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What is Microsoft's Origami Project?
An anonymous reader writes "Rumors are running around the web about a new Microsoft gadget codenamed Origami that will be unveiled on March 2nd. Speculation can be found on Designtastesgood, Scobleizer, and Thatedeguy, and WindowsForDevices has a description and photos of a prototype Origami device built by National Semiconductor 2001. Anybody out there know more about this new device?"
FTFA:
"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."
That's the Origami vaporware. Now, what's my SonyEricsson K750? Without folding or pivoting, it's a digital video/still camcorder, MP3 player, contacts/calendar/notes PDA, GPRS Internet, and picture frame. With Java applets, it's a "smartphone", and with applets and a Bluetooth keyboard it's an email device and maybe even "videoconferencing terminal". And it pivots images for preferred display orientation on user demand.
And it's over a year old. I'm sure there are phones with better email and "videoconferencing". What is this Microsoft astroturf?
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make install -not war
About 8 months ago, I submitted my resume to do some Perl work on a tracking database for a MS product. I didn't get the gig because I was only willing to work nights/weekends, but in discussions with the recruiter, he told me it was for a MS handheld game console. This is about the right time for it to be announced.
1) Take customer's money.
2) Fold it in half.
3) Stick it in Bill Gate's wallet.
4) Origami!
Take a look at this origami puppet.
The linked image shows it with a face, but when I grew up, you would write the numbers or letters on each face (like 1, 2, 3, and 4). You can put four fingers into it. Then you can open the "mouth" horizontally or vertically. You would tell someone to pick a number. Then you would count 1 (open horiz), 2, (open vert), 3 (open horiz), 4 (open vert). Once you open it, 4 more faces appear. Maybe they have 4 colors. The person picks a color. Then, you unfold whichever face has that color written on it. Then, a fortune is written on that fold.
There are lots of variations. I know it is still a common schoolyard thing for American pre-teens. The joke is only funny if you picture someone going through the motions as you read the post.