Microsoft's handheld to be revealed on March 2?

[Black_Smoke]

Microsoft's handheld to be revealed March 2nd?

Source: An industry-rattling expose in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The official story: See Below

What we heard: Ever since CES in January, rumors have been circulating that Microsoft may soon enter the handheld market. Most of these sprung from a BusinessWeek article which cited an anonymous source inside the Redmond, Washington-based software colossus as "working on plans to develop its own portable digital media device to rival the iPod." Speaking hypothetically, Xbox marketing chief Peter Moore said any such device would also have gaming functionality. "It can't just be our version of the iPod," he told the magazine.

At the same time, one of Microsoft's signature teaser Web sites sprouted up at the URL www.origamiproject.com. Via some slick flash animation, the site asks visitors "Do you know me?" "Do you know what I can do?" "Do you know where I can go?" It then promises that, "You will ... Learn more on 3.2.06."

Given the looming launch of Windows Vista, many assumed the site was part of the effort to help hype Microsoft's new PC operating system. However, over the weekend, reports surfaced that Project Origami is actually the code name for a new portable which combines media-player and PC functionality.

The evidence came in the form of a video clip that was uncovered on the Web site for the film-production company Digital Kitchen. The clip, which has since been taken down, showed a "concept device ... noticeably larger than the iPod and somewhat bigger than Sony's PlayStation Portable," according to the Post-Intelligencer. The video also "shows people using the device not only as a music player, but also as a miniature personal computer for accessing the Internet, sending e-mail, editing photos and playing video games."

What games, you ask? A copy of the video viewed by GameSpot clearly shows a user playing what looks like a handheld version of Halo in a train station, and an image in the Post-Intelligencer's gallery of stills also shows the Bungie game on the portable's screen. Unlike the side-scrolling spin-offs that were once-rumored to be coming to portables, the Origami Halo looks much like the same graphic-intensive first-person shooter that has become legendary on the Xbox and PC.

[UPDATE] However, it remains unclear when--or if--gamers will be able to get their hands on a mini-Master Chief. Instead of busting out the usual "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation" boilerplate, reps for the company admitted the video was legit. "While Origami is a concept we've been working on with partners, please know that the video seen on Digital Kitchen's web site is a year old and represents our initial exploration into this form factor, including possible uses and scenarios," a Microsoft rep told GameSpot.


Though reps wouldn't comment on the Halo footage specifically, their references to "possible uses and scenarios" means the footage was likely for demonstration purposes only. "Everything in the video was 100 percent pure concept, so take nothing as an indication of what may or may not be in any such final product," a source close to Microsoft told GameSpot. "I'm sure they just took some Halo footage and stuck it in there since it's a Microsoft property."

So will the portable device have gaming functionality? Hopefully we'll know soon. The reps also said that details on the Origami Project would be revealed "in the coming weeks." Maybe they should've said "the coming days," as the date on the origamiproject.com is this Thursday--less than 72 hours away.


Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus that something is getting unveiled on March 2--and we can't wait to see what it is.





Gonna be interesting to see what it is they unveiling, this thursday will kno fo sho   

[Black_Smoke]

more info n pics

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/691/691756p1.html

named "Origami." The tablet looks like more of a portable PC than a dedicated handheld gaming machine, but in the video, a young man was shown playing the blockbuster-hit Halo. Check out the Origami video here.

 
seattlepi.com 
A PC on the go. 
 
From the video, Origami looks to be about the size of a standard keyboard, minus the number pad, a bit larger than Sony's PSP handheld. In the video, Origami was used to listen to music, send instant messages, draw silly pictures, access road maps and send pictures online. It could be docked to a PC, used as a remote control for the Window Media Center, used to play videogames and surf the Web and send email and pretty much any task that is humanly possible.

 
seattlepi.com 
Finally, Halo in the workplace. 
 
Keep in mind that the movie is a year old, and is purely video concept art at this point, reported the Seattle Post Intelligencer. We could be seeing confirmation of the project with all the details as early as March 2, according to Origamiproject.com, a site that is accessible through Microsoft.com.

 
seattlepi.com 
Hook it up to a keyboard. 
 
Rumors of a Microsoft handheld have been swirling for some time as the company is looking to break into a market dominated by Apple's iPod. The Origami project appears to be more of a mini, mobile do-everything PC instead of just a music player or just a gaming system. There is a possibility that Origami will also be compatible some way with the Xbox 360, although it's pure speculation as to if full production title or Xbox Live Arcade games will be playable.

We'll keep you posted as more details of the Origami project surface, but keep your eyes peeled March 2 for major details from Microsoft.


click the link to see suppose pics of it

link to the origami video:

http://creativecoremedia.com/mso.swf

[Sikotic™]

i thought a handheld was technically something you can actually hold with one hand. That thing is huge.

[The Watcher]

yeah, but it will run a full version of windows, not like pocketpc's or whatever .. im just wondering what sort of processor it will use, if you can just put normal PC software/games on it

[Jome]

It's mad ugly, it ain't got nothing on PSP.

[Black_Smoke]

It's mad ugly, it ain't got nothing on PSP.

well we dont know what its capable of so we cant really say that yet,plus those r sum pretty bad screenshots of it ,gotta wait till thursday to find out more info

[BizzyR.I.P.]

If it doesn't fit in your pocket, it's not a handheld. That's like trying to pass off a portable DVD as a handheld device.

[Sikotic™]

I'm sure it's packed with features, but they really should remodel it. It looks like a god damn Game Gear on steroids.

[E. J. Rizo]

dont htink it will do anything to the ipod its a whole different market .... as well as it wont do anything to the psp .... i think this is a whole other thing this if anythign will affect the PDA's portable computer market

[Black_Smoke]

Theyve delayed it another week,gotta wait till March 9th now

[Don Jacob]

that shit looks like a 99 cent store picture frame or somethin

[h cottie is bac-tive?]

that thing resembles the remote celebrities have that controls everything in the house.

[eKardz]

it looks likea  good start but its fucking huge, looks like a fone book

[Black_Smoke]

yea i think itll b more like a portable pc then a gaming handheld,cuz it so big n stuff ,gonna have to wait n see..

[MIC]

yea i think itll b more like a portable pc then a gaming handheld

Looks like you're right:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6145278.html?q=origami