Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments
Search

News for nerds, stuff that matters

Slashdot Log In

Log In

Create Account  |  Retrieve Password

What is Microsoft's Origami Project?

Posted by Zonk on Fri Feb 24, 2006 01:54 PM
from the friday-fan-fiction dept.
Microsoft Handhelds Hardware
An anonymous reader writes "Rumors are running around the web about a new Microsoft gadget codenamed Origami that will be unveiled on March 2nd. Speculation can be found on Designtastesgood, Scobleizer, and Thatedeguy, and WindowsForDevices has a description and photos of a prototype Origami device built by National Semiconductor 2001. Anybody out there know more about this new device?"
+ -
story

Related Stories

[+] Games: Microsoft Origami To Play Halo 44 comments
Gamasutra reports on elements of the Microsoft project code-named Origami, which has been revealed through some snooping to be a tablet PC. The device is shown playing Halo indicating there is likely to be some gaming aspect to the product. From the article: "Previous to the appearance of the DigitalKitchen video, Bill Gates had discussed a mobile PC concept at a conference in Seattle last year, where a non-working device called the Ultra Mobile 2007 was shown. At the time, Gates indicated that the device should have an 'all-day' battery life, weigh less than a pound and cost between $500 and $800. Microsoft has indicated it will unveil more details of the Origami Project 'in the coming weeks'."
[+] Games: Origami Not A Gaming Machine 69 comments
Gamespot reports that despite earlier reports, Microsoft's Origami isn't intended as a portable Xbox. From the article: "As shown in the leaked video, Origami machines will feature a touch-sensitive screen a la Microsoft's tablet PC line, will run Windows XP, and will be priced lower than most full-size laptops, running from around $500 to $1,000. If that price tag seems too low for a mobile PC with a high-end graphics chip--which would be necessary to run the Halo footage shown in the leaked concept video--that's because it is. The AP article says flat-out that the Origami is 'not a portable version of Microsoft's Xbox videogame console,' nor is it 'a music player designed to take on Apple Computer Inc.'s mega-popular iPod.'"
[+] Microsoft Origami Unfolds 469 comments
College Student writes "Microsoft has officially unveiled 'Origami', a paperback-book sized portable hybrid (laptop & PDA). From article: 'The new machines will connect wirelessly to the Internet and carry full-sized hard drives, but they are not intended to replace current PCs....The new PCs are expected to sell for between $599 to $999, but Microsoft said it is possible to sell one for $500 if the manufacturer selects components carefully.'" More details at the official Microsoft site, and via Channel 9 a look at the system with the UMPC general manager.
[+] Pepper Pad, an Open Alternative to MS Origami 188 comments
SilentBob4 writes to tell us that MadPenguin has a look at an open alternative to Microsoft's Origami, the Pepper Pad. From the article: "The Pepper Pad, like Origami, is a mid-point form factor PC that is bigger and more powerful than a PDA, but smaller and less optimized for traditional desktop PC tasks than a notebook computer or a desktop PC. The Pepper Pad is a good buy for people who would like to have a light-weight, dirt-simple, point-and-click open source device for watching videos, listening to music, reading e-books, and doing simple web surfing with a view screen that is actually easy to read. If you want do more than that, you are really better off getting a small Linux notebook, unless you are willing to get under the hood (which you can do with the Pepper Pad!) and start compiling for yourself."
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

What is Microsoft's Origami Project? 50 Comments More /

 Full
 Abbreviated
 Hidden
More
Loading... please wait.

  • I know what it is (Score:3, Funny)

    by Rosco P. Coltrane (209368) on Friday February 24 2006, @01:57PM (#14795255)
    It's a flash animation made by marketdroids.

  • Future viewer (Score:3, Funny)

    by EntropyXP (956792) on Friday February 24 2006, @01:57PM (#14795257)
    Is it going to be like those future telling devices the girls used in 3rd grade? Pick 1, then 2, then 3, oops, looks like you're going be hit by a bus, try again.

    • Re:Future viewer (Score:5, Funny)

      by gaveawaymyname (934554) on Friday February 24 2006, @02:03PM (#14795316)
      "Pick a number"

      "4"

      "1... 2... 3... 4..."

      "Pick a color"

      "Blue"

      "A fatal exception 0E has occured at 0137:BFFA21C9. The current application will be terminated."
      • A fatal exception 0E has occured at 0137:BFFA21C9

        One more crippling bombshell hit the already beleaguered origami community when slashdot confirmed that origami market share has dropped yet again, even before it was released to the genral public.

        You don't need to be a Kreskin to predict origami's future. The hand writing is on the wall: origami faces a bleak future. In fact there won't be any future at all for origami because origami is dying. Things are lo
    • Naw...it's a revised front-end to the Folding@Home project.

  • Not sure... (Score:4, Funny)

    by sammy baby (14909) on Friday February 24 2006, @01:58PM (#14795264) Journal
    I'm not sure, but the animation on the linked "Origami Project" site is scaring the shit out of me.

    This is like "I Love Bees," only minus the whimsicial veneer.
  • Why is Bill Gates telling me to "Touch me" His heavy heartbeat amid the ambient backdrop is quite erotic.

    • Why is Bill Gates telling me to "Touch me" His heavy heartbeat amid the ambient backdrop is quite erotic.

      Hmm, "Bill Gates" and "erotic" in the same sentence. Didn't see that coming!

      OUCH! alright, who threw the damn apple?!? OUCH, fine i'm lea OUCH...

    • I feel so dirty. (Score:5, Funny)

      by JonTurner (178845) on Friday February 24 2006, @03:17PM (#14795992) Journal
      You're right... it is a little disturbing.
      So far, it's said "Touch me. Hello. Do you know me? Do you know what I can do? and where i can go? or how I can change your life?"

      Sheesh.. Next it'll ask "What are you wearing?" and "What's your credit card #, baby"?

  • Countdown for Linux (Score:3, Funny)

    by drewzhrodague (606182) <drew&zhrodague,net> on Friday February 24 2006, @02:01PM (#14795299) Homepage Journal
    Linux ported to this device in 5... 4... 3... 2...
  • This isn't news for nerds. This isn't stuff that matters. This is pure speculation by bloggers and *rolling eyes* journalists. No one even knew this was Microsoft [msversus.com] related until they started looking up domain name information.
  • Let's just wait and see!

    Seriously, I'm sure whatever it is, there will be plenty of time to figure out how it's not an iPod killer.

  • I heard they got VC funding for this by pitching it as:

    A device for carrying on an undertaking of great advantage, but nobody to know what it is.

    It's worked before, why not again?
  • I know nothing about this thing, and have never even heard 'origami' and 'Microsoft' in the same sentence together before just now. But knowing how that M$ almost always uses totally unimaginative descriptors as product names, I'm guessing origami is something small that folds, like a portable device with a fold out screen or keyboard or something. I'm posting this guess purely for my own entertainment.

    • Re:A guess (Score:4, Funny)

      by ConceptJunkie (24823) on Friday February 24 2006, @03:20PM (#14796017) Homepage Journal
      But knowing how that M$ almost always uses totally unimaginative descriptors as product names

      Yeah, but Origami must be a code name since the real name will probably be something like "Microsoft Thing". What past names have they used? "Windows", "Office", "Media Player", "Explorer", mostly very generic.

      It will probably be something like new version of Windows Media Player but with 2 important changes:

      1. 3 more butt-ugly usability-challenged "skins"
      2. Even less screen real estate available for content.

      Or wait... "origami" means folding something up in a complicated way...

      Yeah, that's it! It's a new kind of DRM that folds up your content into a confusing shape that you can't unfold (unencrypt) without tearing.

  • Project Orimami? (Score:5, Funny)

    by FrontalLobe (897758) on Friday February 24 2006, @02:06PM (#14795356)
    With a name like that... The project is destined to fold...

  • No idea (Score:4, Funny)

    by daeley (126313) on Friday February 24 2006, @02:08PM (#14795369) Homepage
    But I bet there's a paper clip involved.
  • didn't make it past legal.
  • I noticed that windowsfordevices.com (216.218.185.157) looks (as far as the website goes) almost identical to linuxdevices.com (216.218.185.154). The IP's make it look like they might be with the same server farm.

    Just weird... The first thought I had looking at the site was that it looked almost exactly like the one for linuxdevices.com... Second, read the article there.. YAWN!!! More gadgetry that people will get excited about till the next latest and greatest thing arrives in a few months.

    Look at this! (p
    • Let me assure you that the C8000, while running Linux, is no superstar in the reliability department. Couple that with Philips UI and you have what is know in the vernacular as a steaming piece of shit.

  • MS Astroturfing (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Matt Perry (793115) on Friday February 24 2006, @02:13PM (#14795411)
    This smells of a MS astroturfing troll. Since whatever it is hasn't been released we can only waste time speculating. Maybe it's a desert topping or a floor wax. Maybe it's both. In any case, it's vapourware until it shows up. How about we all wait a week to see what is announced and then have a discussion about it?

    • This smells of a MS astroturfing troll. Since whatever it is hasn't been released we can only waste time speculating. Maybe it's a desert topping or a floor wax. Maybe it's both. In any case, it's vapourware until it shows up. How about we all wait a week to see what is announced and then have a discussion about it?

      Well, we can always try to whip ourselves into a frenzy so that we expect something fantastic, and then are horribly disappointed in what comes out.

      BTW, my brother's uncle's cousin's friend's wif

  • ...that see's an odd likeness between the logo of this device [windowsfordevices.com] and another logo [preview-online.com] we've seen recently from another evil company?

    If this is just a random fluke, I'd sure say it's a funny one considering the product type. If it's not a fluke, it's time to break out a new batch of tinfoil hats.

    MTW
  • Sweet, the prototype looks like it's got a bottle-opener on it!

    Just what cellphones have been missing!
  • So... In theory... If you put this and a Nintendo DS together, would they keep each other entertained?
  • Why don't you wait until details unfold before making that kind of statement!

  • Paper Tiger (Score:5, Informative)

    by Doc Ruby (173196) on Friday February 24 2006, @02:24PM (#14795494) Homepage Journal
    FTFA:
    "The Origami folds and pivots into a digital camera, video camcorder, smartphone, MP3 audio player, PDA, Internet access or Internet picture frame, email device or video conferencing terminal.

    Origami utilizes Bluetooth wireless technology for network connectivity. PAN and LAN networks use a Bluetooth-equipped access point, while WAN uses a Bluetooth GSM or CDMA phone.    "

    That's the Origami vaporware. Now, what's my SonyEricsson K750? Without folding or pivoting, it's a digital video/still camcorder, MP3 player, contacts/calendar/notes PDA, GPRS Internet, and picture frame. With Java applets, it's a "smartphone", and with applets and a Bluetooth keyboard it's an email device and maybe even "videoconferencing terminal". And it pivots images for preferred display orientation on user demand.

    And it's over a year old. I'm sure there are phones with better email and "videoconferencing". What is this Microsoft astroturf?
    • That prototype is actually 5 years old and probably only shares the name and OS manufacturer. I personally can wait a few weeks before I dismiss this completely.
  • You fold it in half to more easily store it in some kind of carrying case, and open it to see the screen and access the pointing device and keyboard. What will they think of next - a graphicaly based interface to the operating system?

  • Well whatever it is, it'll be better than an overpriced scooter in art-"health-care-device" style.

  • It makes perfect sense! (Score:3, Informative)

    by anandamide (86527) on Friday February 24 2006, @02:43PM (#14795690)
    1) Take customer's money.
    2) Fold it in half.
    3) Stick it in Bill Gate's wallet.
    4) Origami!

  • Cancel Each Other Out (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Nom du Keyboard (633989) on Friday February 24 2006, @03:13PM (#14795956)
    An Anonymous Reader submits a story to Slashdot in order to hype a previously under-reported Microsoft project.

    Slashdot readers slashdot the site rendering it unreachable by the masses at large.

    Net result, one effect cancels out the other.

    • No But... (Score:4, Funny)

      by MajorDick (735308) on Friday February 24 2006, @01:58PM (#14795268)
      You'd be better off to make paper swans with the greenbacks you would otherwise spend on it.
      The real question is can you wipe you ass with it ?

    • Re:But... (Score:5, Funny)

      by TheBogie (941620) on Friday February 24 2006, @02:00PM (#14795287) Journal
      A slashdot haiku:

      Ode to the Origami

      It does many things

      but it is from Microsoft

      it must not be good

      • A little re-arrangement of words:

        Many things does it

        but from Microsoft it is

        be good must it not

        Now instead of haiku (on topic within the context of Origami) you get mod points for sounding like an insightful 400 year old Jedi Knight here on /.
        • That Haiku must be from Yoda's younger works.

          Before he died, Master Yoda wrote a poem shorter in length, but similar in meaning:

          Hmmm?
    • > Can you use it to make small paper swans?

      I'm going to fucking fold that guy! *fling* [designboom.com]

    • From the name, I'd expect it to be related to the digital paper that's been under development in the last few years (not at MS that I know of, but at other companies, and surely available to MS). That doesn't seem to be the case though. Strange; maybe they're trying to get their claws into that name for later digital paper models?
    • Can you use it to make small paper swans?

      The best part is that after you make them, they'll change their color to blue, and will never fly away.

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the Poster. The Rest © 1997-2009 Geeknet, Inc.