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Microsoft's secret 'Courier' booklet device unveiled

Sam Symons
22 September 2009 - 23:49
116 Comments
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With rumors abound that Apple is bringing out a tablet device at the start of next year, people seem to have forgotten about opposition. Gizmodo certainly haven't forgotten, and they've just released the first details of a new take on the tablet device... from Microsoft. You heard that correctly; Microsoft is going to be bringing out a tablet-like device soon, which is named the 'Courier'.

Gizmodo states that the Courier device isn't actually a tablet, but more of a booklet; it boasts two (approximately) 7-inch screens, held together with a hinge, giving it that book-like appearance. The hinge in the middle will hold a home button, similar to the iPhone, and the outer rim of one of the screens will display statuses, such as battery life and wireless signal. To add to this, the back of the Courier will hold a camera.

The project started as a secret, known only to a few people within Microsoft, such as J. Allard who is apparently leading the way with the device. It is said that the device is now at the stage where the company is building up the UI, as well as demonstrating it to other companies. The aim for it is to be like a book, in a way; it is designed to be written and drawn on using a stylus, but also allowing the user to use their fingers, too. Gizmodo says they'll be unveiling more about it as time goes on, so keep an eye out for this.





Images courtesy of Gizmodo.

Comments (116)

  1. aussiefloyd_fan - 22 September 2009 - 23:54

    ill buy one of these possibly.. it there was a way to run oxs86 on it :P
    actually this is a nice device and i cant wait.. dual 7 inch touch screens. i suspect windows 7 on this,,, i rember the first eee's that came out with a sincle 7 inch non touch screen...... this will be freaking sweet if it has a better solution for on screen keyboarding than the current microfail on screen keyboard

  2. cakesy - 23 September 2009 - 02:17

    How far along is this actual device. It looks good, but is it just Microsoft up to its old tricks again. Don't but the Apple touchpad, we are bringing out something better real soon. They did this with OS/2, Dr-Dos, many many products in the past. They haven't had to do stuff like this for quite a while.

    If it is an actual product that is ready to go, then all well and good. It look interesting and very useful. How does it fit into Zune, or does it run W7?

  3. Faisal Islam - 23 September 2009 - 03:59

    It seems like a Zune type device. Hoping it will run on Windows 7 OS.

  4. Nexus- - 23 September 2009 - 08:09

    @AUSSIE_FLOYD_FAN: You or everyone else may hate me for saying so but OS X simply would not fly here. Its all about the custom user experience microsoft is working out for this. If it works as flawlessly as the video suggests it would make this thing. Apple's tablet persumanbly would either us iPhone OS, which is a joke for many reasons, or it would use OS X which is just like running windows on a netbook, its OK, but its not great, because like linux, ubuntu specifically and others, have the custom netbook UI taylored for that smaller experience. This would need a custom book interface shown in the video to make it shine. Apple is just going to give us the 'slate' mode (presumably since we havent seen anything yet) and while OS X has got some handwriting stuff it but that doesnt compare to what MS has done in terms of tablet computing, unless apple is doing that work in their basement and has been keeping it from vanilla OS X

  5. Magallanes - 23 September 2009 - 20:01

    cakesy said,
    How far along is this actual device. It looks good, but is it just Microsoft up to its old tricks again. Don't but the Apple touchpad, we are bringing out something better real soon. They did this with OS/2, Dr-Dos, many many products in the past. They haven't had to do stuff like this for quite a while.

    who said Natal?

    And about DR-DOS. DR-DOS (Digital Research aka CP/M) ---> Novell --> Caldera System ---> SCO ---> Microsoft (in the background).

    MS is covering all the bases. :-/

  6. dr_crabman - 24 September 2009 - 11:46

    cakesy said,
    How far along is this actual device. It looks good, but is it just Microsoft up to its old tricks again. Don't but the Apple touchpad, we are bringing out something better real soon.


    So now it's called a trick when MS shows a protoype, while the Apple-Tablet is nothing but a rumor? Funny how this works. If Apple had already released something similar I could maybe understand where you're coming from.

  7. Simon - 22 September 2009 - 23:56

    Want. Would switch from OS X.

  8. Stephen - 23 September 2009 - 01:28

    you said that about windows 7

  9. cakesy - 23 September 2009 - 02:17

    Ste said,
    you said that about windows 7

    Must have come to his senses

  10. Simon - 23 September 2009 - 03:00

    Ste, I said I could use Windows 7, not that I would switch :P

  11. Quikboy - 23 September 2009 - 05:35

    I think it's a custom tablet, like how the Zune HD uses a custom version of WinCE.

    I doubt it'll run Windows 7.

  12. vetSam Symons - 23 September 2009 - 07:53

    cakesy said,
    Must have come to his senses :)

    >_>

  13. AgentGray - 22 September 2009 - 23:56

    man... "It's going to be the future soon."

  14. PaulDr - 23 September 2009 - 00:42

    +1 Yah some awesome devices are on the horizon this is one i'm anxious to see how it turns out.

  15. xchaser - 23 September 2009 - 04:12

    Rolith said,
    man... "It's going to be the future soon."

    yea all we need is self driving and flying cars and its the future.

  16. Drunken Beard - 23 September 2009 - 14:49

    Nah ... you forgot about sky-houses attached to earth with long tubes.
    http://www.rachelleb.com/images/2004_04_15/jetsons.jpg

  17. andrewbares - 22 September 2009 - 23:56

    Want one

  18. Mega Goatlord - 22 September 2009 - 23:56

    I would buy one just for use as a ebook reader. Looks pretty nice.

  19. cakesy - 23 September 2009 - 02:18

    Do you need two screen for a ebook reader? And you would prob be better off with a e-ink display, with a battery that lasts days, not hours.

  20. UHYVE - 23 September 2009 - 09:54

    My first thought was that this would be really useful for Uni. Unfortunately I start my last year today, so I'll probably be finished by the time a mere mortal can get their hands on one of these.

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