Origami UI on CeBIT web site

We thought we had today's Origami news covered, especially with our hands-on visit to Samsung's CeBIT booth. But it turns out there's still a little more info out there, courtesy of tomorrow's official CeBIT show daily, which was released to the web today by its time-traveling publisher. According to CeBIT News, the Origami will include a circular virtual keyboard as part of its user interface. The Origami Touch Pack Interface, as the virtual keyboard will be known, is designed for thumb-typing, and is sure to guarantee tons of fingerprints on your Origami display. CeBIT News also confirms that a range of external peripherals will be available for the Samsung Q1, including a GPS unit, DMB TV tuner (which will be internal for units sold in Korea), Bluetooth keyboard and DVD drive. CeBIT News also says that you'll be able to rip DVDs to the hard drive, though we assume that this doesn't include CSS-protected movies.

[Via the Inq]

[karmaghost @ Mar 8th 2006 5:29PM]

Looks like that keyboard'll take up quite a bit of the screen. I wonder how useful it'll be.

[Origami News @ Mar 8th 2006 5:30PM]

Does this model come with a stylus or a keyboard, or is it just a thumb/touchscreen?

[Justin @ Mar 8th 2006 5:31PM]

Fujitsu's P1500 series already has that circular keyboard... and it is just as small, if not smaller... and is a convertible tablet... *yawn.* waiting to be impressed!

[Matt @ Mar 8th 2006 5:32PM]

That'll be hard to get used to, but once you've mastered it I guess it's quite effective.

Imagine being able to write just half as quickly as you can type (assuming your a fast typer) using just your thumbs. Brilliant.

[nono @ Mar 8th 2006 5:37PM]

very nice... should work great with Skype. Add an EV-DO/EDGE card and it should work almost anywhere!

I do hope it has a PC Card slot....

[Razor @ Mar 8th 2006 5:42PM]

Rip-off, they copy everything...Apple patented the thumb UI in 1956.

[ZSX @ Mar 8th 2006 5:42PM]

Asus' brushed steel model looks quite nice (and more fingerprint resistant.

http://scr3.golem.de/?d=0603/origami_preview&a=43885&s=1

[Jon Acheson @ Mar 8th 2006 5:52PM]

Why don't they just put a real thumbboard on that big chunky bottom edge of the screen? That way the screen doesn't get dirty, or worse yet, scratched. Especially if the device is supposed to be only 7 inches wide.

[skoobydoo @ Mar 8th 2006 5:59PM]

I agree this will make the screen tend to get scratched more. But I imagine it won't be quite as bad as a PSP... But close...

[former Sega employee @ Mar 8th 2006 6:02PM]

It looks like a Gizmondo.

[Steve @ Mar 8th 2006 6:02PM]

Far, far too big an interface. Just looking at the pic you can see that typing anything on the outer ring would be a stretch for the hand model. For those of us with smaller hands it's going to be almost impossible (if these images are accurate of course).

The thing is, I really don't see what market they're going for with this. Yeah, it runs XP rather than Windows Mobile but the problem is almost all XP apps expect you to have a keyboard and mouse available to some degree. You can add a bluetooth keyboard but then why not just get a subnotebook, it'll be about the same amount of kit to lug around. You can use the touchscreen as a mouse substitute but not without being close enough to the unit to, well, touch it which might make for some interesting ergonomics if you're trying to fit a keyboard inbetween you and the screen. Is it also safe to assume that it'll have all the same security holes as XP Home/Pro as well? For that matter, if it IS running XP what happens if the hard drive dies? Might sound like a silly question but remember just how much of a pounding units like this take in the bottom of rucksacks and being carted around in daily life.

Basically, what the heck does this thing do that can't already be done be either a laptop, tablet or smartphone (depending on what you actually need it to do). The HTC Universal for instance seems to give this a real run for its money in a lot of areas, beating it in some (built in keyboard for example) while loosing in others (SD cards versus Hard Drive, though for a mobile device I think I'd prefer a solid-state unit).

I just really hope that, if this is indeed all Origami is, that Engadget savages it as badly as they did the recent Apple launch, especially as it seems MS have done a LOT more to build the hype for their announcment than Apple did (let's face it, most of the Apple hype was from people who let their imaginations get the better of them and then blamed Apple for not delivering the world on a plate).

[former Sega employee @ Mar 8th 2006 6:05PM]

to comment #10.

That's why they sell screen protectors for the psp.
I have had mine since launch (Japan) and it still looks new and scratch-free.

[thatishorrible @ Mar 8th 2006 6:06PM]

Great - so as you type the whole device will rock side to side in your hands, real nice. I really don't understand the appeal of these tablet devices. They are too large to replace my BlackBerry and too small to replace my 12" Powerbook. I can type alot faster than I can write, so I will always prefer a full size keyboard, and I don't care for voice recognition as I don't want everyone around me to hear what I am doing. I think Apple is wise not jumping into this mess, I think that MS is creating a product for a market that doesn't exist. While a neat concept, a tablet PC is not practical and will not replace my PowerBook.

[Ben @ Mar 8th 2006 6:08PM]

wow!! BEST INVENTION EVER !!! ON SCREEN KEBOARD ...

seriously Microsoft, get some real HUI designers, this is just embarrassing.

[DC @ Mar 8th 2006 6:10PM]

"I just really hope that, if this is indeed all Origami is, that Engadget savages it as badly as they did the recent Apple launch"

No need. There are PLENTY of commenters here who have been doing just that for several days now. They have been straining at the leash to sneer at anything and everything Origami-related from the get-go.

[gamgear @ Mar 8th 2006 6:10PM]

these things are starting to look alot like the old Sega Gamegear - feels like we are going backwards....

[Peter @ Mar 8th 2006 6:11PM]

The only thing I want out of this is a cheaper Dell Latitude X1 or Sony Vaio.

A touchscreen UI is for things that fit in my pocket, when it gets bigger, give it a decent keyboard.

[wxrman @ Mar 8th 2006 6:14PM]

Come on guys!

I can type without looking at the keys... put the damned keyboard on the BACK of this thing... maybe curve it a bit, so we can grasp it easier..

...and what's with the corners? Why put corners on an object that we grasp with out roundy hands...

Microsoft needs to steal some Apple ergo engineers... instead of everything else they steal from them.

[The Hague @ Mar 8th 2006 6:15PM]

What market is this for? DWP workers in the field? In 'N Out Drive-Thru pads?

You CANNOT take desktop technology and cram it into these small (?) devices.

The metaphor has to be rethunk and rebuilt from the ground up.

Look, either Apple will carve markets around what cell phones can/cannot do, or, they will make a cell phone.

Game's over. Cupertino won.

[mike @ Mar 8th 2006 6:27PM]

i agree with some of you here in that, i cannot see any good use for this... there will be no real sized market for this item and the prices are gonna be way to high... i've been following this origami thing a little bit (and others like it) and im hear that these will go roughly in the range of 800 to 1000 bucks... shit for that price i could buy a half decent laptop... all of the popular handheld devices out IMO have there intended purpose and then the extras.. ipod - mp3... smartphone - phone... psp - gaming... where will this fit into anyone life usefully... it might be cool if the right side of it had a slide out keyboard or something, but they wouldnt be able to fit all that in without oversizing it or reducing its power/features.... then again i'll never step in the way of technology, this could lead to some other amazing device in 5 or 10 years...

[Peter @ Mar 8th 2006 6:34PM]

Wouldn't this be a better use of a device that size. I know it would be for me.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/52/Sonyvaiosub1.jpg/686px-Sonyvaiosub1.jpg

[Mark Galvan @ Mar 8th 2006 6:44PM]

I've got a bunch of Honeywell WebPads (National Geode) that run Windows CE which are very similar. They're great. I can use the on-screen keyboard or handwriting recognition. I will be buying an UMPC.

[Karl @ Mar 8th 2006 6:50PM]

Don't know if someones already mentioned, but the on-screen keyboard should at least be transparent to a certain degree!!!

[Roy Morris @ Mar 8th 2006 6:50PM]

I finnally get why this isnt just a mini tablet. Touch screen! Now i think this is a cool product, when i wasnt convinced before. but i wonder how its gunna work with the stylus and be touch screen cause your hand touches when you use teh stylus. Hmm juts have to see how it pans out. Basically these umpcs are crap, but cool crap. Cant wait till its at the 500 dollar range!

[Dennis @ Mar 8th 2006 6:58PM]

I like that Asus in the link. I'm interested increasingly in this form factor and if I explain why, maybe, just maybe at least one of you will understand me and proceed to flame me.

I have a laptop and two desktops. But there are a lot of times I need to access files but not input a lot of information. I was thinking about getting a cPc or oqo, but I was concerned about straining my eyes. Also, the idea of carrying around a one pound 5" metal brick doesn't excite me. But I don't want another laptop, I want something that can work on its own, instant on, and fully dockable to a kb/m, etc.

I have a nice pocket PC, but I don't like using it. I don't know why. Maybe because I have to move all my files over and worry about synchronizing them all, so I never put anything useful in there. I know I don't need it, because I don't know where it is for days at a time.

The UPMC is never going to be an adult's first computer. But it could be someone's second, third, or fourth computer. Kind of like an Apple mini (which also drew much scorn and disgust) but with a battery and a touchscreen. And Windows, which is, if nothing else, finally stable.

Do I represent a big market? I don't think so. But I'll check out a UPMC if it comes in under the cPc and OQO by $500 to $1000. It's not like I need a cPc or OQO to begin with.

I'll say it. I'm more interested than I was when I first heard about this UPMC Origami crap. I know I'm being sucked in by the hype, but I can't help it. I'm a wretch. Woe.

[Beowulf @ Mar 8th 2006 7:09PM]

Typically bad design from Microsoft. Too big, too expensive, square corners where you hold the device to type ... with your thumbs (sure to create even more thumb-stress than a BlackBerry) ... and I guess they don't plan for women with fingernails to be able to use this amazing device.

Must be nice to have so much money to waste.

[Special_K @ Mar 8th 2006 7:14PM]

Looks awfully easy to hit the start button accidentaly when typing...

[jollyllama @ Mar 8th 2006 7:20PM]

Am I the only one that doesn't trust anything said in forums praising Origami? I mean, if I were running the most high profile viral marketting scheme in history, I'd certainly be filling these boards with "oh, that looks awesome" posts...

[TIMMAH! @ Mar 8th 2006 7:20PM]

Not exactly sure what the market is for this. What problem is this device really trying to solve? Tablet PCs always seemed to be a solution looking for a problem. This doesn't seem to be any different. Okay so they've made it smaller, lighter, with a bit more battery life, and now it runs a full version of XP as opposed to some brain-dead version of CE. Seems rather evolutionary rather than revolutionary. I guess if you really can't carry around a small notebook, or you work for some census agency then this is for you.

Now, if they wanted to get it somewhere useful, make a nice slideout DIN-sized case for it and take over the carputer market.

[Aaron B @ Mar 8th 2006 7:22PM]

Does this mean that the touchscreen is multi-touch capable? IE you can touch two things at once? Thats pretty big news if so. Seems like that UI wouldn't work without a multi-touch interface.

[Me @ Mar 8th 2006 7:28PM]

"7. Rip-off, they copy everything...Apple patented the thumb UI in 1956.

Posted at 5:42PM on Mar 8th 2006 by Razor"

SHUT DA F UP!

[Ro Ley @ Mar 8th 2006 7:34PM]

OK! Try this experiment (seriously)

Put your hands in the air like you're holding the device. Now, using your thumbs, type

T-H-I-S-_-I-S-_-H-A-R-D

That transition from the H to the I is crazy...too difficult for the average user.

[brian @ Mar 8th 2006 7:35PM]

A REAL announcement would be for transcribing software that can actually read my terrible handwriting on a tablet pc.

[Steffest @ Mar 8th 2006 7:45PM]

Quite funny how you guys sneer at everything that's remotely related to Microsoft :-)

For me: I've been waiting for a device like this for years! Offcourse not as a primary, or even secondary PC, but as a media companion on the road and interface-connection in-house.
I want to watch a movie on the train on a larger screen than my pocket PC - without booting up a laptop.
I want to sit in my couch - skimming through some emails - again: a laptop is too cumbersome.
I want to hang a device on the wall as touch interface to control music/radio playback, control the ligths, present some pictures, program the PVR ...
This type of device is perfect - As for the design: wait some time until someone gets it right, and buy an extra battery.
the moment these things hit the stores - I'll be there!

Did you see the video at http://news.com.com/1606-2_3-6047223.html?part=rss&tag=6047223&subj=news
Now that's a nice interface ...

[Kevin @ Mar 8th 2006 7:46PM]

I think that keyscreen may be hard to handle as well. there's no way a person with small hands will be able to type effectivley on that.

Theres some more info on this story here. It also seems that the "leaked" pic actually was running a real OS as ASUS has a device that is running it on display.
http://www.origamiportal.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=18

[slacker @ Mar 8th 2006 7:46PM]

I'm really glad that all of you work for tech companies that design these products. They should start scouring message boards for all you that seem to be such a great backseat drivers. I mean, it's not like they hire qualified people to do these jobs. I wish you all had something better to do...

[Razor @ Mar 8th 2006 7:54PM]

Typing using a scroll wheel will be soooooo much superior, simply use your thumb to scroll through the alphabet and the numbers until you get to the one you want, then click the center!
Go Apple! I can't wait for your $3500 tablet!

[J Fish @ Mar 8th 2006 8:01PM]

I am a self-proclaimed techno-gadget fiend. I read engadget and other various techie blogs DAILY hungry for new toys and new info leading to newer toys. I am also an early adopter....but Im not really too excited about this UMPC Origami thing. I mean I want one. ButI am not really excited because of past experiences with all gadgets. I dont think I will early adopt anymore. I will wait out for the second generation of these devices that may include windows vista.

[J Fish @ Mar 8th 2006 8:04PM]

Also all these protoypes I have seen so far look like TOTAL shit from a design standpoint. I mean the sexiest gadgets of all time (not ALL time cuz Im not old enough to really know..so I guess of modern day would be better) would include, almost anything by Apple, Nintendo DS Lite, Sony PSP, etc...but these protoype UMPC's are butt ugly. They gotta come better. I really hope they surprise me tomorrow.

[shinyhat @ Mar 8th 2006 8:20PM]

A PC so small, yet so useless.

Back to the drawing boards, as*holes.

[Tim @ Mar 8th 2006 8:23PM]

Man... we already have Blackberry thumb, now Origami thumb? My fingers can only take so much...

[Dan @ Mar 8th 2006 8:23PM]

Over-hype? What over-hype? A couple of websites from MS and Intel that don't say a thing amounts to over-hype? A bunch of the rumors and speculation being printed by the likes of Engadget and a bunch of bloggers don't amount to over-hype any more than it did when people were accusing Apple of it a few days ago. (though if Apple had anounced something like this all the fanboys here would be having a cow, this seems to be Apple fanboy central anymore)

And you people speculating on how it'll be impossible to use and all the blah, blah, blah, you've obviously never used a tablet pc and don't know any of the input features that they have. They're quit functional, and the Origami part of this are probably OS enhancements anyways.

[Zorg @ Mar 8th 2006 8:35PM]

I'm not grokking the morons who say they've been waiting for this. Why didn't you already get a Sony U750P (or U71P) or a Nokia 770 or an OQO or a Dialog Flybook or a Sharp Zaurus or whatever????

So far they haven't shown anything new. All they've done is show vague pictures of old-looking stuff and say "Hey, we're the big boys!" Is that what's got you all hot and bothered?

[MC @ Mar 8th 2006 9:17PM]

Umm... i have a psp, and it can do all of the stuff they boast about in the cnet video. Except the obvious, like the USB ports, and camera. But, what else is this but a glorified psp, made huge? Whats the point?

I maybe wrong, but this seems totally useless.

[John Hinds @ Mar 8th 2006 9:19PM]

If the keyboard looks like that how am I going to see what i'm typing?

Do I have to resize all my windows into the tiny space that is left when I type?

Pfft!

[Michael @ Mar 8th 2006 9:25PM]

Has anybody here though for half a second that YOU ARE NOT THE MARKET for this? This is going to be marketted directly at people who own Blackberries!

It's too big to fit in your pocket, but it's perfect for a briefcase. This makes the folks happy that don't want to carry around a laptop. Your briefcase is with you always, so that doesn't matter.

Many older people (ie. senior executives, CEOs) complain that the text on Blackberries is too small to read comfortably. This is perfect for them. They've already figured out how to type with their thumbs, how is this any different? The learning curve is very, very slight.

Does anyone remember here how Blackberries infiltrated your company? They got in through the back door! The CEO demanded one, the IT guys provided. The CEO thought it was great, and 'suggested' that all of the senior executive get one. They liked it, and issued an edict that every manager and above would get one. It's going to be the same thing with this device, especially with pro-Microsoft shops.

Expect to see things like docking stations, wireless keyboards/mice, etc., etc. for this. Perhaps companies will start issuing these instead of laptops if they're powerful enough, and I expect they will be. We don't like the 3 hour battery life, but that's pretty much what you can expect out of a laptop so there's no difference here.

I'll place a wager that within a year many of you will be supporting these like you're supporting Blackberries right now.

[smap @ Mar 8th 2006 9:47PM]

#43, right on. It's possible this isn't aimed at the average tech. consumer.

Check out: http://www.msorigamiforums.com/showthread.php?t=51

Personally I'm still on the fence. I'm not condemning it nor will I be the first in line to buy one.

[Gavin @ Mar 8th 2006 10:40PM]

I've been saying for years a 7" tablet would be the perfect form factor. I have a long, long list of things I want to use one of these for.

A couple of the things I would like it for:
Small, HD capture system for my HD camera. And portable DVRack system.
Home sattelite interface for media center.
Virtual white board while in the field. (I cary around a 12" whiteboard right now, takes up a lot of space.)
Note pad.
Warcraft II gaming station (Yes some of us still enjoy the oldies.)
and
Document reader.

[Adam @ Mar 8th 2006 10:41PM]

Honestly, this is exactly what I've been looking for, provided the price is right.

I want a device that I can browse the web or chat on IM from the couch. I want a device that I can use as a "base station" for my MP3 player or digital camera on a trip.

A small form factor notebook CAN work for these roles, but they aren't ideal. Take my being lazy on the couch. If I'm watching TV and aren't actually involved in the web at the moment, I don't want to have a notebook sitting on my lap. On the flipside, I want to easily respond to any incoming instant message. A device with the from factor of a paperback is perfect because I can sit it on the table with one hand and pick it up the same way. Notebooks are awkward to handle with one hand due to the concentration of weight near the back from the screen orientation. Keep in mind, this thing is SMALL. It's about half the size of a Dell 700m at 6x8inches (700m is 8.5x11.7). I'm estimating that the screen itself is about 7" diagonal (assuming 1 inch per side for borders and I think the reality is probably less than that.)

I don't do anything that would require the full capabilities of a notebook, but a pocketpc is too small for what I want a mobile computer for.

Also, there IS an advantage in this over something like a PSP or a blackberry. The full web without compromises. This is the big hook. Since this runs full windows XP, you will never have to worry if some site isn't going to work or if you can get the proper plugin for multimedia content. Ditto for any media. Sure video compatibility will probably be limited from the no boot player, but I could always boot into windows and run VLC if I wanted to to play virtually any content. I could also use VLC to stream content directly from my replayTV through wifi.

Then there's no worries about getting a decent IM application for the platform. I can just copy my trillian directly on to the device and I'm ready to go.

This thing is not intended to replace PDAs in any way shape or form. It's intended to fill the niche under the tablet PC for people who really like the idea of a tablet PC but think they are too cumbersome to work with and cart around.

The key is going to be price. If it's priced the same as 12" notebooks, it's hard to justify the purchase. If this thing can be had for significantly under $1000, it starts to make more sense.

Not everyone wants or needs a full blown notebook to be unchained from their desktop. At the same time, those people won't be able to get everything they want from a PDA type device.

[mark @ Mar 8th 2006 10:50PM]

To #40
Apple's invitation said "Come and see some fun products"
Origami Project website said "will change your life"

Who is over-hyping again?