Microsoft unleashes the Origami Experience 2.0

We're not really sure you can call a new home screen and app launcher an "experience," but considering the point of a UMPC is to run bog-standard Windows, we suppose Microsoft has to take what it can get. The Origami Experience 2.0 consists of three elements as of right now: Origami Central, a revamped browser / media interface / RSS reader, another centralized home app called Origami Now (pictured) which drops in weather, email, and to-do widgets as well as an RSS reader, and, uh, Picture Password, which replaces the traditional password with a cartoon puzzle. Yep. Apparently there's more, but the Origami team hasn't posted more on its blog -- but you know we'll try and pry some more deets out of them on the CES show floor tomorrow.

[Via jkkmobile]

[Matt @ Jan 8th 2008 5:14AM]

Looks nice.. Makes sense that UMPC's would have 2 separate interfaces: One that's just plain old windows and one that's optimized for the UMPC platform..

Now microsoft need to produce an interface like that on the next windows mobile release and I don't think anyone could complain..

[Miles @ Jan 8th 2008 5:19AM]

Trying to make the iphone interface more complicated while still looking simple?
I like it, but nothing is better than the original.

[Matt @ Jan 8th 2008 5:31AM]

Seriously, what part of this looks even a little like the iPhone UI? give me some examples...

Personally, i call BS on anything you've ever said or will say, fanboy...

[Miles @ Jan 8th 2008 5:35AM]

Easy, it's simplistic, fading black that is semi transparent, it is a UMPC just like the iphone.
Isn't it obvious?

[Matt @ Jan 8th 2008 9:30PM]

Apple didn't invent simplistic UI's, and a simplistic UI can be pulled off in any number of ways. In this case, the UI retains simplicity, while looking entirely different to the iPhone UI. Now, fading black: ALSO NOT INVENTED BY APPLE!

As for the iphone being the UMPC: not quite. The iPhone is just a mobile phone, not even a smart phone, let alone a UMPC. Infact the UMPC predates the iPhone (UMPC 2006, iPhone 2007), so by your logic the iPhone is a rip off of the UMPC.

And if you care to look here (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4c/Origamitpi.jpg) you'll see that this screenshot of dialkeys (an aspect of the UMPC UI) from 2006 shows fading black transparency, so once again, by your logic, the iPhone is a rip off of the UMPC once again.

Personally, I don't believe the iPhone is a rip off of the UMPC, it's a rather unique device that has inspired many new products. It forced mobile phone developers to create device that are more like MID's with built in phone features to compete with apple, something I don't think anyone could complain about.

[Argot @ Jan 8th 2008 6:23AM]

Can you cut n' paste on it yet?

[Mikeo @ Jan 8th 2008 6:33AM]

One big difference:

iPhone users barely have usable brains left for comments after pointing out the "interface".

[Rk @ Jan 8th 2008 6:46AM]

Mikeo, we're not all like that! Some of us just liked it and don't think that every UMPC, mobile phone and toaster is a rip-off of it!

[Richard Barrs @ Jan 8th 2008 7:18AM]

When I see posts like this, I think to myself...
This man is suffering from:

Jobs-Erection-Syndrome
Symptoms - 4 Hour long erection on seeing Jobs, iPhone, iPod or even the Apple logo - random mutterings of "iPhone interface", delusions of being the first to discover ancient Apple Technology - Thinks Vista sucks because they saw it on an Ad.

Common Mis-Diagnosis - Subjects can seem semi intelligent when saying, "No Registry" until that is followed with "interface"

[Chris @ Jan 8th 2008 7:30AM]

everything you say is invalid because LG had the "iPhone" interface before the iPhone. So go die in a fire.

[Alan Partridge @ Jan 8th 2008 7:26AM]

Seems similar to what Nokia have on their Internet Tablets

[Fernando @ Jan 8th 2008 4:15PM]

I also thought N810 when I saw it, looks good!

[DrXym @ Jan 8th 2008 8:50AM]

UMPCs have been a total flop. Too expensive, too power hungry and running an OS ill-suited to the form factor. On top of that the likes of the Asus Eee PC and OLPC demonstrate that you can make teeny tiny computers for much less than a UMPC. What chance does something like a Fujitsu u810 stand when an only slightly larger Eee PC costs less than half as much?

[Neoprimal @ Jan 8th 2008 10:20AM]

I don't think it's exactly fair to compare them both though I mean...the Eee PC is fine, mind you - but I have no use for 4/8gb of space for anything more than music/very light computing. I'd probably not have any argument at all if the Eee PC came with a standard sized drive, anything over 30gb. But as it is currently, it's really just a fad and gimmick right now. People buying it must not realize that you can actually pick up real laptops for just $50 more OR, are just enjoying early adopters glory. I can buy a smartphone for that price that has the same capabilities. In this case, you're sacrificing power for no reason ie: can buy a laptop(more power, bigger size), or can buy a smartphone(less power, smaller size)...there's no valuepoint.

The UMPC represents very close to full blown computing in an ultracompact form factor. It's a different breed altogether, focussing on a different generation. I'd think of this device for the young professionals who prefer smaller devices and require less mobile computing power that an actual laptop. A device for emailing, productivity and multimedia that has a good amount of hard drive space. More than smartphone can offer but only mildly less than an actual laptop can. You're valuepoint here is size, as you have an ultracompact computer at 1/4 the size at 2x the cost. I don't think it's flopped - it just doesn't appeal to those of us who are value minded.

Now don't confuse my argument here for defending the UMPC per se, as I'm not. I would never buy either of these devices - BUT if I was getting a choice of ONE for free, I'd choose the UMPC for sure.

[Joe V @ Jan 8th 2008 9:06AM]

I would like to hope that Apple would never put such illegible translucent panels in their products. (Even the Leopard menubar isn't that bad.) I'm sure it's a lovely photo and all, but it might also be nice to read those news headlines or that weather forecast without killing my eyes.

[I Love Art @ Jan 8th 2008 9:57AM]

Props to Andy Goldsworthy.

[GioNYC @ Jan 8th 2008 10:33AM]

It looks like Apple's Widgets.

[OneLove @ Jan 8th 2008 11:24AM]

still waiting for Origami Experience 1.0

[John @ Jan 8th 2008 12:14PM]

wait, a password managed with a picture puzzle? Wasn't that already done in the movie Safe House, starring Patrick Stewart?

[Jeff Lewis @ Jan 8th 2008 1:45PM]

Mmmm, pretty - but still feels like a demo app, just like Origami Experience 1.0 does.

Cluttered and visually noisy - not aimed at solving any specific problems, rather just cramming a lot of stuff in one box with glassy effects. Here's a test - rotate the UMPC's screen into portrait mode and see what happens to OE2 - OE1 dies.

I still don't see anything that really makes good use of the touch screen interface other than as a mouse click replacement. They need to talk to the Surface people - badly.

[dean @ Jan 8th 2008 7:31PM]

Hey, its no wonder that they copy Apple's interface. It sells. Why try to go do something new when you can copy the other guy and also meet some success?

[keithwwalker @ Jan 8th 2008 9:30PM]

The UI looks slick. Too bad I am saddled with the WM6 interface. I would much rather have something like that on my HTC Advantage smart phone(running 640x480 vga)

Too bad the industry is convinced you shouldn't have a device that functions as an UMPC/business pda, entertainment device AND phone.

Say what you will about the iPhone, at least is does 2/4 of those functions.

[Brad Goldsmith @ Jan 9th 2008 3:50PM]

Why doesn't Microsoft spend its money fixing that big mistake...vista.

[JARSInc @ Jan 11th 2008 1:58AM]

What I wouldn't do for something that looks this usable on Windows Mobile...

[Harry @ Jan 14th 2008 12:20AM]

Looks like Microsoft Bob on steroids to me.