Video: Hands-on with Microsoft's Origami Experience 2.0

We had high hopes that the Origami Experience 2.0 would be more than just two apps and a new password system, but we were pretty disappointed when we spent some time playing with it at Microsoft's booth. Picture Password, Origami Central and Origami Now were running on a variety of UMPCs, including the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium, Fujitsu U810, Kohjinsha SH-series, and our demo unit, an HTC Shift, and while everything pretty much worked as advertised, it certainly wasn't an "experience" -- and probably the least fun we've had with OE in a long time. Check out a bunch of screenshots in the gallery, and make sure to catch the video of a Vista dev manager telling us that Origami Now and Central aren't "launchers" and that HD DVD is doing "just fine" after the break.

Update: Video's back now -- sorry for the delay, we had to fly back from Vegas sometime!

Gallery: Origami Experience 2.0

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[David @ Jan 11th 2008 7:28AM]

I'm confused, you have IE7 and another Origami browser, presumably still using the IE7 rendering engine?

[michael @ Jan 11th 2008 4:56PM]

Yeah, they're basically just 2 different looks of IE7.

You have the regular desktop one, running with all the features and everything.

Then you have the one for Origami, where it runs in a more simplified mode, with the basic tools at the top, and the whole web page right under. It runs in IE7 full screen mode so you can see the web page really big.

I think the Origami (IE7) browser is more to keep in the line with the Origami 'Experience'. The Origami Experience is more like a user-friendly, on-the-go style of mobile computing, instead of the usual running a copy of Windows on a super small PC.

I like Origami (unlike some people) and can't wait to try it.

[bob e @ Jan 11th 2008 7:30AM]

Looks pretty good to me. That HTC Shift will be my next PC :>

[Lotus22 @ Jan 11th 2008 7:33AM]

Is it just me or does this guy hate Microsoft?

[Hal @ Jan 11th 2008 8:00AM]

Well this is Engadget

[Geir E @ Jan 11th 2008 8:04AM]

When someone is not impressed with the changes between v1 and v2 of a product, and expresses that - that is not "hate microsoft", that is regular critisism.

[Geir E @ Jan 11th 2008 8:05AM]

When someone is not impressed with the changes between v1 and v2 of a product, and expresses that - that is not "hate microsoft", that is regular critisism.

[John @ Jan 11th 2008 12:14PM]

all I got from the post was that they used some mysterious software, got bored, and wrote this. I have no idea what anything mentioned here is, though I can guess what "picture password" is.

[Jake @ Jan 11th 2008 12:36PM]

It's only criticism when valid reasons are given. Until we get a reason explaining what's wrong with the software it's just old-fashioned Engadget MS bashing.

[Nilay Patel @ Jan 11th 2008 7:42PM]

Calling two different home screen apps an "Experience 2.0" is ridiculous -- and I challenge anyone to find anything particularly compelling in this demo. It's basically just bigger icons.

[Callemin @ Jan 11th 2008 8:13AM]

Mmm, where is the video as in the title ?

[Jakob @ Jan 11th 2008 8:36AM]

And where is the break? :D

I don't think I'll any UMPC, because it's smaller than a notebook, but to large to fit in a pocket. Maybe one day when they fit it in an iPhone size, and I don't think I'm alone?

[Josef @ Jan 11th 2008 9:21AM]

@Jakob

Not me. The iPhone is just too small for any kind of satisfying computing experience (although, now that I've typed it, I'm not entirely sure what that phrase means). The nice thing about a UMPC is that you can slip it into a briefcase or messenger bag and carry it around, unlike a laptop which forces you to carry around a separate bag for it and all its plugs and adapters and whatnot.

[Josef @ Jan 11th 2008 9:24AM]

@Jakob

Not me. The iPhone is just too small for any kind of satisfying computing experience (although, now that I've typed it, I'm not entirely sure what that phrase means). The nice thing about a UMPC is that you can slip it into a briefcase or messenger bag and carry it around, unlike a laptop which forces you to carry around a separate bag for it and all its plugs and adapters and whatnot.


(Sorry if this is a double post. My first one seems to have vanished. Engadget experiencing technical difficukties?)

[Benz145 @ Jan 11th 2008 8:24AM]

Can everyone else not see the video?

[System48 @ Jan 11th 2008 8:45AM]

Will people have to pay for the extra fish?

[webon @ Jan 11th 2008 9:22AM]

And I really thought EG was going to do a real analysis of a MS product... hehe my bad.

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Jan 11th 2008 9:24AM]

Engadget should have a glossary of terms so I can stop asking, "What is *insert name*?"

What the hell is Origami? I know Origami is paper folding art; but what is the software? Is it just a web browser for little computers?

[Zoesch @ Jan 11th 2008 9:59AM]

Origami is to Vista what Bob was to Windows 3.11

[Andy S. @ Jan 11th 2008 10:10AM]

At this point, I think it's accurate to define Origami as "a steaming turd".

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Jan 11th 2008 10:44AM]

What the hell is "Bob"?

[Datacide @ Jan 11th 2008 1:24PM]

Johnathon:
Useless software, but fun to poke around in

[stephenbratz2 @ Jan 11th 2008 3:09PM]

Bob was that Microsoft product that not too many people used but everybody has an opinion about. The thing about Bob is that it sold more than a product personally designed by Steve Jobs called the Lisa, but nobody says anything about that. The Apple fans try to scuttle that fiasco, but hold up Bob as a complete failure to try to prove their worth.

[Saad Rabia @ Jan 11th 2008 9:52AM]

WHERE IS THE VIDEO?!!!?!?! :(

[Meltz @ Jan 11th 2008 12:58PM]

I'd love to "tap" that picture password

[Camperton @ Jan 11th 2008 2:26PM]

No video.

[Camperton @ Jan 11th 2008 2:28PM]

no video

[Jeff Lewis @ Jan 11th 2008 4:17PM]

Like I said: nice demo, but like the original OEs... not really useful. When I got my UMPC, I was excited by the touchscreen (still am actually) and with more and more devices showing up with a touchscreen, we need to start seeing apps that are designed for 'fat finger' UI, but OE is really underwhelming.

It's really just a pushbutton front end. There's nothing really clever or innovative - nothing that *improves* the user experience or makes using the computer easier or even more enjoyable for the most part.

Like I said - they have to go talk to the Surface people and see what they're doing. A touchscreen PC can't do everything a Surface can, but some of the ideas there can be migrated to touch.

[bernard @ Jan 11th 2008 4:55PM]

this guy in the video sounds like the Tech Support guys that always answer when I call Microsoft

[Robert @ Jan 11th 2008 7:23PM]

I played with it and think it is pretty cool. Super easy internet touch navigation with zero incompatibility like MID thingies. Engadget may not have taken the time to understand.

[Jonathan @ Jan 11th 2008 8:08PM]

They aren't "launchers" and he doesn't say HD DVD is doing "just fine"...

If it was Steve Jobs showing the same UI but for a mini MBP with a touch screen you guys would be drooling all over yourselves...

[Nilay Patel @ Jan 11th 2008 9:11PM]

He did say HD DVD was doing "just fine," looks like we cut the video a little early. It was a pretty funny moment, actually -- we all laughed.

[doubleyewdee @ Jan 11th 2008 9:22PM]

So .. you asked a dev manager on an operating system about a media format to have a good laugh at his response? How hard are you trying to look unprofessional and discourteous? This is a little like asking an engineer at GM how he feels about the success of Boeing's 787. He should not be expected to know or care.

This whole article, because of that little jab, just smacks of rudeness and arrogance and a predispotion against what you are "reviewing" -- it's like every day I come to this site the articles get worse and more biased. You're out trolling some guy on the floor to get a laugh at him about something that isn't even his product. Congratulations on being a jerk.

[Nilay Patel @ Jan 11th 2008 10:14PM]

We weren't trying to "get a laugh," and it happened while we spent 15+ minutes talking to the dev about Origami and touch products -- it's an off-the-cuff remark that all of us found amusing.

[jibba jabba @ Jan 11th 2008 11:26PM]

wow that was a pretty lame review Nilay. How about some explanation as to why you were disappointed? what did you expect or hope for? Your review sounds like you are hating just to hate.
The video looks pretty cool. I like the concept of the origami...i don't think they've hit exactly what i'm looking for but they are getting close. My gripe is Windows vista UI as is isn't made for small portable touchscreen electronics. Such devices really need a more customized UI to make it user friendly. This looks like a step in the right direction and looks like quite a bit of thought was put into it. I'd like to see some tweaks to make Office app's more touchscreen friendly. With the ribbons it lends itself a little more.

[wayne @ Jan 17th 2008 3:03PM]

This looks really interesting. I was especially taken by the touch browsing. I've been touch browsing on the iPod touch and find the experience lacking. I can't see flash animations or have any plug-ins (non Apple plug-ins). Since Origami is running IE7 the experience should be richer.

Picture password is revolutionary! What an amazing idea! Who says Microsoft doesn't inovate?