Tag Archives: Microsoft Courier

The Microsoft Courier is no more

April 29, 2010News, Technologydead rumor, Microsoft, Microsoft Courier, rumor, tabletScott Meisner

At any given time, we’re looking at new ideas, investigating, testing, incubating them. It’s in our DNA to develop new form factors and natural user interfaces to foster productivity and creativity. The Courier project is an example of this type of effort. It will be evaluated for use in future offerings, but we have no plans to build such a device at this time. – Frank Shaw, Microsoft Corporate VP of Communications

And just like that, Microsoft confirmed and, unfortunately, denied the Microsoft Courier. Back in September Gizmodo broke news that Microsoft had a magical tablet of sorts in the works; pictures and even a video of the prototype device had found its way into the mainstream. Then came October and November, and those months brought more leaked video and images. Then as recent as last month hard details surfaced; this “digital journal” running an advanced varient of Windows Phone 7 with enhanced UI features like dragging, flicking, copy & pasting, and “pocket”-ing all of a sudden started to come alive. And then the words of Frank Shaw shut it all off. The Microsoft Courier, the future proto-tablet that could, ceased to become a reality.

According to sources close to the matter Microsoft did hire an internal team to work on the Courier and there were actual plans to tranform it into a marketable device. However, Microsoft just recently ordered Team Courier to close up shop. Reasons, unknown. Although the Courier prototype we’ve come to know and love thanks to a slew of leaked renders is dead and gone, all is not for naught. We may very well see the innovative user interface deisgn come to fruition in some other Microsoft project(s) in the works. But it’s a shame, really. Microsoft–you had something BEYOND AWESOME with this thing! Oh well, Windows Phone 7 will have to fill the void.

[Via Gizmodo; Endadget]

Microsoft Courier details surface

March 6, 2010Images, Technology, VideoCourier, journal, Microsoft, Microsoft Courier, rumor mill, rumors, tabletScott Meisner

Remember when Gizmodo first picked up this story back in September about a Microsoft hardware-and-software-designed booklet of sorts? Since then I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground, picking up on anything concerning the secret device. Today new details emerged about what’s being called the Microsoft Courier. According to the latest sources (as relayed by Engadget) the device will be smaller than expected, not much bigger than a 5×7 photo when closed and will be under one inch thick and weigh a slightly over a pound. The operating system will be powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2 hardware and based on the same OS as Windows Phone 7 Series and Zune HD. The device will also include a built-in camera, headphone jack for media playback, and a stylus for writing and drawing. The source pegs a release date of “Q3 / Q4” of this year.

The Courier is being dubbed a “digital journal” whose sleek user interface will revolve around pen-based interaction with the help of handwriting recognition software. If you take a look at the latest videos (look after the break for another) and images (see below) you can tell the developers behind this device have really come a long way in the design process. The overall UI experience looks tighter, more defined, and user friendly. The demos feature many touch-based actions like dragging, flicking, copy & pasting, and “pocket”-ing. At its core, Courier is an “infinite,” highly customizable journal; it’s a place to discover and collect things of interest locally and over the Internet and use them to create. Or as Microsoft says, it’s about “bringing ideas to life.” I smell a worthy iPad contender. Tickle me highly intrigued.

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading Microsoft Courier details surface →

Microsoft Courier UI in more detail

November 7, 2009Images, TechnologyLeak, Microsoft, Microsoft Courier, tablet, UI, user interfaceScott Meisner

Gizmodo’s got the scoop on how the oft-rumored Microsoft Courier tablet will function. Some features include finger-swipes and gestures, “clip, tuck, and paste,” and a camera. The user interface includes Infinite Journal, Smart Agenda, and the Library. The device will have its own browser, information will stored on “the cloud” (allowing users to edit/share their data on various devices), and it will come with a pen (not stylus) that functions as a drawing tool and has two buttons. For detailed explanations on all of these features check out Gizmodo’s coverage. Or just look in the gallery below for some concept screen shots of this tablet-of-the-hopefully-near-future.

[Via Gizmodo]

Microsoft Courier: UI tour, additional details in the rumor mill

October 2, 2009News, Technology, Videobooklet, Mary Jo-Fo, Microsoft, Microsoft Courier, rumor mill, rumors, speculation, tabletScott Meisner

In addition to this revealing video picked up at Gizmodo, ZDNet’s Mary Jo-Foley reported on new speculation from a “more verifiable source” that sheds some more light on the still unannounced Microsoft Courier booklet device. Her source claims that the Courier is currently running on top of the Windows 7 operating system. However, the consumer will not be able to install Windows 7 apps on the device: Microsoft tablets of the past “failed because the applications were not tailored to a tablet form factor – that is, Word still had toolbars and menus and scollbars. So, a tablet needs to be like an iPhone – a UX that is specific for the form factor.” The source mentions that the development team at Microsoft is creating this device like they did the Xbox video game console; Microsoft will handle the hardware and software so as to speed up the development process. The source also says that the Courier is on track for a “mid-2010” release.

Very interesting tidbits of information, yes. As Apple is currently in the process of manufacturing their own tablet, I am excited to see how all of this will play out. Will it be the MS Courier vs. the Apple tablet in the near future? Only time (and potential surfacing FCC filings) will tell.

[Via Gizmodo; ZDNet]

Microsoft Courier booklet device

September 25, 2009Images, Technology, Videobooklet, Gizmodo, in-development, Leak, Microsoft, Microsoft Courier, multitouch, prototype, tabletScott Meisner

The awesome dudes at Gizmodo picked up this story earlier this week, and boy is it a fascinating one. What was a big secret for Microsoft has now been reveiled to the public–a MS-hardware and software designed booklet.

Gizmodo has the details:

Until recently, it was a skunkworks project deep inside Microsoft, only known to the few engineers and executives working on it.

Courier is a real device, and we’ve heard that it’s in the “late prototype” stage of development. It’s not a tablet, it’s a booklet. The dual 7-inch (or so) screens are multitouch, and designed for writing, flicking and drawing with a stylus, in addition to fingers. They’re connected by a hinge that holds a single iPhone-esque home button. Statuses, like wireless signal and battery life, are displayed along the rim of one of the screens. On the back cover is a camera, and it might charge through an inductive pad, like the Palm Touchstone charging dock for Pre.

So, the MS Courier is in fact a real device, it packs two 7-inch multitouch displays and an integrated camera, and has a UI design that looks sleek, organized, and most importantly, simple. For more on the UI, check out the video below for a quick tour of the Courier user interface, still in development. One question: What’s with the stylus? That’s so 1990s!

[Via Gizmodo]