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Bob Russell · 02-25-2006, 03:19 PM

Well, that's really the problem. Microsoft's marketing machine has jumped into gear. Not quite with the buzz of an Apple teaser, but just as lacking in information. We're all still just guessing, but some rumors have come out. Don't know if it's true, but here's what we think we know: It's probably some kind of portable Windows-based handheld computer with connectivity and likely to allow sophisticated computing in a very portable platform. We reported on this topic before , but there's no confirmation yet that they are the same.

An announcement is coming March 2. That according to the cool little video. It looks like the video will be updated weekly. It also hints that it will be portable, and will help you to do things. The www.origamiproject.com domain is apparently registered to Microsoft, and I suppose origami is likely registered also. Maybe someone can confirm that for us.

Robert Scoble from Microsoft simply says "I do know that Origami is the code-name for a new kind of device. Oh, heck, here come the NDA police, gotta go! …"

Pretty intriguing, huh? Want more? If you follow all the leads from Engadget and a few more besides, here's what else you end up learning...

Paul McNamara says "Fortunately, we know someone who knows for certain. According to an industry source who has seen the thing and calls it "very cool," Origami is one and the same with this ultraportable 'lifestyle PC' we were talking about here earlier today. This source is under NDA, an honest fellow and unwilling to share more than his help connecting the dots."

He also points back to an earlier Engadget post saying "According to at least one report, Bill Mitchell, Corporate Vice President of the Mobile Platform Division, showed a slide that outlined specs for the new PC category, including that it be wearable, always on, no larger than 10-inches, connected through 3G networks, pen-based, and have a suggested retail price of $500 or less. … One notable spec that could differentiate this one: Microsoft is apparently insisting that this run the full version of Windows."

Unfortunately for me, now that I'm filling in the last parts of this post, I find that Paul has the same title I came up. Of course I was feeling quite proud and smug about how incredibly clever and unique I had been. Well, my apologies to Paul, because I'm not changing it now. But I gladly give him credit for coming up with it first.

Back to Origami, we find that it has quite a few people looking back to a device announced at the 2001 Comdex show. Look at this this description from PC Magazine, "Taking convergence to an extreme was National Semiconductor, which was promoting its Geode system on a chip. The chip is showing up in numerous wild products, and the company is encouraging that process by testing the water with high-concept devices. The weirdest device was the National Semiconductor Geode Origami Mobile Communicator. The prototypes have got to be as collectible as those 1950s bullet-nosed GM concept cars. I'd be shocked if anyone manufacturers the Origami—as cool and interesting as it is. Essentially, it's a Transformers toy for adults. The device, which acts as a phone, camera, camcorder, MP3 player, PDA, Internet picture frame, laptop, workpad, and weapon, twists around every which way to morph. Of all things, it may have been the rage of the show."

And an interesting writeup from AMD also from back in the day. "Highlighting this year's Comdex is National's new Geode™ Origami™ Mobile Communicator, a multifunction conceptual device that combines a digital camera, streaming online digital camcorder, videoconferencing, Internet surfing, PDA and email. When docked, the device also functions as an Internet picture frame that displays photos and videos. Origami uses many products from National's unique product portfolio including power management, audio, display, graphics, wireless connectivity and the Geode integrated processor.

'The Origami Mobile Communicator is an exciting conceptual device that showcases the broad range and depth of National's analog, digital and mixed-signal technologies,' said Brian Halla, CEO, National Semiconductor. 'From audio and video to displays and wireless, we have all the key technologies that are enabling tomorrow's digital lifestyle.' "

CNN.com also had a writeup about the gadget in 2001. ""

You can keep up with the Origami Project with this RSS feed.

And I can't leave you without mentioning maybe the nicest concise writeup about the original Origami device with some pics at WindowsForDevices.

As the rumors develop, feel free to add your own thought and scoops in this thread. I have a feeling that if you can get over the fact it's coming from Microsoft, it's going to be an exciting development in the world of mobile computing!

Via hardware.slashdot.org.

02-25-2006, 03:19 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Microsoft's "Origami Project" is... Well, that's really the problem. Microsoft's marketing machine has jumped into gear. Not quite with the buzz of an Apple teaser, but just as lacking in information. We're all still just guessing, but some rumors have come out. Don't know if it's true, but here's what we think we know: It's probably some kind of portable Windows-based handheld computer with connectivity and likely to allow sophisticated computing in a very portable platform. We reported on this topic before , but there's no confirmation yet that they are the same. An announcement is coming March 2. That according to the cool little video. It looks like the video will be updated weekly. It also hints that it will be portable, and will help you to do things. The www.origamiproject.com domain is apparently registered to Microsoft, and I suppose origami is likely registered also. Maybe someone can confirm that for us. Robert Scoble from Microsoft simply says "I do know that Origami is the code-name for a new kind of device. Oh, heck, here come the NDA police, gotta go! …" Pretty intriguing, huh? Want more? If you follow all the leads from Engadget and a few more besides, here's what else you end up learning... Paul McNamara says "Fortunately, we know someone who knows for certain. According to an industry source who has seen the thing and calls it "very cool," Origami is one and the same with this ultraportable 'lifestyle PC' we were talking about here earlier today. This source is under NDA, an honest fellow and unwilling to share more than his help connecting the dots." He also points back to an earlier Engadget post saying "According to at least one report, Bill Mitchell, Corporate Vice President of the Mobile Platform Division, showed a slide that outlined specs for the new PC category, including that it be wearable, always on, no larger than 10-inches, connected through 3G networks, pen-based, and have a suggested retail price of $500 or less. … One notable spec that could differentiate this one: Microsoft is apparently insisting that this run the full version of Windows." Unfortunately for me, now that I'm filling in the last parts of this post, I find that Paul has the same title I came up. Of course I was feeling quite proud and smug about how incredibly clever and unique I had been. Well, my apologies to Paul, because I'm not changing it now. But I gladly give him credit for coming up with it first. Back to Origami, we find that it has quite a few people looking back to a device announced at the 2001 Comdex show. Look at this this description from PC Magazine, "Taking convergence to an extreme was National Semiconductor, which was promoting its Geode system on a chip. The chip is showing up in numerous wild products, and the company is encouraging that process by testing the water with high-concept devices. The weirdest device was the National Semiconductor Geode Origami Mobile Communicator. The prototypes have got to be as collectible as those 1950s bullet-nosed GM concept cars. I'd be shocked if anyone manufacturers the Origami—as cool and interesting as it is. Essentially, it's a Transformers toy for adults. The device, which acts as a phone, camera, camcorder, MP3 player, PDA, Internet picture frame, laptop, workpad, and weapon, twists around every which way to morph. Of all things, it may have been the rage of the show." And an interesting writeup from AMD also from back in the day. "Highlighting this year's Comdex is National's new Geode™ Origami™ Mobile Communicator, a multifunction conceptual device that combines a digital camera, streaming online digital camcorder, videoconferencing, Internet surfing, PDA and email. When docked, the device also functions as an Internet picture frame that displays photos and videos. Origami uses many products from National's unique product portfolio including power management, audio, display, graphics, wireless connectivity and the Geode integrated processor. 'The Origami Mobile Communicator is an exciting conceptual device that showcases the broad range and depth of National's analog, digital and mixed-signal technologies,' said Brian Halla, CEO, National Semiconductor. 'From audio and video to displays and wireless, we have all the key technologies that are enabling tomorrow's digital lifestyle.' " CNN.com also had a writeup about the gadget in 2001. "" You can keep up with the Origami Project with this RSS feed. And I can't leave you without mentioning maybe the nicest concise writeup about the original Origami device with some pics at WindowsForDevices. As the rumors develop, feel free to add your own thought and scoops in this thread. I have a feeling that if you can get over the fact it's coming from Microsoft, it's going to be an exciting development in the world of mobile computing! Via hardware.slashdot.org.