Microsoft to announce something March 3rd?

[Allan]

In the United States, our date format is mm/dd/yyyy. In England, it is dd/mm/yyyy. ;)

Our format dd/mm/yyyy is more logical.

lol.. Here we go again... More viral marketing... :|

Over here we use the ISO 8601 standard. :) YYYY-MM-DD. I particularly like that for being unambiguous. Why? Because you never have to wonder if it's MM/DD/YY(YY) or DD/MM/YY(YY). It can only be one date format, because there is no YYYY-DD-MM format in use. I don't think mm/dd/yy avoids any problems better than dd/mm/yy or vice versa as long as there are these two formats in use.

There was news a few months ago, about governments getting together, to adopt the ISO 8601. Personally, when ever I do personal notes etc, I use YYYY-MM-DD. Or 2006-Feb-24. I find it a LOT easier because it's the year, month, date. NO guessing, no problems.

As for the item ... it'll be interesting, and I'll keep my eyes on the front page for news :D ...

Edited February 24, 2006 by Allan

[jimbo12141]

looks interesting what ever it is, not long now!

[xorian]

My best guess it's something non-Windows/Office related, probably something for the Xbox or perhaps a portable mp3 player or so .. dunno! :)

[sohman]

probably the new AI in vista :rofl:

[alsiladka]

Microsoft Watch - A new Device

The Origami Project Web site is registered to Microsoft. The code name refers to "a new kind of device," according to Microsoft evangelist Robert Scoble, who is now on the run from the NDA police. So what is this thing, that's due to be unveiled on March 2? A portable Xbox? Some kind of new Smartphone? ThatEdGuy says Origami could be a portable mobile communicator, plans for which were first unveiled back in 2001. Anyone else got an inside track out there?

[Von_Beard]

:blink: what a werid intro

[ObiWanToby]

Intelman you know Origami is not just some made-up word... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origami

I know what it is....

[neostyle]

its a codename for a device

I do know that Origami is the code-name for a new kind of device.

http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/2006/02/23...oject/#comments

[Bitlocker]

Something new will release on 2MAR2006 by Microsoft!

http://www.origamiproject.com

Wallop? Vista ? Windows Live ? Don't known yet!

[ecotrojan]

erm 1st item on Front page ?

[eminem213486]

i remember seeing these lifestyle pcs on winsupersite... i either now cant find em or they were taken out. i distincly remmeber seeing 3 different versions. that popular and ugly red one with the keypad another white i think with no keypad and a blue with no keypad... can someone find those on winsupersite? im not sure if it was in one of the CES shows or PDCs....

[OrangeSoul]

found something

Measuring just 7.5 inches long, less than 4 inches wide, 1.5 inches thick and weighing about 10 ounces, Origami's flexible form factor reflects its multiple uses. 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. Origami can also be scaled for future 2.5 and 3G cellular networks such as GPRS and W-CDMA.

The device runs Microsoft Windows Embedded XP and leverages the broad array of applications already available for that platform -- applications such as NetMeeting for videoconferencing, Internet Explorer 6.0 for browsing and Windows Media Player.

Studio RED, Inc., a Silicon Valley product development firm, has designed and engineered high-tech consumer products for almost 20 years. National approached Studio RED to create the industrial design for its revolutionary Origami prototype.

CoCom International, Ltd., a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, completed the manufacturing process by combining the silicon content from National with the industrial design from Studio RED.

National's award-winning, high performance, low power Geode SC3200 processor is at the heart of Origami. This processor features integrated, high-end video graphics and full 16-bit stereo audio that offers the optimal balance between cost, performance and power consumption, enabling manufacturers to build affordable, full-function devices.

http://www.windowsfordevices.com/news/NS8453619566.html

http://robbushway.blogspot.com/2006/02/ult...pcs-coming.html

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,...2129TX1K0000535

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/4680

[anonymousjon]

hmm now this is a tricky one.. Im willing to bet it is the phone thing, but the week1 week2 week3 bit at the bottom of the flash interests me, if it is the phone my guess is that its not going to be released on March 2nd, on March 2nd we will simply find more information on that site, then another week later more information then possibly the release, or maybe somthing similar to this :)

to the people earlier in the thread talking about t possibly being Windows Live related, yup theres always that possibility, I mean the idea of Windows Live is that you can use it anywhere, access your informationj eg Favorites anywhere. And to the person that said "windows live has already been anonced and we almost know everything about it, so it must be something else" yup its been anounced but everything is still beta no releases full releases yet and nope you dont know almost everything about it, theres ALOT more to come ;)

[NoneAvail]

Microsoft mPod....

[OrangeSoul]

ooooh HOT INFO

Engadget got this picture sent to them. they describe is as a portable media player

The keyboard is seperate from the screen display and can be attached

the stylus also seems to say its a touchscreen media player, the first ever mainstream touchscreen portable media player

What do you think????

http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/24/microso...rigami-project/

[figgy]

Doesn't look fake.

But who knows.

[eminem213486]

i wonder if this device will use vistas sideshow feature to show a small display device on the back so when it folds it protects the main big screen and will in turn, turn on the sideshow display to display cached info while your handheld is off. ms also said media player functions would work.... so theres the mp3 player.

it would most likelly have a camera too, very small and at the top like the engadget pictures show, btw is that a media center button on the bottom right hand corner of the device, and a dvi port on the side of the black one... HDCP output to HDTVs.. ? lol. (probably early prototypes included dvi.. but how it seems HDMI would be a better option since both audio and video on one smaller port but who knows hardware size limitations.

ms is touting it as wearable, meaning youll always have it with you, itll become a necessity... like a cellphone is today... (video calling over 3g with this)!

Edited February 25, 2006 by eminem213486

[eminem213486]

i found this:

http://www.infologixsys.com/products/Retai...ker/default.asp

the video on teh site is at http://www.keepmyfile.com/download/172ad9534640 if it goes down due to bandwidth...

this is made by via and it already runs full windows... with atouch screen interface. that is a slim device... hardware has only gotten even smaller since then

Full-function computing

quotes from site:

No need to spend money rewriting programs for Palm or CE devices.

Windows-based PC runs Legacy applications, saving valuable training and development time.

Flexibility in connectivity - Supports most 802.11B wireless PCMCIA cards.

Unlike other mobile computing devices, users can interface with the mobile computer through a family of handheld touch displays, speech or head-mounted displays

The lightweight, wearable design of the mobile computer gives users the full-function power of a laptop in a convenient handsfree format. Users further expand the function of the ViA 2-B Wearable by adding peripherals such as hand-held display, wireless LAN, GPS, cellular phone or video camera. Whether you work indoors, outdoors, or both, you'll appreciate the crisp color images of these mobile computer SVGA displays.

[CoolCatBad]

I think the main question will be the price.

Will they try to undercut the retail market of all given competitors in all the various fields in which this device competes?

This would mean immediate domination of the hand-held scene.

It would involve taking an initial loss, but Microsoft could wear that.

[P.M.K]

Our format dd/mm/yyyy is more logical.

I agree :)

Site looks intresting. And it does look like something big.

[sevensage]

Sounds/looks like Microsoft is waiting for something - week1 week2 week3 - a verdict?

I'm thinking Blackberry

[viciv]

mpod? :blink:

[eminem213486]

has anyone posted this already ??

http://www.flipstart.com/aboutproduct_feat...izeandpower.asp

Full Windows XP Home/Professional operating system

1 GHz processor

256 MB system DRAM

30 GB hard drive

3D graphics with 8MB video DRAM

5.8" x 4.0" x 1.0" (148mm x 101mm x 26mm)

Weighs under 1.0 lb (450g)

USB 2.0 port

Thumb-operated track wheel and track point devices

Left and right mouse buttons

Touchpoint

Touchpad

Customized hot keys for commonly-used functions

MiddleMan? software and scroll wheel simplify navigation in handheld mode

Near HDTV-quality (1024 x 600) display provides a crisp view of multimedia files and applications

Integrated 802.11 b (11 Mbps) /g (54 Mbps) wireless network connectivity

Proprietary mobile email (a Microsoft? Office Outlook? 2003 plug-in) enables a more efficient email experience on low bandwidth connections while preserving battery life

Bluetooth? wireless technology (optional)

Wide area networking (optional)

Two full days standby power

One full day operation in low-power mode

2-3 hours running Windows? XP operating system and Microsoft? Office applications

Low-Power Interactive Display module gives you instant access to Microsoft? Office Outlook? email, calendar reminders, contacts and MP3 files from anywhere:

Low-power mode extends battery life

Immediate access to Outlook email, calendar, and contacts

The ability to browse and play MP3 music files (VISTA sideshow anyone?)

Transform FlipStart into whatever you need. Attach a full-size monitor, keyboard, and mouse for a traditional desktop PC experience, or connect a VGA display to give a presentation.

Plug in the optional port replicator:

Ethernet (10/100 Mbps)

Additional USB 2.0 ports

VGA, stereo in/out, and microphone in

NTSC video out

Attach it to the optional Mini Dock:

Additional USB 2.0 ports

DVD-CD/RW drive

Modem with RJ-11 jack

ps. Vulcan, a company set up by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen

[CoolCatBad]

More pics, plus a link to a flash video

http://kevintwodotoh.com/2006/02/25/hardwa...-real-deal.html

[Malisk]

^^ Yep, it's leaked now (or maybe not really that word -- but found out through non-MS sources anyway...).