It looks likes someone at Microsoft is terribly sloppy with where they leave their important files sitting around.
Gizmodo has gotten its hands on two images allegedly of the
Pink smartphones that we've been hearing about lately. If you believe your orbs, these represent two distinct iterations of devices which the big M is looking at. Taking a glance at the renders, it's clear that at least one model is that Pre-like phone
we spied the other day, supposedly (and creatively) codenamed "Turtle." The other device is dubbed the "Pure," and unfortunately for Microsoft, looks like the G1 having a bad hair day... in 1988. Both devices bear a kind of child-like, simplistic look, which actually makes us wonder if these aren't some concept pieces geared toward the youth market. As
Giz says, "Project Pink is Microsoft's new phone for regular people," and "Pink will be primarily aimed at the same market as the Sidekick." Much of that info jibes almost exactly with the news Mary-Jo Foley recently speculated on. Then again, with all the heat the company has been getting about this top secret project, these could very well be reference designs (as opposed to proper models) for a forthcoming lineup of devices. Whatever the case may be, we're definitely underwhelmed from an industrial design standpoint. If this is Microsoft's play for the mainstream consumer smartphone buyer, they've got a pretty big boulder to push uphill.
posted Sep 23rd 2009 7:26PM
Good god, maybe it should've remained hidden.
And is that a dedicated emoticon button? Jesus christ.
I know. It's FUGLY isn't it?
Does this... strange shape device fit into a pocket?
it looks like the palm pre had a partial abortion
Hey Microsoft, you ever heard of the Zune HD. Ya think that might make a good phone compared to these hideous creatures?
@ZuneSucks : Hey! I own 1000 shares of GMmmohMyGOD!
I am so broke..
PS : Couldn't agree more.. ZuneHD + radios = win
Did anyone notice the xbox color scheme? ...........chance? i think not.
Jesus... this is one hideous phone lmao!
Interestingly enough (more like conveniently), Engadget decided to go with Pic 1 of the rumored pink project phones.
Here is Pic 2 : http://www.neowin.net/images/uploaded/pinkphonetwo.jpg
That does the Pink project more justice, but still could use some refinement.
Doesn't really matter though, as WM7 backed with Tegra/Snapdragon hardware on a Chassis 1/2 device is what really matters down the line.
That's (WM7) where Microsoft's main focus will be, 1000+ developers speaks volumes:
http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=7795#idc-container
I really hope this ends up being false info. If not, ah well - It was good while it lasted, Microsoft!
I think we're all over looking the facts here.
It's aimed at youth - probably high school kids, It's not a top of the line smartphone meant to compete with the likes of Palm, Apple, Android and Blackberry. Despite it's many flaws - that's Widows Mobile's job.
Microsoft is trying to capitalize in a consumer segment where Windows Mobile hasn't really been a hit - teenagers.
I don't know what the hell they were thinking when they designed the "turtle", but the "pure" does seem to be on par with what Sidekick is offering at the moment, possibly even better.
Having said that, I still want my Zune Phone.
Now.
that shit looks like the Pre that had too much to eat.
How dense can you all be? These phones AREN'T FOR US.
These phones are for those feature-phone buying normies who don't even know what an engadget is.
Right now I'm loling at everyone who was wondering how microsoft would make a device that would compete with all the WinMo manufacturers. Eh, turns out they're not.
Yeah, the secret is out. Now everyone knows WinMo OEM business is DEAD!
The whole world has learned that HTC got stabbed in the back by MS.
Good one Pizzahut (aka Paradox, aka Thomas R)
Keep posting your same tired message under different guises and maybe one person might start listening to you. Your post history is a sad sight.
There must be better things to do with your time right?
This phone is so ugly, I am led to one of two logical conclusions:
(1) The project Pink people have lost their damn minds
(2) These "accidentally leaked" photos are a ruse, so that when the real phones are revealed everyone will go "ooooooo" and "aaaaaah"
Damn thing is like tamagotchi. It is so outdated and stupid looking that Microsoft probably wants to market for immature kids.
I bet Balmer salivate over this thing hahahahahahahahaha.
Am I the only one who thinks this is not the most beautiful of devices?
yes, yes you are the only one.
Definitely the only one, these phones are pug fugly!
If you have a mangina, yes.
@arcticpenguins
I see what you did there. You are right, Imo, this looks crap. ZUNE HD PHONE PLEASE.
Oh by the way, everyone on top of me failed
I think you guys might want to read this comment again...
it looks like a slider burger phone.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2369/2209809782_01a756f16e.jpg?v=0
"everyone on top of me failed"....that's what she said!!!!!
Doh' I've been duped once again. Long day at work, total fail on my part!
Well played, Slutty. The first time I actually lol'd at that joke.
I like it. Its obvious this is designed more for chat then using it as a phone. It looks small and compact.
I love it when irony gets highly ranked lol
Oh yeah, the phone looks great! You just need to get over the involuntary gag reflex every time you pull it out of your pocket...
Why don't they just grab the Zune HD and add a phone to it? It can't be that hard can it? If they need more space, they can just make it thicker. Anything but this POS.
i was waiting for you to post this. you guys are slower than the competition...
Gizmodo? Ewww
Eww perhaps but gizmodo seems to be on top of stuff like this lately. . . while the En has been a few steps behind
@Kevin -- Really? You must not read the site much.
Perhaps I'm a little upset that unworthy Gizmodo has had a few cool articles this week before the far superior Engadget (imo) so I could just be venting and be wrong.....but me thinks that we will see a Jabra Stone Article here shortly with a Gizmodo citation. . .
Dude, look a few posts down, Engadget's hit the new Jabra already.
Giz, like a lot of Gawker blogs run things too quick and don't fact check nearly enough (imho). Engadget gets some stuff quicker and some stuff slower, but I can trust this site more than the evil G one.
And yes, I'm with you. I cringe when I see a Giz ad there. If Engadget did a Deal of the Day type thing, I don't think I'd even have Giz on my rss feeds
If you don't have Engadget and Gizmodo on your top two gadget sites to visit, you're no gadget/tech lover, just a fanboy.
Introducing.. the Palm Pre-pubescent.
yikes!
No dedicated Windows button?
I know it's a minor thing, but I'd expect it to be there.
Looks like a fat loser Pre. Try again.
If this is really from microsoft they not only fail on product design, they fail at the above render. The fact that the QWERTY board is not rendered properly makes me think this is a fake.
God dammit. They made me like them with the Zune HD and the new Tablet concept, and now I just died a little inside. This looks like the Pre took a dump and somehow gave it a Sidekick's keyboard. Please God, let these images be fake!
OMGOSH IT'S JUST ASTONISHINGLY UGLY
WHY COULDNT THEY JUST THICKEN THE ZUNE HD AND TURN IT INTO THE BEST LOOKING PHONE ON MARKET
WHAT THE HECK MICRO$OFT
EPIC FAIL
I...think I'm color blind.
It looks so black. Wait, what was this about?
Yeah, saw this elsewhere.
Incredibly ugly.
I'm disappointed in your microsoft, I really am...
Suddenly its MY microsoft?
My sentiment exactly glazerorama! Yikes says it all.
actually, the Pure doesn't look too bad... they just need to redesign the keyboard a bit and it'll look pretty slick. a change in the color scheme wouldn't be too bad either, not really digging the lime green.
i was kind of hoping that the pure would be the Zune with a slide out keyboard... but i'm not entirely disappointed.
Reminds me alot of the Pam Pre!
good thing they are only concepts, they are a little too rounded and plastic looking. hopefully the real deal version of both of these devices will be in the same theme as the zune hd, just with an added camera, keyboard, and email / calendar solutions. if so and theyre on verizon, im sold day 1.
Hmm....I wouldn't think they'd completely change the concepts to look like the HD. Especially considering Sharp (sidekick) is making this. Makes sense they would be sliders made of plastic. The Turtle looks just like the leaked drawings that came out last week. It would be hard for MS to get something into production for early 2010 if they started back at square one.
This can't be!
Surely not.... c'mon... Ms puts out Zune HD... then leaks this? I hope these are no-longer-used designs that they're rethinking.
SWTCHR
I sincerely hope this concept rendering is the product of some student's boring afternoon in 3ds max...
It looks very fake to me. First off, the two portions of the turtle are not the same size. Notice how the top half is about 3/4 the size of the bottom half, but the dimensions across are correct. The buttons are made to look like they are 3D with the shine at the top of the button, but the bottom row (except for the green button) only has the shine on the top left portion only and the shine is very small relative to the upper buttons, while the green button has a large shine. There is a shine on the bottom left of the top slide-out part, a shine on the left, and a shine on the top left where is slopes inwards, if there was a light source causing this last shine, then it would also appear on the buttons on the bottom right. There is also a shine on the top left and bottom right of the button on the sliding part, which would appear on the other buttons. There are no gaps between the buttons and the white frame. The letter W has the left portion cut off. Zooming in, all the buttons have a shadow all around giving the appearance the buttons are raised up, except for the green button which has an upper shadow but no lower shadow and appears to just blend into the white. All the buttons that do not have a shift character have the text cenered on the button except the up arrow, which has no shift char and is left justified. For the screen, there is a large bevel on the top, left, and right, but you can also see a bevel on the bottom. At this angle you would not be able to see the bottom bevel. On the top portion that slides out, there appears to be an indentation that is not only not straight (there are waves on the right side), it starts well after the right curve and extends well beyond the left curve with some sections filled in. There are two small dots on the top right where a cell provider logo usually is - as if it were painted over. Just below these two dots there is a weird spot where there is no bevel, it is as if it were painted over. With oddly placed artifacts, such as the one on the bottom of the screen that appears in only one small area, it seems to me as if somebody took an existing phone picture, and modified it.
It should of became clear to you that they're just bashing the CONCEPT for high rankings. FGS look at the first 6 comments!
I believe this is just their prototype design. When comparing the new elegant Zune HD design to this Jitterbug phone, this is just embarrassing if this is the final version. I really hope that Microsoft can redesign their Xbox 360 using the same style as Zune HD.
And this is the core problem with Microsoft - lack of a strong ecosystem. XBox, Zune, WinMo, all split up - they need consistency.
If only they would work to keep the ZHD interface and add a phone, it would be great. If they had a solid platform for mobile devices? Greater. I'm no Apple fan (ZHD has a freaking sweet interface), but they kept consistency for their iPod Touch and iPhone, and they get - the App Store. Huge selling point. Not a prime example, but you see where this is going - consistency is key. If someone at MS decides that projects need to be pruned, research without purpose need to be .. given a purpose, and developing an ecosystem that works throughout is high priority, then life would be great. Maybe someone who's done this before...maybe someone who has killed old product lines and brought out a brand new OS for mobile phones...someone with that kind of experience. You know.
All those billions of dollars and this is the best that Microsoft comes up with? They need to go back to the drawing board on this one.
Though, it's not surprising as this is the same company that came up with "Bob."
I sincerely hope this is a joke.
That looks nothing like a pink phone from eXistenZ. Can't imagine Jude Law using that.
http://www.yourprops.com/view_item.php?movie_prop=12568
@arcticpenguins
I see what you did there. You are right, Imo, this looks crap. ZUNE HD PHONE PLEASE.
Oh by the way, everyone on top of me failed.
Goddammit. Comment system fail.
seriously microsoft. it's quite simple. you take the zune hd, and you add two more lines of text to the OS. Phone and messages. And throw some cdma goodness in there, and all of a sudden you have a serious competitor to the iPhone, and access to the largest market of cell users in the United States.
Their multimillion dollar branding operations couldn't figure this out?
Hey Engadget, you're (really not) doing a great job, and I'mma let you finish, but Gizmodo is the fastest tech news blog of all time. OF ALL TIME.
Kidding, I
...
From what my peeps at MS say, the Project Pink phone is the UI - the device is not of their design. Pay more attention at what is going on the screen.
I tried, but then I had a seizure.
Oh, just what we need, another MS portable device UI.
On top of WinMo 7. And Zune.
HHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHAHHA
i think... just now, like 30 hardware manufactures are flooding Microsofts phone lines with's "WTF IS THIS BULLSHIT I HEAR THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO SHAFT US AND LAUNCH YOUR OWN HARDWARE"
Um, no.
Read my post at 7:26 PM to see why what you said makes little to no sense.
I'd buy that for a dollar!
eeeew thats ugly and I would never buy it. plsssss O plsssss use the zune HD case as a phone.
looks like a pre
the evolution of THE JITTERBUG LOLZ
or JITTERBUG HD
Goodness! $5 Billion a year on R&D and all they can come with is this?!
Those are very poorly designed versions of the Pre and...I'm trying to place it. It's not a G1. It reminds me of one of the LG phones on Verizon. You know which one I'm talking about.
Sneaky... It's like "The Manhattan Project." Let's call it Project Pink and make it black. That'll throw them.
meh
Judging from the size of those buttons, it looks like the screen is really small. I would guess no more than 2.5" HVGA.
WTF... how can they come up with something this FUGLY!
microsoft's creative and design department staff should all be fired and burned. They are useless and talentless bunch of deuchebags who should just beg for coins on the street. Good for nothing hobos dressed in suits. GAWD!
Yeah man, 'cause Apple is nothing like that!
\s
Does it come in not ugly?
Remember when Microsoft bought Danger, the company that made the Sidekick? Think of this as a followup to those devices and not a standalone MS device.
Didn't see your first post on this. Exactly what i was thinking.
Not digging this concept phone design.
However, in a way it makes sense.
1. Microsoft's MAIN focus is software and services.
2. Microsoft's main mobile focus will be on Windows Mobile 7 (they have 1000+ developers working on WM7)
http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=7795#idc-container
3. Not wanting to alienate any of their dozens or so partners (LG, Samsung, Dell, HTC, Sony, etc.) Microsoft will develop WM 7 with the Zune like interface, Zune player, etc. to suit their phones needs while selling these things on the side to the mass market (you know the other 80+ % of the world who doesnt purchase smartphones)
4. Since WM7 is MS's main focus, they have already established a preliminary set of guidelines for what the chassis must look like, what the specs must be like, and based on that set of criteria, it's very obvious that these phones will not be taking anything away from WM7.
Find any flaw in this logic, let me know.
Interestingly enough (more like conveniently), Engadget decided to go with Pic 1 of the rumored pink project phones.
Here is Pic 2 : http://www.neowin.net/images/uploaded/pinkphonetwo.jpg
That does the Pink project more justice, but still could use some refinement.
Doesn't really matter though, as WM7 backed with Tegra/Snapdragon hardware on a Chassis 1/2 device is what really matters down the line.
Microsoft not wanting to alienate its partners by releasing their own competing devices?
How's about MS signing up dozens of partners to PlaysForSure, software and hardware, with stringent format standards in order to receive certification, and then not only releasing their own player that doesn't even use it but simply abandoning the format altogether:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PlaysForSure
If MS is marketing these phones to "the other 80%", it is certainly not because they're afraid of upsetting its partners.
Pink, WinMo 6.5 and WinMo 7.
Sigh - why do MS like to overstretch themselves. I though pink would just be services for WinMo. Now they have to maintain the 3. Hope this doesn't hurt them.
Maybe Microsoft released this to see how many people piss their pants in disgust, because there seems to be a lot of soiled pants out there....
Jesus, ill hang onto my LG Dare pos and get a Zune HD...(was prolly gonna do that anyway)