The Origami Project
MICROSOFT BLOG: Like Slashdot and other blogs and online forums, we, too, are getting tips about a new Microsoft concept gadget codenamed "Origami" that we understand is sort of a "Mini Me" PC.We're unable to confirm much right now, other than that National Semiconductor several years ago built a prototype device called Origami. But we are unaware as of yet if there's any connection between the two.
A very cryptic Origami site only tells us more information about the product will be unveiled on March 2.
For now anyway, NetworkWorld's Paul McNamara seems to have the best insight; he cites an industry source who has reportedly seen Origami and calls it an ultraportable lifestyle PC.
An Engadget blog from earlier this month quoted a Microsoft mobile platform division executive calling the device "wearable, always on, no larger than 10 inches, connected through 3G networks, pen-based" and that it would sell for $500 or less.
Other speculation and insight is offered at Design Tastes Good, Thatedeguy and Robert Scoble, among other sites.
posted by Ronnie Rocket @ 2:52 PM
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REDHERRING.COM: Microsoft Unfolds Origami
It’s neither a PDA nor a smartphone, but Redmond is getting ready to cash in on the market for attractive mobile devices.
All indications are that Microsoft is planning to introduce a mobile device that will offer a third handheld option to smartphones and PDAs as early as Thursday.
News of the planned device surfaced this weekend on a web site promo that promises to change lives.
The dramatic 40-second promo, which runs on www.origamiproject.com, asks visitors to “touch” an image that looks like the structure of a cell. It then asks questions such as, “Do you know what I can do and where I can go?”
The promo promises more information on Thursday and Microsoft has an analyst event at its Redmond headquarters planned for Thursday. In addition, Microsoft mentions an Origami Project on its mobile developer site, along with sketchy details about a planned wireless, tablet-style PC.
Visitors seeking additional information about the Origami Project are sent to the promo web site.
‘This could be a PC that does to the mobile data market what the iPod did in the digital music market.’
-Roger Kay,
Endpoint Technologies
The only real details about the device that one can glean from published information on Microsoft’s web site is that it is a mobile, touch-screen device. Whether it is closer to a mini notebook or a PDA is not clear.
Nokia currently markets a tablet-style portable PC device called the Nokia 770 in Europe. That device has been surprisingly successful, according to Peter Gorham, an independent analyst.
“Nokia’s device has no cellular connectivity,” he said. “It’s a Wi-Fi device, and they have been taken off guard by its success. It was a sleeper, so I think Microsoft has seen that and is trying to get its share of that market. The Nokia device runs Linux, so that has made Microsoft move even faster to market Origami.”
Shares of Microsoft rose $0.22 to $26.85 in recent trading.
Windows Mobile? Vista?
It is unclear whether Origami will come equipped with Windows Mobile or Windows Vista. It is also unclear whether it will come with a wireless phone, a feature that would put it in competition with smartphones rather than notebooks.
“One of the keys will be the price,” said Roger Kay, president of the market intelligence firm Endpoint Technologies Associates. “If Microsoft intends to sell this device to consumers, it can’t be $1,500 like the other mini-notebooks. It has to be closer to $300. The price point will determine how quickly it takes off.”
A device that has a touch-screen and is compact is generally expensive to make, according to Mr. Kay. There is a market for a very mobile $1,500 PC, but it will not be successful in the mainstream consumer market.
In the past Microsoft has shied away from marketing hardware devices to the consumer market, choosing instead to develop software and leave the hardware to its OEMs.
“Microsoft does not have a consumer hardware infrastructure,” said Mr. Kay. “For it to start dealing with Best Buy on a consumer device would be weird and create some channel conflict. It sells keyboards and mice, but not whole systems such as tablet PCs.
“With the right applications, price, and form factor, Microsoft could be successful with a device like this,” he added. “Microsoft needs a device with an interesting form factor to market with Vista. Vista’s features aren’t visible on the outside.”
According to Mr. Kay, Microsoft has been trying to stimulate its OEMs to develop interesting products around the Vista release. Origami could be designed to stir interest around its Vista release later this year.
“Microsoft has watched Apple stir the music business with the iPod, so this could be a PC that does to the mobile data market what the iPod did in the digital music market,” he said.
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