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Gadgets Microsoft's "Origami" Project Leaked Early
Brandon Hill (Blog) - February 26, 2006 7:11 PM

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40 comment(s) - last by wakeup.. on Mar 1 at 5:16 PM

Origami is Microsoft's vision of a small pen-based handheld

There has been some buzz surrounding Microsoft's mysterious “Origami” project, but the device has now stepped out into the open a few days ahead of schedule. Digital Kitchen has posted a Shockwave Flash video of Microsoft's new portable media device ahead of its scheduled March 3 unveiling.

From the main site (pop-ups must be disabled), Click "Enter" on the pop-up, click “Work,” then click on "BrandTheatre." From there, click "Microsoft Origami" and you should be presented with a rather lengthy video on Origami. If that link gets taken down, you can also view it here.

From watching the video, Origami looks to be a primarily pen input based “mini TabletPC” device with USB host functionality and built-in GPS. Origami of course has wireless access and can tap into your existing Windows Media Center based PC to playback music/video from anywhere around your home. Also shown in the video is a person playing what appears to be Halo.

Could this all-in-one device really be all things to all people?

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Cool.

By phaxmohdem on 2/26/2006 7:24:33 PM , Rating: 2

Looks cool, if not a little "Bleh" cosmetically... IF this is a true tablet PC with a Hard Disk and a non-castrated version of Windows I could see this thing possibly taking off... especially in the medical industry where a versatile lightweight/compact solution such as this could be immensly helpful for nurses and doctors alike...

Interested to see what its capabilties are (CPU/RAM/Disks/Battery Life/etc)...

RE: Cool.

By ItsOnlyMonday on 2/26/2006 8:21:35 PM , Rating: 2

Just how heavy do you think it'll be? I'm really hoping it'll be significantly lightweight and pretty slim.. I mean, it's not something you can fit in your pocket.

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RE: Cool.

By ComatoseDelirium on 2/26/2006 9:15:19 PM , Rating: 2

If it can play HALO, the specifications can't be too shitty.

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RE: Cool.

By CZroe on 2/26/2006 9:38:24 PM , Rating: 2

Get real. It probably plays Halo by remote control, just like the PSP can play PS2 by remote via Location Free TV and the Japanese-only "PSX" DVR variant of the PS2.

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RE: Cool.

By Griswold on 2/27/2006 1:27:11 PM , Rating: 2

Or its actually Halo, as Halo isnt really an impressive game anyway. Sure, its taxing but thats mainly due to crappy coding not because its such a masterpiece.

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has anyone noticed...

By ghuoof on 2/26/2006 9:06:30 PM , Rating: 2

the thumb pad thing is in a different spot on the top two pictures.

also i am suprised to see people on this site so optimistic about a microsoft product...

RE: has anyone noticed...

By randomlinh on 2/26/2006 9:23:50 PM , Rating: 2

not only that.. but they all look different in general.

however, w/ that said, it's marketing. Could have been alpha products used for it to get ready... kinda how some scenes in previews are cut from the actual movie...

regardless, it is a cool concept, but cost, battery life, and whether or not it runs a full blown windows or some mobile pc crap (ok, it's not crap, but full blown is far more useful) will make or break it. I have a feeling it's just a cool 1st gen toy for now.

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RE: has anyone noticed...

By Cygni on 2/26/2006 9:42:06 PM , Rating: 3

I dont think MS is going to produce the units themselves, meaning we could end up seeing 100 different versions from different OEMs, each with their own layouts etc.

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RE: has anyone noticed...

By randomlinh on 2/26/2006 10:15:16 PM , Rating: 2

that's a good point, didn't really think about that. I was on the mindset of xbox... and MS vs Apple really.

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RE: has anyone noticed...

By MercenaryForHire on 2/26/2006 11:12:40 PM , Rating: 1

quote:
also i am suprised to see people on this site so optimistic about a microsoft product...

This is DailyTech, not "$la$hd0t" - I shower, shave, and when I hit Shift+S, I don't get a dollar sign. :P

- M4H

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Motion LS80 is best...

By thewave on 2/27/2006 1:52:07 PM , Rating: 2

I guess you have all been in the dark for the last 6 months. The first, best, and leader in this space is Motion Computing, Inc. Their LS800 is what inspired this machine, except the LS800 is already out there are garnishing more awards than MS will ever see.

RE: Motion LS80 is best...

By Nekrik on 2/27/2006 2:00:06 PM , Rating: 2

Yes, without a LS800 we have all been wandering blindly in the dark, thanks for showing the way.

Are you a dev on the Origami product? Do you happen to have one already?

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RE: Motion LS80 is best...

By IGx89 on 2/27/2006 3:07:49 PM , Rating: 2

It has no GPS, no thumbstick, is too big (IMO), and is way too expensive ($1700, instead of $500!).

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RE: Motion LS80 is best...

By Cygni on 2/28/2006 2:18:09 AM , Rating: 2

Ya, small tablet like touch screen computers were totally not thought of in the 50's or anything...

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I Don't Understand

By kelmon on 2/27/2006 3:05:38 AM , Rating: 2

While this post will no doubt be followed up with "you're dumb" or something like it, I just don't understand the role that such a product is expected to fill. It's not going to replace the iPod or other MP3 players because it's far too big. It's not going to replace laptops because they are far more practical as a mobile computer, particularly if your laptop is your only computer (as is my case). I also can't see it replacing Tablet PCs since, well, they already exist.

Maybe this is expected to replace the PSP but, again, it looks too large to be able to fit into your pocket.

I'll wait and see but I don't see any holes in my digital life at the moment that this device is likely to fill.

RE: I Don't Understand

By kextyn on 2/27/2006 8:35:41 AM , Rating: 2

I don't think its meant to replace anything. It's something new. And if the price is right I just might buy one. More functionality then a PDA/iPod/PSP, smaller then a laptop, and from the looks of it, all the functionality I want in a mobile device. I want a laptop but it's really not practical in my budget especially since I'm a geek. I start looking at laptops and just want more and more features.

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RE: I Don't Understand

By Ringold on 2/27/2006 8:10:26 PM , Rating: 2

I can see what you mean, a laptop doesn't start satisfying me until I run the price up to about 1800-2200..

Ended up getting a cheaper, but decent one, for 900, but this gadget here? It doesn't do any one thing especially well.. and I dont know, beyond a basic cell phone, I don't honestly want to be bothered with email on the run like a blackberry, virus's by walking by someone with a heavily infected one over bluetooth or some hacker on wifi, and if I wanted to play Halo 2, thats what I've built and OC'd a monster home system for. Multiplayer Halo, thats why my pals and I join together for showing off our rigs and having LANs.

Dunno. Guess it obviously not targeted at the frugal geek :)

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I'll buy one...

By hondaman on 2/27/2006 1:38:05 AM , Rating: 1

If it can run linux.

RE: I'll buy one...

By stmok on 2/27/2006 5:52:19 PM , Rating: 2

LOL!

It ain't worth buying until it someone has made it work with Linux. :)

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RE: I'll buy one...

By Ringold on 2/27/2006 8:06:34 PM , Rating: 2

Linux?

Neh. I'll take your geek comment and up you with saying "Can I vaporchill it and get a monster OC?!"

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hmmm

By Oxonium on 2/26/2006 9:10:58 PM , Rating: 2

The ability to play Halo on it seems interesting. Could this be Microsoft's answer to the PSP?

RE: hmmm

By Cygni on 2/26/2006 9:41:19 PM , Rating: 2

I think its Microsofts answer to the iPod video tablet thing, as well as the PSP... it might also be the answer to a few problems, such as TabletPC's being too big, PocketPC's lacking functionality, and laptops being too bulky for easy use (and privacy) on planes.

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Mac?

By QurazyQuisp on 2/27/2006 12:02:39 AM , Rating: 2

Is it just me or does it look like the girl is using a mac in the first scene?

RE: Mac?

By Mclendo06 on 2/27/2006 4:52:41 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Is it just me or does it look like the girl is using a mac in the first scene?

Not necessarily. That looks like ProTools which comes in versions for both PC and Mac. I run the windows version and it still looks very "macish", so that's probably why you might think that.

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to state the obvious

By atriversend on 2/26/2006 7:31:38 PM , Rating: 2

that game look a lot like H.

Nice

By aberdeen5 on 2/26/2006 7:48:34 PM , Rating: 2

Just checked that pic out in PS and that def Halo....I want one, NOW!

cool

By AnotherGuy on 2/26/2006 7:54:25 PM , Rating: 2

Looks cool and interesting

ipod killer?

By vexingv on 2/26/2006 8:14:51 PM , Rating: 2

is this MS' ipod killer product? it looks very interesting though it could be just a small tablet pc. apple is annoucing something 2/28 and now MS is set to annnouce Origami the day after! looks like they're trying to take the wind out of apple's sails.

battery life?

By alphaaa on 2/26/2006 8:15:17 PM , Rating: 2

wonder how long the battery's gonna last..

Has potential

By IGx89 on 2/26/2006 8:16:57 PM , Rating: 2

If it also has Bluetooth, can actually play Halo PC well (which I doubt), and is $500 as rumored, this could be the next must-have device. Even just the built-in GPS and WiFi functionality are very useful, since a device this size (slightly bigger screen than a PocketPC) would make a good GPS mapping device with just a slight price premium over existing portable GPS navigation devices...

maybe this is apples big annoucnement?

By randomlinh on 2/26/2006 8:17:53 PM , Rating: 2

all those patents... etc. etc...

this looks sweet though. A little big still IMO.. and camera's are lacking built in wifi to ad-hoc transfers, but it's a possibility. If I lived somewhere w/ widespread wifi, this would be awesome to have.

transmeta processor?

By ghuoof on 2/27/2006 10:53:32 AM , Rating: 2

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=25391

this origami thing os a lot like the oqo and other little computers that had crusoe processors..

Microsofts intentions...

By tomaal on 2/27/2006 12:08:21 PM , Rating: 2

MS have already stated they have no interest in bringing out their own tablet PC hardware (something about not upsetting the OEMs of Tablets, like Acer and HP). Maybe this is just Vista tablet edition, and some prototypes of their required spec for a Vista Tablet PC?
I own a Tablet, and they have pretty stict requirements for what buttons and pen inputs it can take, so maybe they are requiring even more stuff in the basic package...

Microsoft's Newton?

By Iridium130m on 2/27/2006 2:39:58 PM , Rating: 2

Kind of reminds me of the last Apple Newton with the size it is. Hmmm, I don't see many of those around anymore. Moral of the story, smaller is better.

Looks like a Sony

By uallas5 on 2/27/2006 2:53:53 PM , Rating: 2

When I saw the middle picture, the 1st thing I thought of was the Sony VAIO VGN-U750, http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1754438,00.as..., which I played with a year and a 1/2 ago. We had a demo sent to us to show of software at a Podiatry show. Nice, but no way worth the $2500 they wanted for it at the time.

Nice

By SubKamran on 2/27/2006 7:15:42 PM , Rating: 2

If it's any good I might get one. Any good meaning: Can it really play Halo. Because if it can, it's good... since that game was an unoptimized nightmare.

Can't you see !!!

By wakeup on 3/1/2006 5:16:59 PM , Rating: 2

This is nothing yet ! This is just a weather baloon launched by Microsoft ! If you look at the pictures the units are not the same...These are just mock ups and the video was probably "leaked" intentionnaly so that Microsoft can test the public's response...

Leaks never happen just like that ! There's always a reason underneat every leaks.

Personnaly, I don't believe it !

I'm glad I'm not reading this from work ...

By MercenaryForHire on 2/26/2006 8:13:22 PM , Rating: 1

... I'd have nothing to cover my lap with. :P

Portable (multiplayer?) Halo = <3

- M4H

Better be a PMC killer.

By CZroe on 2/26/2006 9:36:52 PM , Rating: 1

It's ABOUT TIME. Microsoft hasn't done one thing since introducing Portable Media Centers. No 16:9 support, no CC support (A shame with the pitifully low speakers all PMCs have), washed-out colors, no volume correction (It just syncs with an impossibly low volume unless you whip out some video editing tools first), no remote, no Bluetooth wireless headphone support, no USB charge or cradle; the list goes on. Must of that just needs software support but they haven't done a damn thing. Much of it can be blamed on their partners (Creative, iRiver and Samsung). If properly executed I will be all over this.