes of OQO and others. Many already run full versions of Windows, rather than Windows Mobile or other, 'cut-down' versions of the OS.
 
A new portable media device that allows users to listen to music, play video games, browse the internet and jot hand-written notes is the initial vision of a product in development by Microsoft and its partners, the software giant confirmed.

Microsoft acknowledged that an early version of its new hand-held PC-like device was featured in a video on the website for marketing firm Digital Kitchen.

"While Origami is a concept we've been working on with partners, please know that the video seen on Digital Kitchen's website is a year old and represents our initial exploration into this form factor, including possible uses and scenarios," a Microsoft spokesman said.

While some media reports flagged the product as a possible rival to Apple Computer's iPod digital music player or Son's PlayStation Portable game device, "Origami" seemed to incorporate more functions and appeared to be much larger than those gadgets.

The company declined to disclose details about the device, including when it might be available for sale, but it said there would be announcements over the coming weeks.

The device appeared to be a tablet PC, a notebook-shaped computer that allows users to write with a digital pen to input text on handwriting recognition software. It was about the size of a oversized post-card.

The video showed young people using the "Origami" device to sketch pictures, use a map with global positioning satellite technology, listen to digital music and play Halo, a popular Microsoft video game.

It was not immediately clear whether the product would be a Microsoft-branded device or if the software giant would simply provide software and services. Microsoft would not reveal the identity of its partners on the project.
 
Details are starting to emerge about Microsoft's mysterious Origami Project.

Microsoft said the device will be unveiled at the giant Cebit technology fair that takes place in Hanover, Germany from 9-15 March.

It is now known that the gadget will use Intel chips and run a version of the Windows XP operating system for tablet PCs.

The Intel website uses the name Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) and this is a reference to the concept that Bill Gates talked about at the 2005 Windows Hardware Engineering Conference.

As well as releasing information at its developer gathering, Intel will also reveal details during the Cebit trade fair. It will be joined by hardware firm Samsung that will be making the gadgets for Microsoft.

The New York Times reported that the UMPC gadgets will use a 20cm touchscreen and will be built to play music or movies. It is also likely to have wi-fi net access built in. Final prices for the gadget are not finalised but it is expected to cost less than $1,000 (£572).
 
Intel wants us connected everywhere we go

Intel today announced what it calls the Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) platform. With this platform, Intel aims to bring small, thin, light and low-power devices that can keep you connected from anywhere. Intel is hoping that the UMPC platform will allow you to:
  • ACCESS content and information virtually anytime, anywhere
  • COMMUNICATE via email, IM, chat, or blogging
  • ENTERTAIN themselves with videos, games, music, pictures or TV on the go
  • BE PRODUCTIVE by monitoring office apps and tools
The devices will feature wireless connectivity, GPS support, full VoIP support and full PC compatibility. Intel states that more information will be available on the 9th – Microsoft states that it will release details of its Origami project on the 9th. Coincidence? I think not.
 
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