Microsoft's Courier 'digital journal': exclusive pictures and details (update: video!)
By Nilay Patel 
posted March 5th 2010 1:44PM
posted March 5th 2010 1:44PM
As we've heard, the interface appears to be pen-based and centered around drawing and writing, with built-in handwriting recognition and a corresponding web site that allows access to everything entered into the device in a blog-like format complete with comments. We're also hearing that there will be a built-in camera, and there's a headphone jack for media playback. Most interestingly, it looks like the Courier will also serve as Microsoft's e-book device, with a dedicated ecosystem centered around reading. It all sounds spectacular, but all we have for a launch date is "Q3 / Q4", and we have no idea how much it's going to cost, so we're trying to maintain a healthy skepticism until any of this gets official -- call us any time, Microsoft. One more pic showing the interface after the break.
Update: We've added a gallery of user interface shots -- some of which we've seen and some of which are new.
Update 2: We've just gotten two full-length HD videos of the interface in action. We've seen parts of these before, but there's some new stuff here that's quite interesting. Check it below.
@Liquidmark Hm... a capacitive touchscreen optimized for finger input, or a pen-optimized device with a pen-optimized interface and a possibly pressure sensitive stylus?
Hard choice, really... /s
@Gerusz
"a capacitive touchscreen optimized for finger input, or a pen-optimized device with a pen-optimized interface and a possibly pressure sensitive stylus?"
An actual product that is ACTUALLY available with an ACTUAL price, launch date and has been actually demonstrated or PICTURES of something that is most likely VAPORWARE and uses concepts that FAILED to be significantly useful for the last ten years?
Hmm, tough choice.
Seriously, if pen-input were so great, then why hasn't it managed to take over the world yet?
@Liquidmark
keep finger painting.
your comment is invalid because the stylus IS widely used and the preferred input device for writing and drawing.
further more, as the videos demonstrate, you are able to use both stylus and fingers.
@Liquidmark
You kidding me right. Don't get me wrong I was somewhat excited about the ipad cuz i was like "cool a bigger itouch for my daughter." because she loves my current itouch. But i wanted something deeper for myself than what the ipad was offering. I can genuinely say i am excited about the possibility of this device.
This device is more portable than an ipad. 2 screens and it folds which is a plus (for screen and device protection), I carry a sketch pad about the same size as this device. i'm in the fashion industry and when i see something that strikes me i sketch it out. There is no way in hell i'll be lugging an ipad with me everyday.
http://dl.gamesradar.com/photos/article_gifs/012710_applesize_obs01.jpg
"Seriously, if pen-input were so great, then why hasn't it managed to take over the world yet?"
ummmmm Wacom tablets?
@brianPaz
>ummmmm Wacom tablets?
Ummmmmmm how many average people do you know that use one over a mouse?
Also, I was talking about devices that are built around it. Tablet PC's have largely been a failure over the last ten years or so. You can already get tablet devices with a screen about the size of one of the screens on this thing. They haven't exactly stormed their way to market dominance.
Also, AT LEAST the iPad is a real device, while the Courier is vaporware so far.
@jstevens
"your comment is invalid because the stylus IS widely used and the preferred input device for writing and drawing."
Excuse me?
First off, you can get a stylus for the iPad. Secondly, stylus-driven devices have only become popular as accessories! The Tablet PC market has been abysmal so far and the second that Multitouch devices started hitting the market, people were ditching stylus driven devices in droves.
@Liquidmark
ITT
Fanboys that downrank anything that upsets their worldview.
@Liquidmark
ITT
Troll.
Call me when microsoft does more than show purty pictures of the device.
Protip: Stop talking start doing.
Seriously, Apple didn't show off the iPad until they actually had a working model, had a launch date in mind and knew how much they wanted to charge for it.
@Liquidmark
Those pictures are from a "trusted source", i.e., unofficial.
When Microsoft shows official pictures that's when they have a work model for demo.
@Pork
There were other pictures of the courier from a trusted source before and the device looked very different. This is nothing more than them using the public as a cheap think-tank. A method that pretty much never really works.
Like I said, show me an actual product, not some concept photos of what you might release, sometime, in the indefinite future, at an unspecified price, with unknown performance or capabilities, other than what you write down on paper or make a non-functional mockup of.
@Liquidmark
So it's not a good idea to get input from your customers while you are still in the development stage? I would disagree with you on that. Why would i not want to tell them what i want instead of being told what i want?
@snow4558
"So it's not a good idea to get input from your customers while you are still in the development stage?"
Ever see the episode of the Simpson's where Homer was asked to design a car? The same thing is going on here.
"Why would i not want to tell them what i want instead of being told what i want?"
Nobody is telling you what you should want. It is their job to figure out what you never knew you wanted, but you actually DO want or need.
The fact is that most people don't really know what they want. That's why salesmen and advertisements exist. They tell you "Look, here's what we can give you, this is how it will work for you, you want this, buy it now".
Asking the customer what they want is along the lines of throwing every concept, good and bad, into a product and not satisfying anyone in the process.
On top of that, you're also getting input from people that will NEVER buy your product anyway.
@snow4558
Your logic is complete lost on this one, just ignore this 'Liquidmark' troll, and he'll soon head back over to AppleInsider where he'll find solace with countless other iDiots.
@snow4558 Apple doesn't ask people what they want, seems to work for them. (Although the iPad was disappointing on many levels.)
@DaHarder
>Your logic is complete lost on this one
HOW?
You can't please everyone. Trying to please everyone is a recipe for failure. Look at the Zune, they tried to please everyone, what happened? It failed. When they made the Xbox 360, they didn't ask anyone for their input, it was a success. Apple didn't ask anyone for their input for the iPhone, it was a HUGE success while phones like the samsung instinct tried to please everyone and failed horribly in the process.
@Liquidmark Do Wha? And here I thought that the zune was doing well, silly me, I mean it's not like they're incorporating the entire UI concept in their next generation of mobile devices... wait they are. So from my point of view I think Microsoft has deemed the Zune a success or else they wouldn't be using the same UI in their new phones. As Winphone 7 grows in mindshare I can guarantee you that so will the Zune.
@LanDROID
The ZUNE is a failure. the ZUNE HD is doing OK (tho nowhere near as good as the iPod Touch, tbh). Two totally different products with totally different interfaces. Also, I don't recall Microsoft trying to crowd please with the Zune HD while they tried so hard to manufacture a community with the Zune. They just came out with it without trying to use the public as a poor man's think tank.
@Liquidmark Ah, my apologies. I do agree that the orignal Zune was terrible and a failure.
Wow! Thank God this write-up came out before I pre-ordered the iPad for my wife. I think this will be much more useful for her in the Medical field than the iPad. Way to go M$! I may have to get one for myself. I can't wait to hear more details. This should be a winner M$.
@Premiumtiemogul3 Yes, well played to have a leak seven days before iPad pre-orders go live. Well played MS.
@Premiumtiemogul3 Humm do a search for "microsoft vaporware"... This product will never be released because it doesn't exist...
@Premiumtiemogul3
"I can't wait to hear more details"
Yes, please hold your breath while you're at it. I'm betting that this device won't even come close to hitting the market anytime this year or even next year. That's if it ever comes out at all.
Hell, I don't think they'll say anything about pricing or even give an actual demo anytime in the year.
@Liquidmark
It's an interesting concept, and unlike the Zune it might actually sell. But it takes more than a prototype and a few "leaked" details to get something like this to market. That is where Microsoft stumbles and fails most of the time. The promise a gourmet dinner, dick around in the kitchen for years, and end up shipping a Micky-D happy meal.
@Ed T There is NO prototype. Just artist renderings like the video that Microsoft leak before the iPad announcement.
@dxdragon
I think this was the prototype concept from microsoft research showing that microsoft has been working on the design of such a device. http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/23/codex-and-inkseine-the-roots-of-microsofts-courier/
the hardware technology is already available, what is missing is the OS and software which the "Codex and InkSeine" prototype concept is demonstrating.
@jstevens That looks nothing like the photo's above... Would you buy the device on the picture in your link? Also I have seen Ink Seine and I think it's ok haven't played with it so not sure what it can really do and how easy it would be to actually get stuff done using it.
Btw the most important part of the device will be the OS. I want something that looks nice, is responsive, behaves as I expect it, is simple to use, and the battery life should last no less than 8 hours on typical usage. Oh and before I forget it should be thin...
@dxdragon
well, I agree with you. All that link was really for, is to show people that ms is working on or at least toying with such a device. The final product, if there will be one, should look more like the new images.
I'm just hopeful and slightly encouraged since microsoft seems to be stepping it up lately with some of the stuff we've seen and have been shown to be real.
@Ed T
I agree. If what is shown on the videos, is what comes out into the market and the software shown is stock, AND they use the videos as the commercial (who gives a rats ass if it's similar to the current iphone ads and i'm sure the soon to be ipad ads) this will sell.
I can;t wait what comes out of this.
So what does it make a journal? The pen and the two screens? I think that its a marketing definition...It will definitely play movies, it will definitely have access to the network and it will have games and music player too. So, its, actually a multidevice like a pad etc...
I definitely prefer it from the ipad...It looks like Penny's book in Inspector Gadget! I always lusted for one!
Let's say this is going to be a real Microsoft product. I am going to offer my opinion of what market they're trying to go after. Instead of aiming this product at people who wish to consume digital media, except on a larger screen format (like that of the iPad), this device, fortunately or unfortunately, continues on the stereotype that Microsoft makes gadgets for work and Apple for play. The decision to make the Courier pen-based clearly indicates where Microsoft is headed in terms of applications. Apps will be geared for the mobile professional who would like to jot down notes, ideas, record conversations, actually manage their calendar and agenda, annotate documents. All of these supposed features on the Courier are meant to be pragmatic. That's just my little analysis of what's to come. Sure, the iPad will have more games and entertainment choices, but from my analysis, Microsoft is hoping that if people were to pay for one more device or one more subscription (3G or Zunepass seems likely for the Courier - wouldn't it be awesome if ebooks were offered via zunepass?) that they would choose to buy a device they could actually do something that can't already be done in a better way.
@doboy Many of the Concept pictures show use of touch as well as pen. Given Tablet PC's affinity with Wacom, They could be on track to use Wacom's Touch & Pen tech. Giving it the best of both worlds Capacitive Touch and an Active Digitizer.
@hos238
Most definitely. Wacom's pen and cap touch technology is the only way, I believe, to truly implement both technologies. N-trig had some major difficulties - just ask some Dell Latitude XT/XT2 owners. Touch on the Courier though serves a different purpose. The pen on the Courier though is really a complement to the touch functions. Personally, typing on the iPhone/iPod touch becomes aggravating over a period of time regardless of how fast one can get at it - the repetitive motion of using only two your two thumbs is tiring. The primary means of data input will be through the pen whether it be in the form of handwriting recognition or drawing or creating diagrams. Touch, however, will serve simply as a means of navigation. And that's an important distinction to draw between the Courier and iPad - that the Courier can put to its full advantage the utility of writing notes and the convenience of touch.
I disagree in the sense that looking at the mock-up, the first three categories are essentially leisure, the fourth- publishing- easily casual (in the form of status updates and tweets), and only the final writing category is actually productive. For goodness's sakes the top function is Playing!
I think they're literally making a play for the journal crowd but adding PDA functionality and gadget lust to justify the cost. The intimacy and universality of journaling is a HUGE selling point (only recently has it become a more public affair with social networking- xanga, fb, etc).
But what they're really doing is selling you pen computing which they've been developing for ages and is something the masses never realized they wanted much the way capacitive screens have only recently become vogue.
@doboy If the primary means of entering data will be the pen, i don't think that will be very fun for entering web pages- imagine writing out links and the handwriting recognition thinking an "o" is an "a"- and spell checking might actually be counterproductive here. If they release it I would think it would at least have an optional on screen keyboard as a still slow (if you had to use the pen) but more accurate fall-back.
@PaladinX13
You bring up interesting points. Let's be honest, though, marketing a product for its productivity is a snoozer, especially if you want to appeal to the mass consumer markets. So, I believe, in its early stages, the Courier will have to be a master of media first before it can sustain its position as a professional device.
Regardless, even if it is for the journal crowd, the Courier will be a device capable of content production, whether personal or professional, and that's what makes it distinct. That's not to say the iPad or iPhone can't produce content - but how feasible is it really to come up with a math proof, draw the next museum, or write the next Romeo and Juliet with a finger...
@darksharpie
I enter web addresses on my tablet (HP 2730p) all the time simply by writing it. Windows 7 has extremely powerful handwriting recognition. An initial use won't prove that, but over time, the system really learns how to adapt to the way your write o's versus a's. Naturally the keyboard should be an option for more complex entries.
By the way, anyone find that what's more annoying about Microsoft delaying the Courier is Engadget delaying their own exclusive news?
What, no full desktop OS?
How dare they?!
@DrShitstorm
Bingo! looks like everyone forgot the "why doesn't it run a full OS, Apple is stupid for just giving me a huge iPod touch blah blah... "
No REAL info, just some supposed "leaked" pics and rumoured hearsay.
All the kids need to calm down!
@tallfella It's all in the expectations which Apple played up and preyed upon... we were told we were getting a tablet... something which has an established meaning and which implicates a full-fledged desktop experience. Apple played up the tablet even putting the NYT quote referencing the 10 Commandments in their keynote.
What we got was an oversized PMP which we ALREADY have.
Contrast this against Courier which promises to be a digital journal. In no way implicating a loaded terminology to create unfounded expectations. If ALL this thing does is allow you to journal, Courier will not disappoint as that's all it claimed to do.
@tallfella Careful, I alluded to this early and got obliterated. :D
@DrShitstorm
The HP Slate will handle things for those that need full Windows 7, and there are plenty of TabletPCs already. The iPad hype suggested a Tablet Mac, not just a big iPod.
Microsoft tends not to release things that directly compete with its hardware partners. Putting full Windows 7 on Courier would compete directly with HP Slate and other Tablet PCs.
HP Slate already blows the iPad away, and so does Courier in a different way. iPad will still sell the most, I think, due to those that buy anything with an Apple logo (Apple TV being an exception). I will note however, that as I write this, this article has more comments than today's "iPad release date" article.
@MollyC
"The iPad hype suggested a Tablet Mac"
There was no hype with the iPad. Apple didn't say a word about it or even leak any details.
"HP Slate already blows the iPad away"
Sure, if you think unresponsive touch controls and tons of processing overhead that drag your performance to the ground, blowing the iPad away.
I suppose it will be better than the iPad at one thing. It will be better at sucking.
@PaladinX13 And "foldability" aside, why can't the iPad be its own kind of digital journal? With a well written app it could cover most of what's shown in that courier video. Plus several things that aren't, say, I could take notes in my "journal" and then play a full screen 3D game when im on a "break"...then create a flowchart in OmniGraffle and sketch a graph in OmniGraphsketcher, then put it all into a Keynote presentation. The iPad is going to be a bit more than a simple "media consumption device."
Can this be really made?
Dubious...
It is likely to become a good chance that the terminal adds the inclination to media.
Please focus, Nilay, it's "Windows Phone 7" not "Windows Mobile 7 Series" or "Windows CE 6."
And it has a SMALL BEZEL - finally someone did it right.
@tdogdfw And in the concept picture the guy's thumbs are on the screen. How is it going to avoid activating stuff on the screen in that scenario? Unless it requires the pen...
@darksharpie
Welcome back resistive screen! I almost forgot the 90's, thanks MS
i tell you that last pic is the project gustav painting app they've been developing. look. you can mix oil colors right there and paint with brushes. awesome!
i'm SOOO happy to know that this thing is still alive! if it's released, my mom and i will buy one each.