Microsoft Courier existence confirmed on the company's JobsBlog?
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted March 23rd 2010 4:00PM
posted March 23rd 2010 4:00PM
That last bit -- you know, about the Courier -- was linked to our recent post which revealed a handful of images, video, and possible factoids on the device. Though that bit of the writeup has been canned, you can see that the post was tagged "courier," and the original text is still hanging around RSS (as seen above). So, does this mean Microsoft is getting close to actually giving us some meat on this thing? We can't know for sure if the info above is 100 percent solid... but it's certainly telling that this device is on the lips of Microsoft employees who also happen to work on PR campaigns for the company -- and they moved quickly to get it offline. What do you guys think?Do you already know everything about Project Natal and the Cloud? Is Blaise Aguera y Arcas' jaw-dropping TED talk on augmented-reality Bing Maps and Photosynth last month's news? Then check out some of the online chatter surrounding new releases of Window Phone 7 series handsets, Internet Explorer 9 and the upcoming Courier digital journal."
[Thanks, Ian]
@Kinte Kunta
It's clear from your other posts on here what your about. Engadget doesnt need your sort of contribution! go away!
@angermeans
I don't really see the iPad and the Courier as being very similar. That said, I'm interested in both and will probably only get one, so the two devices compete to an extent. The main reason they aren't very similar, though, is that the Courier is rumored to have a 7" screen, while the iPad is 9.7".
I think the main obstacle for MS will be the hardware. It makes sense to start smaller, but two 7" screens are only going to be so useful. The main issue, IMO, is how much two 7" screens and the battery to power them will weigh for a given battery life.
Release the Courier in time and I'll forgive you for Windows Phone 7 Series, Microsoft.
It should be interesting to see this playing out. I might even want one.
They just edited out the part about the courier. But they forgot to remove the courier tag. I just posted a comment there to remind them. :)
@Electrofreak HA HA HA they took off the tag! LOL
Wait, did you guys edit your article? Or did I just miss that part until the second time around?
Wow, that dude is SO fired. Or murdered.
@Fish Face McGee
nah, he's not working in china for a new apple product.
New species of unicorn sighted!
Darn i meant breed... new breed of unicorn!
Species is only one... looks fruity!
@Kinte Kunta I doubt this will run full Win 7... Win 7 has too much overhead and that would require an x86 chip which are all too hot and power hungry (even Atom) to be realistic for a product like this.
Want Win 7? Than the HP Slate is your device.
There's nothing wrong with Win CE 6 for a consumer device. It's at the core of WinPho 7 which is pretty sweet.
@Kinte Kunta We'll complain when Microsoft leverages stupid as crap bogus patents to slow down innovation. Until then.. whatever.
@Kinte Kunta Win7? A requirement for tablets? You don't know what you're talking about sir.
@Kinte Kunta no, tablets SHOULD NOT EVER run desktop OS's. Look at the iPad, JooJoo, and Courier concept vids. Desktop OS's aren't designed around touch so, they shouldn't be used in tablets. All the tablets that are out now that are running full versions of Win7 aren't selling well at all because Desktop software is a pain to use without a keyboard & mouse.
@Gigaflop
Wrong. We complain about patents we read about on Engadget. We're too lazy to find out about the other ones.
One word is all that is required to describe the Courier for me: WANT.
@collindow I used to just want...now I'm dealing with OCD
This to me would be a million times more useful than an iPad. I'd still like the latter to use as a nice bed-web-browser (might have to tm that one...) and perhaps general media/games consumption device but given my lifestyle the Courier looks like the gadget I've been waiting for.
@Kinte Kunta
No, I'm an uncool hipster.
Are you a troll? asl?
@Kinte Kunta
It has to do with size and what it was claiming to be. The iPad got beef because it's claimed as a 'netbook killer' and the 'ultimate browsing experience.' The iPad also has a larger single screen, so with a larger screen people would want it all, a nice touch overlay and a full OS underneath.
The Courier, however, is (will?) be a digital journal. It's not a netbook but it's a different category. Media consumption, outlook, internet, and stylus input.
From what we've seen so far that Courier is owning up to what it is, not masquerading as something it isn't.
Microsoft is gaming Engadget.
Their vague references to Courier is nothing but a smoke screen meant to thwart the buzz coming from the upcoming iPad shipments.
They took it down. :(
I do really want a folding device, about the size of a mid sized paperback. That would slip into my overnight bag, or carry on, and do just enough; email, read a novel or two, play music videos, or mp3's. Then I'd be down to just my phone, and a paperback sized toy. I could pack another bathing suit .
What? Microsoft trolling with more info on VapoCourier just as an important iPad date nears?
Well that's not establishing a pattern or anything.
Forget the iPad, we need to see a proper hardware demo now!!!
Aziz
http://www.azizrahman.com
It's still not enough. As we have heard, MS has been working on not one but five-six different prototypes all being considered to be launched as Courier, so that means the two prototypws we have seen might not be the final form that is launched.
Nonetheless, it would be a delight for every technology geek.
@Abhi9
Wouldn't it be wild if they incorporate the zune and social hubs in this thing like WP7S does?
@Kinte Kunta
I'm basing it on them calling it a digital journal and the UI concept videos (which shows them using it as such). The iPad got flak here because it's been touted as a 'netbook killer' and the 'ultimate browsing experience' things that it just aren't. The iPad (and from what we've seen, the courier aswell) just aren't netbooks.
If you look at the middle ground between the smartphone and the laptop and you approach it from the laptop side you get a netbook and from the phone side you get things like the Courier and the iPad.
From what we've seen the Courier seems like an updated PDA concept with a dual touch screen form factor.
Again, this is all based on what we've seen so far in UI concept videos.
I'm very intrigued by the device and I'm really looking forward to test drive it. For something like this, a stylus input option will be a must for me and I'm digging the form factor. It should prove to protect the screen when in a bag and it should make it easier to hold. One of the things I'm hoping that they are going to implement would be to enable a virtual keyboard on one side to make typing more usable when needed.
@Kinte Kunta
I forgot two things. I know what the iPad is, and so do a lot of people here but that isn't exactly how it's being presented. It really is just a big iPod touch.
Also, it's rumored that the Courier is 'supposed' to be out late this year. It's also been rumored that it's running on the same CE version as WP7S (zuneHD too?).
Again, everything here is rumored and nothing is set in stone. I'm more of a person who's willing to wait a year before buying a new peice of tech to survey all the options before making a decision. After all, this really isn't a device that's vital to your everyday life.
It should also be noted that although the iPad and the Courier could both be clumped together, do they really fill the same void? The iPad seems much more of a large PMP while the Courier seems much more of the 2010 variant of a PDA. I already have the PMP base covered (iPod Classic and zuneHD) so I'm fully set on just waiting and making a more informed decision.
Isn't it interesting to know that Microsoft has a "Jobs"Blog? LOL
@ZachZ
[rim shot]
they've changed the blog post to remove any references to the courier now. interesting....
Alot of MS-loving interior decorators up in this piece....
hahahaahahah
Whenever I hear the word courier, it gives me that orgasmic feeling.
@sinkingshriek
Did Steve Ballmer get angry when you started humping his leg?
@Ed T
No, in fact he liked it making this expression on his face http://bit.ly/cS38IN
Cheer!! I just registered to comment on this! hopefully won't be too expensive!
I have to give it to them nobody does vaporware like Microsoft.
But more importantly, it confirms that Engadget is being overrun by hordes of Microsoft shills.
@Brent1700 You are partly correct. While there hasn't been a 100% fully optimized full OS out there for tablets, it absolutely does NOT mean an full OS does not belong on tablets. If you believe that then you are pretty closed minded. As a tablet and UMPC user, I can absolutely say I would prefer a full OS and it's flexibility to some extremely limited one that forces me to carry even more gadgets or another laptop around.
The iPad is going to be an entertainment device period. It's not going to be able to do much more than the iPhone from a productivity standpoint. That's great if all you want to do is couch surf non-flash websites, or listen to mp3's. If you need to much more the iPad is going to slow you down. The Joojoo isn't going to be much better – in fact it will be less than an iPad unless you seriously hack the OS to add functionality. The iPad's apps will be it's saving grace beyond a pure media consumption device. A full OS on the other hand has no such limitations. The main limitation with it will be battery life (and possibly size) because of the hardware needed at this time to run a full OS. Toss in a multi-touch screen with active digitizer for stylus input and you have the best of both worlds (Windows 7 handwriting recognition is pretty darn good).
Windows 7 makes good strides into the tablet arena but still is lacking some key optimizations. It's front end GUI is definitely lacking but all it would take is a rework of something like MS's Origami GUI (similar to the PS3's ribbon to some extent) or an iPhone-like or Android-like interface. Make it customizable and you have a friendly front end for most tasks. Second problem lack of optimization for smaller screens - for example non-resizable windows should never exist (I hate having to flip back and forth between landscape and portrait just to click an "OK" or "Apply" button. That said, those and similar issues are not insurmountable and MS would be well off to pay attention .
The last issue isn't really an OS issue as it is an application issue. Most apps simply aren't optimized for smaller screens and finger or stylus input. You can't blame the OS for that. And for the ability to run full applications or any program I want or need, I can accept that.
I can't tell you how many times I heard "I wish X program was available for my iPhone". Likewise it will probably happen with the iPad. With a full OS, that would never happen.
im excited. summer 2010? or to coincide with iPad "official" launch?
@pstasyna Check out what one of the Microsoft researchers said today on his blog regarding the "natural interface". I'm getting a little skeptical.
http://community.research.microsoft.com/blogs/alpineinker/archive/2010/03/17/postcard-from-the-future.aspx
I think this isn't news.
I think Microsoft is about to really get back in the game if all of this works as they say. Between IE9 (finally some standards support?), Natal, and the Courier which IMO totally beats the iPad hands down, there may be some MS in my future again...
Sincerely,
an Apple user
please come to me before college in the fall, aim for me the college kid not the silly holiday rush
Looks like a pretty sweet device IF it does what it advertises..
One question though - how would you hold it??
Obviously you couldn't place it on your lap - it'll fold on its hinges and fall through... unless you sit like a girl but i like a bit of room down there...
If you take 1 hand off to operate it, will it fold backwards on its hinges?
Seems like the only way to use it is to place it on a flat surface/desk...?
Yes! It is alive! Yeeeeshhh!
have you noticed the mention of the Courier has been taken off the page? wonder what that means?!
From what I have read about the Mirasol screen size it seems to match up with the Couriier. As the ultimate PDA it would make sense and seem to be optimal in energy usage and display flexibility. I am in a total state of disbelief.