Microsoft's Origami project
By Ryan Block 
posted February 24th 2006 9:18PM
posted February 24th 2006 9:18PM
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.
Apple Fan right here....
First of all: ugly.
Then I have to say it doesn't fit my idea of a portable player, it looks like another of these tablets.
I think it will sell anyways, but don't tell me it's something new, useful, nice or innovative...
Anyways the package should be like this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAGr3mVVUwE
lol
http://www.origamiproject.com/1/
oooh, playing the "keep us waiting game"...what a bunch of cheese!
What a great way to spend money
http://bigloanguide.com
I've got my Dell Axim x51v PDA with Windows Mobile 5, and I can stream things like video, music, etc. from my computer to it through wi-fi, have a web browser, flash player, and a foldable full-size QWERTY keyboard. So I honestly don't get what the big deal is about this machine, it's a PDA by Microsoft, wow. Big feckin' deal.
Microsoft is killing it's self. Who is gonna want to carry this around? It's like Twice as tall as the PSP. I saw it had a GPS system and instant messenger...PSPS has those. Microsoft, please, save yourselves!
I will likely buy one.
it seems like a cool idea to make something super functional but not big like a laptop.
The hype machine however is huge. http://www.origamiportal.com already sites set up a website about it.
it will be interesting to see if it holds up to the hype or just becomes a dud.
Week two was just posted one the Origami web site, we get to find out more on 3.9.06, standard MS crap, just like the XBOX 360 release...the list goes on, when will they ever learn!
Steve
Does it play Mario Bros?
If so, I will take one.
Not much new on the origamiproject.com but in the source code, at the top, there's this comment:
Origami Project: the Mobile PC running Windows XP
Looks like Enrico was right: http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/24/microsofts-origami-project/#c1137194
LAME!!! The wheel is round but MS is about to try to sell us a square one. Reinventing and claiming originality is Mr. Bill's specialty though.
Yeah, everyone reading this should get one and this way when Apple releases their's and it's 10x more stable, 10x better looking and 10x more productive all you band wagoneers can cry to mommy haha
This is all starting to come together like a jigsaw puzzle - microsoft beat apple to the punch with a patent of the scroll wheel navigation - imagine that ... if you watch the video a scroll wheel is clearly visible. It is another MS Mix06 - take a dash of sonys psp, add a little bit of ipod, mix in yer operating system and windows live and viola you have orgami ...I'm sure this will make bill a lot of FOLDING money !
it is an updated version of my old favorite toy ... my sony magic link... who remembers the magic cap os ?
you guys have to realize that thouse photoes are over a year old. here is what it probaly looks like now:http://www.longhornblogs.com/robert/archive/2006/02/24/15899.aspx
Just need a pcmcia slot.
Then, it would be perfect.
Looks great to me, a possibility of real convergence.
I see useable/visible email capabilities (beyond the short notes one can do on a blackberry or treo), notes, ebook, gps, etc....probably has remote capability for electronic devices, as well.
GPS for my Treo is simply too small. I don't think one device will do everything. But, I could live easily with a nano, treo, and this origami (if it has slot for my broadband mobile data card)
The LCD running Pro Tools on OSX is from a video that featured the Origami.
It starts in a mobile home where someone has a digital music studio.
Probably features OSX because they used a real digital music studio in a real mobile home.
I'll post the URL to the video if I can find it again.
Mmhh....Doesn't look that mindblowing and as a Apple guy I don't only mean the exterior! Yet another useless little thingie for those big boys...
May the eternal war between Mac users and MS users continue ... but for the records wat Microsoft has managed to do to the world of computing, Macs can't dream of it.
Mac users are just antagonistic 'cause Microsoft has helped expose products to the majority of the world they crave to reach but can't thanx to their little Mac niche they created hoping every Dick and Harry would hop to, sorry!! Try again.
This will definately be a nifty piece of hardware but if it was not for the industrial design and innovation of Apple then Bill would be forced to have a 100 function buttons placed all around the screen. Its going to be a fun precursor to whatever apple delivers in the future, however I cannot see Apple dipping their toes into handheld convergence technology for a little while yet- its time to see if the world is ready for a Newton before they rerelease one.
BTW- has anyone noticed the alarming similarity between the Aqua design of Apple and the Origami Project's background on their teaser website?
Seriously, good luck to MS, I hope they got it right but my concerns are with the potential frustrations of 1st gen users- particularily the gamers who will fork out big bucks to play Halo on the train to school.
In 20 years time it will be a great accessory for fancy dress parties with people dressed-up as old fogies of this day and age!! We will look like such Star Trek wannabes with it.
i'll wait for the second gen with vista that supposedly comes out in the summer because 1. the hardware issues will be sorted out, 2. because the software issues will be sorted out, 3, it probaly will be lower priced, and it will have a better OS
Yep, it's a Segway. And when was the last time you saw one of them?
Hi folks. I have blogged about the Origami quite a bit already since I was at the Tablet PC Partner briefing in redmond where Microsoft introduced this new concept for Ultra Mobiles devices, or Lifestyle Devices. You can find out more at http://www.infusionblogs.com/blogs/activenick/archive/2006/03/02/393.aspx and http://www.infusionblogs.com/blogs/activenick/archive/2006/02/13/303.aspx. I was also quoted by Mary Jo Foley of the Ziff Davis Microsoft watch about the Microsoft origami project at http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,2180,1933439,00.asp.
Hope this helps answer some of your questions. I have revealed as much as I could without breaking my NDA.
Cheers.
This seems to be the work of Otto Berkes who was one part of the X-Box team but now works closely with the Tablet PC devision of Microsoft he seems very intersted in the networking part of UMPCs saying "The biggest change in my mobile computing over the past year has been due to my adoption of WWAN. Its pretty amazing to be able to stay in touch and have full Internet access anywhere I go. I dont think about hot spots any morethe hot spot is wherever I go." read his ideas for UMPCs at http://research.microsoft.com/workshops/FS2005/presentations/FacultySummit_2005_Berkes.ppt .
-Andrew Kostin
And I read some where the price is going to be.........
800 US DOLLERS
XING got a deal last year with msft for 70 mil dollars. XING is a chinese company that just came out with a new product that looks just like msft's origami. The deal was signed last oct. XING stock has picked up in the last few days as they are getting ready to put out their new product too. GO to google and search CECT mobile phones for info. XING owns CECT which owns 36 other chinese companys.
Could this possibly be True??
Microsoft Inc.(MSFT.NASD) & National Semiconductor Inc.(NSM.NYSE) Today announced joint venture Introducing the Oragami Mobile Do All.
Microsoft Inc. & National Semiconductor Introduce Innovative conceptual device integrates wireless video communication and phone, digital camera, video camcorder, MP3 audio, PDA, Internet access, email and Microsoft Windows Embedded XP OS in a unique folding design
Munich, Germany-February 29, 2006- Microsoft Inc. (NASD: MSFT), the global leader in software technology and National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: NSM), the leading silicon and systems provider for information appliances, today unveiled a new handheld conceptual device that integrates today's most popular Internet and multimedia functions into a single, portable unit. About the size and weight of a large memo pad, the National Geode Origami Mobile is a flexible unit that folds and unfolds to perform eight popular consumer electronics functions in one easy-to-use device. The Geode Origami Mobile Communicator is a integrated device for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), developed under a joint agreement between Microsoft Inc. and National Semiconductor's Conceptual Products Group.
"Origami is the future. It is a revolutionary convergence concept that artfully blends National's processor, and wireless, display and analog technologies," said Michael Polacek, vice president of the Information Appliance Division at National Semiconductor. "Origami combines National's silicon and software technologies, innovative industrial design, and the Microsoft Windows Embedded XP operating system into a package that's small, incredibly feature rich, and ultimately fun to use."
Key Features of the Geode Origami Mobile Communicator
Measuring just 71/2" long, less than 4" wide, 11/2" thick and weighing about 10 ounces, Origami's flexible form factor reflects its multiple uses. The Origami folds and pivots into a digital camera, video camcorder, smartphone, MP3 audio player, PDA, Internet access or Internet picture frame, email device or video conferencing terminal.
"Origami is perfect for people on the move who want to stay connected to family, friends and business associates while accessing the information they need," said Michael Polacek.
Key features of the Origami include a 4" TFT LCD 640 x 480 resolution display with integrated touch screen support, integrated 16-bit stereo sound capability with built-in microphone and speaker, headphone and hands-free headset connectors, USB and Compact Flash ports and long battery life for hours of mobility.
"Easy-to-use multifunction products will be popular with a large portion of the population," said Egil Juliussen, president of eTForecasts, a computer and Internet industry analyst firm. "Multifunction or convergence products tend to be a bargain versus several single-function products, and they take up less space."
Origami is the latest in a series of industry-shaping products National has introduced, the company unveiled the WebPAD device, which spawned a new category of products: information appliances. Last year, National received the "Best of Show" award in the services category for its WebPAD Metro, a wide-area mobile personal access device. National named its new Origami device after the Japanese art of folding paper into birds, animals or other artistic shapes.
About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor is the premier analog company driving the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of-the-art digital technology, the company is focused on the fast growing markets for wireless handsets; information appliances; information infrastructure; and display, imaging and human interface technologies. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $2.1 billion for fiscal year 2001 and employs about 9,700 people worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.
Looks a lot like the dualcor unit. www.dualcor.com
Good concept for use in wireless environments. One device which can do internet, email, and documents. Finally we can chuck out the huge mini tower pc and just surf from the armchair.
I think this thing has a lot of potential if done correctly. I would love a device to replace my ipod, smartphone, and camera and on top of that add GPS. I guess we will see if they pull it off... I bet they will wait and put Vista on it, it would be stupid to put XP on it this close to launch.
You fricking apple nuts! You are so blinded by Steve "Snow" Jobs that you will diss anything not a red or green fruit hanging from a tree in Washington state (funny, Microsoft is from Washington..) Anyways, I have an Ipod, cool as it might be the most irritating thing about it is the locks on sharing and playing media whenever, wherever I want. And don't get me started about itunes, that is the biggest pile of crap based on a crappy windows excel knockoff. I hope the origami has some thought and anthropological usage model thought behind it, not just some cool gagdet that will bemarketed as a fashion item. Yeah the ipod is cool, but it could have been so much more. Just think, my personal cell phone, my work cell phone, my palm trea, my media center hub, and my music player all in one. Gad damn, you mean I will only need one charger to carry when i travel?! I don't care who makes it, just make it!
The project code name got me thinking -- "origami". It has to do with folding, and conversion. So a basic mini-slate running XP probably isn't it.
Here is my hunch - perhaps it's a paperback-size thin computer which has "TWO" screens in portrait mode once you open it up like a book. You can use two screens to read like pages in a book, and you can also turn it 90-degrees where the bottom screen acts like a virtual keyboard (like a laptop).
We'll see soon...
Do you want to know what's the killer product? I would christen it MobilePC.
Seriously, the killer product must have 3 key features:
o terminal emulator,
o 3G mobile data capability
o a phone (basic features)
o camera
o DVD drive
o USB port
It needs to "terminal service" back to a powerful computer (w/ all the bells & whistles) running a complimenting OS (nextgen to Windows OS or Linux) that will feed the mobile warrior. The latter 3 devices are for local applications only. As an example, you may want to watch a DVD locally. Or take a video locally. Or read a USB key locally. The storage can be back at the main computer. What do you think? With technology available today, this should be achievable. cL
GOd, I want one!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think this is a outstanding leap into the future. I would not hesitate to get one. Small and powerfull for the long and frustrating meetings out of town. No is not an answer for refusing to buy it
its trying to b both a psp and a ds (more so on the ds) btw there already is a portable media device with a touchscreen its called a ds (it has web browsers, tv tuner and a 4gb hard drive as well as pictochat) plus all tht costs about $1000 and u can have it now instead of waiting 6 years for bill gates to release it and for it to cost $2000 min
UGLY!!!! Apple is better....
It might not be great for a consumer market but get a rugged case and every Ambulance, Police Cruiser and Fire Fighting vehicle in the country will have one. This is the device field workers have been waiting on. Tablet is too big, pda is too small..... ah this is just right and no darned compact framework limitations. We started work today and you can bet we are not alone. MS has a whole site already online for developers with screen emulators. Yes, maybe this has been done before but it's not always about hardware its about market readiness... And it's ready.
Just some news for everyone...
I was searching the other day and saw that
WWW.MICROSOFTORIGAMIPROJECT.COM
is for sale!! I guess someone is offering to sell the website for those traffic hungy people.
"49. Am I the only one that thinks the screen in the first pic is a computer running OS X?
The screen in the first pic is a computer runing ProTools, but you cant realy tell what OS it is on.
Boys it sure is fun to look back and see who knows
their chit and who's full of it as many were!
Some of you were way off, and it looks like the Origami will be a Hit out early April.
It is the next best small pc but bigger than a pda device to be released! Next!
Wow... looks like mac style. I want to try one.
the really weird thing is that typing in microsoft origami or howeva u spell it into google images i have found that clicking on the images n luking at the sites there linked to that the black one with the keyboars is actually a samsung thing LOL
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.generationmp3.com/images/News/00_mars/cebit/umpc/umpc4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.generationmp3.com/index.php/2006/03/13/2648-cebit-06-lumpc-star-du-salon&h=334&w=500&sz=134&tbnid=epqYTqPmm73bnM:&tbnh=84&tbnw=127&hl=en&start=28&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmicrosoft%2Borigami%26start%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26rls%3DGGLD,GGLD:2002-53,GGLD:en%26sa%3DN
oh n i no im only 12 but for a litttle guy i can find stuff out pretty simply LOL :)
anyway microsoft are falling behind coz i like microsoft but it just dont cut it it luks like a smaller version of a normall tablet pc BORING
n it luks too chunky
I just speed-read some of this superlong thread and a lot of the argument/discussion is about who is first, is it a mac, etc. But, what REALLY counts, is what does the common person want... no, need, to become truly portable with their computer? I am 50 years old, so I cannot really identify with the 20-somethings in the video that either have no hair, or need to wash theirs, but I know what I need.
I need a tablet PC that will allow my exchange server to sync with my device (like rpc over http) and have a fully functioning Outlook program. I need a true, wireless interface with my phone, not a tablet with a speaker and a mic in it (although that might be cool for conference calls). It needs to have real storage, and a REAL screen (800x600 pixels minimum.) Keyboard would be optional, but with all the BT wireless devices out there now, any of them should work with the device. When I have associated my RazR with the tablet, and my phone rings, it asks (via bluetooth) my contact list to give some caller ID info, just like my Windows Mobile now does in one device.
Camera on the device (1.3Mp) would be cool and probably cheap since just about every phone has one now. Windows media player with a new iPod-like interface would be good (you know what they say about imitation and flattery). At least one PCCard slot to hold an AirCard with a data plan (built in aircard would be too complicated with all the different cellular carriers.) Of course WiFi...
What about battery life? If the manufacturer would have a plug on the device that accepted a connection to an external long-life battery booster (carried around in your messenger bag), or a car plug, it would provide a great option. Short battery life is a product killer...
USB plugs could be on the side and also one on the face of the device, so that when it is lying down, the USB device would stick up vertically (all kinds of neat things could be done with this, camera, mic, motion detector, wind speed/weather device, etc.)
Who am I to make these suggestions? What do I know? Well, my first cell phone was in a bag and weighed 8 pounds. I had a Palm VII with the radio inteface YEARS ago, I had the wristwatch that was also a beeper (remember beepers?), I had the Kyocera 6035 PDA phone, followed by several Kyocera 7135 flip phones, followed by the Treo 650, and I now have the Samsung i730 on Verizon. I also own notebooks, a Toshiba 3505 tablet, desktops, and a business that supports small business networks (but no BlackBerrys).
For portability, my tablet pc is too big to carry around and my i730 is just too small and plus I hate a phone and PDA in one. Neither is quite right and the compromises kill the product. They need to be seperated!
I have been posting, writing, emailing about this for years and I have NEVER gotten one reply from anyone that is in a position to create this product. Is anyone listening? Does anyone care? This Origami device looks like it has potential and if MS is truly behind it, it could work. All of the devices that everyone in this blog are talking about has less market penetration than an Apple IIc ;-) For any product to reach stride, it has to be purchased and used. Look at the iPod. It wasn't the first (neither was the Mac)... it was just RIGHT. And it took off like a grass fire in Texas.
The whole world is watching (and waiting) for a hand-sized tablet-style device that works and is not a toy that only a techie-geek can use. Under $500 sounds right, too.
Randy
Wow, I think it looks a bit like the upcomming ipod video.
Hey! you don't need to wait go to this link http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=SAMSUNG_Q1&tab=1 and you can get one for 800!
I have an idea. How about a microsoft product for all there new LIVE applications like; Outlook, Office, Virtual PC. Hmm. no need for alot of memory, no need for big bulky hard drive. Just a nice Fast Web Browser.. IE'8. This is going to be a new generation applications and thin clients.
I like it. Looks pretty and seems to have enought functions for sophisticated user.
Isn't this just another PDA?
-----
http://www.noticiaspt.com
I don't get why this is any groovier than an Archos player... Am I missing something. At least the Archos already exist - *and* they look a whole lot better than this.
I really appreciate your help.
http://www.laptopbatteryclub.com/
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