Origami: New Microsoft portable device?

[SS]

I remember reading earlier on these forums that microsoft had been examining the portable market and considering the possibilities of producing their own device. So I was wondering if this report from CNET blog had anything to do with it:

Origami rumors unfold
February 24, 2006 5:56 PM PST
Like Slashdot and other blogs and online forums, we, too, are getting tips about a new Microsoft concept gadget codenamed "Origami" that we understand is sort of a "Mini Me" PC.

We're unable to confirm much right now, other than that National Semiconductor several years ago built a prototype device called Origami. But we are unaware as of yet if there's any connection between the two.

A very cryptic Origami site only tells us more information about the product will be unveiled on March 2.

For now anyway, NetworkWorld's Paul McNamara seems to have the best insight (http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/4680); he cites an industry source who has reportedly seen Origami and calls it an ultraportable lifestyle PC.

An Engadget blog from earlier this month quoted a Microsoft mobile platform division executive calling the device "wearable, always on, no larger than 10 inches, connected through 3G networks, pen-based" and that it would sell for $500 or less.

Other speculation and insight is offered at Design Tastes Good, Thatedeguy and Robert Scoble, among other sites.

The original story,

and the origami official website

So what do you guys think about it?

[NoZ]

So today Microsoft officially flipped the switch on the buzz machine for their Origami Project -- an atypical viral marketing manuveur for a company whose products are usually known about years ahead of time. Scoble says its a device, the Internet's lighting up with rumors -- is it the Xbox portable? Well, we dunno, but as usual got our hands on some pictures. And as usual we can't guarantee they're the real deal, though we are pretty confident in their source. So, let's go over it: these were sent to us detailing it as a Microsoft portable media player, which wouldn't be too far off from what Jobs and BusinessWeek both prophesied Microsoft doing (despite being pretty broadly denied from within).

Now, here's the tricky part with these pictures -- what's with the keyboard and stylus? Because the last time we checked, their Portable Media Center (PMC) OS didn't have (known) support for touchscreen and keyboard input. So is this some new portable OS platform running on CE.net? Or perhaps it's just a fat little Pocket PC device with some media software? Or something totally different -- could Microsoft beat Apple to the punch with the first serious touchscreen portable media device? Or maybe, just maybe, it's that ultramobile lifestyle PC Microsoft was talking about recently. Kinda seems like no matter what the answer, we're all gonna be pretty surprised (for better or worse) come announcement day, March 2nd, being that Microsoft's "not in the hardware biz." (No, peripherals don't count.) But hell, we can't even tell you for sure if these photos are legit, so here we are.

P.S. There's one thing we are indeed fairly sure about: that it's not that prototype "Origami" device announced by National Semi in 2001. Seriously, c'mon, a device from 5 years ago is what Microsoft's got Scoble buzzing about? Bigger pics of this Origami after the break.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/24/m...igami-project/

Thats the story from Engadget, the site doesnt explain much.

[Viper]

Note the iPod inspired design cues. How lame. Also, if that's a portable game player, it's horribly designed. It has as many action buttons as the old Gameboy on the right.


What's up with that horrible blue jagged line at the top of the consoles screen?


teh fayk.

[D3adcell]

It's basically just a handheld PC. There was a write up about it on a site a little while ago and they said that microsoft was going to come up with a pc that would be maybe 10lbs or so and would be 500$ or less. This is that PC. Since its running windows he's probably playing halo pc.

[Crow]

i dont kow about you but it'd hardly call that portable...

[pac4life]

My first reaction was a lot like what Viper posted actually.

But, it is in fact real. Kinda Stupid, but its not a video game system like PSP or DS.

[Tael]

It looks good. What is the actual purpose of this machine?