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Early Details On Courier, Microsoft's Take On a Tablet

Posted by Soulskill on from the page-turners dept.

rbanffy points out an article on Gizmodo about Courier, a tablet (or more accurately, a booklet) in development at Microsoft. "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." A concept video shows off the ability to use the two different screens for separate purposes, like browsing the web or a photo album on the left and using the right as a notepad or workspace.

40 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Looks like a nice device by sopssa · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Courier actually does look really nice. I have been thinking of buying a eBook reader, but the fact this has dual screen with multitouch makes me want to wait for this one, and that it can act as a tablet too. It makes it a lot more book like which you can see from the pictures too.

    Besides eBook reader this would be a nice device to browse the web or do some work in the bed or sofa.

    And I'm suprised to say this but compared to Apple's tablet this will probably be more open (in the not-restricted-to-apples-store way) and have a Windows platform. I hope they reveal more details soon.

    1. Re:Looks like a nice device by manekineko2 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      To me this thing is in a completely different category from eBook readers.

      What you're really paying for on eBook readers and the real benefit is an e-ink display, which this most certainly does not have unless Microsoft has made some technological breakthroughs they're not sharing. If you get an eBook reader that uses regular LCDs you're right back in the realm of trying to read a book that's printed on top of a lightbulb that's switched on, with the accompanying battery requirements of powering said lightbulb.

    2. Re:Looks like a nice device by Raumkraut · · Score: 4, Informative

      The XO-2, most definitely: http://wiki.laptop.org/go/XO-2
      Asus are also working on something with a similar form-factor, last I heard.

      It's almost like companies noticed that the original XO laptop spawned the whole netbook craze, and decided they wanted to be in on OLPC's next big idea.

    3. Re:Looks like a nice device by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yep. Anyone who likes a device and can think of why they'd like it is obviously a plant.

    4. Re:Looks like a nice device by schnikies79 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It still has a backlit screen. I have yet to be able to read any ebooks on lcd or any other backlist screen. I've tried on my desktop, my netbook and my iphone.

      At this point, it's e-ink for ebooks or nothing.

      --
      Gone!
    5. Re:Looks like a nice device by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It still has a backlit screen. I have yet to be able to read any ebooks on lcd or any other backlist screen. I've tried on my desktop, my netbook and my iphone.

      At this point, it's e-ink for ebooks or nothing.

      Yep. Only e-ink for me for future readers. What's funny is that the only people that I know who have bad things to say about ebook readers are those who don't actually read. For some reason, they seem the most opposed to this change, yet they're the ones who won't be affected by it in any way (sort of like the hyper-religious and gay marriage). Everyone else seems at least interested, and when they see how you can use an e-ink device in full sunlight, they're pretty much convinced that's the way to go. That's not to say that other devices won't work for casual reading (iThings, netbooks, this thing, etc), but as far as truly dedicated reading devices go, e-ink has a HUGE advantage.

    6. Re:Looks like a nice device by wvmarle · · Score: 2, Interesting

      on eBook readers [...] the real benefit is an e-ink display, which this most certainly does not have unless Microsoft has made some technological breakthroughs they're not sharing.

      I'd say they for sure do not have such a tech. MS doesn't develop hardware, they are primarily a software company that is also putting together hardware devices. They do not develop hardware tech really - they use off-the-shelf (a PC with nice case = XBOX) tech and use that to build their stuff. That is not meant negatively; Apple is doing much of the same, just a bit more successful. It's like playing with legos, the creativity is in how you put the parts together.

    7. Re:Looks like a nice device by Golias · · Score: 5, Funny

      I would mostly be using it in a bed to read something or surf the web and so on.

      You can just come out and say that you want it for porn. It's okay.

      --

      Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

    8. Re:Looks like a nice device by Golias · · Score: 2, Funny

      You apparently cared enough to reply. Just not enough to explain.

      --

      Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

    9. Re:Looks like a nice device by Bat+Country · · Score: 2, Informative

      If you turn the brightness all the way down then read on a tight format black on white (like Microsoft Reader's default format) with a good print font (not a screen font) in a room that's comfortably lit, it's really no different from reading from a printed page. The light levels are identical and the contrast is just as good as reading a low quality paperback. I read on my laptop that way and have for years. It's quite comfortable, as soon as you figure out how to hold the laptop for maximum relaxation (actually less effort than reading a hardback book).

      I keep seeing people on Slashdot complain about how intensely bright the screen is and how it's just terrible. Has it not occurred to anybody to turn down the backlight and then read in a well-lit room (which you should be doing if you're reading anyway?)

      I can't read outdoors on a sunny day either because of the intensity of the light reflecting from the page, why should I expect to be able to comfortably read from a screen without turning the backlight down to minimum?

      --
      The land shall stone them with the bread of his son.
    10. Re:Looks like a nice device by ozmanjusri · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Anyone who likes a device and can think of why they'd like it is obviously a plant.

      In this case. it's pretty likely.

      Anyone who's been around long enough will see this footage has all the signs of a typical Microsoft marketing puff piece.

      Check out this video. See any similarities? Can you tell us what happened to the innovative product being marketed? Do you remember Origami? Natal? Surface?

      Microsoft operating systems are too bloated and slow to make an interface like this work, it's just another attempt to convince shareholders that their research money isn't being wasted.

      Ignore it. Nothing of value will come of it.

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
    11. Re:Looks like a nice device by lysergic.acid · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's hard to fathom that there may be a product out there that doesn't fit your personal preferences?

      I have no use for a smartphone personally. But I'm not going to be so presumptuous as to say that there's no place for such devices. I mean, it's neither a cellphone nor a laptop, but that has no bearing on the utility of such a device. Every new category of products exists to cater to a previously unfilled niche. It was the same with netbooks. And just as now, there were shortsighted/close-minded individuals who dismissed the device for not fitting into one extreme or another (palm pilot/organizer and laptop).

      I mean, what is so difficult to grasp about the reasoning that: since there are people who have uses for screens sizes 4" and less as well as those that measure over 9", there might also be a market for screens in between those ranges? If there are people who enjoy reading books on a tiny cellphone screen, then why not a device with a larger screen that is still portable? Frankly, 7" diagonal is about the size of a small netbook. That can easily fit into a purse or any of the pouches or pockets on a standard backpack. Heck, that's smaller than a small paperback novel that can easily fit in the side pockets of most of my pants.

      Your skewed sense of proportions aside, the functionality of a tablet/ebook is geared towards different applications from a netbook or laptop. Sure, you can read ebooks on a similar-sized netbook, but an ebook reader would benefit far more from dual screens than a keyboard. Likewise, there are people who require tablet functionality and not the extra features that come with a netbook. Some people might prefer taking hand-written notes or being able to highlight passages in books they're reading. A laptop that weighs much more, is far less portable, has a shorter battery life, costs more, and is inferior for what you need it for just doesn't make sense.

      Step outside of that solipsistic head space once in a while.

    12. Re:Looks like a nice device by Abreu · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Devices with LCD screens are still way cheaper and easier to read on than those darkgrey-on-lightgrey, expensive and slow e-ink displays.

      (unless of course, some breakthrough improvements have appeared and no one told me)

      --
      No sig for the moment.
    13. Re:Looks like a nice device by mobets · · Score: 2

      Funny how you neglected to mention Windows Mobile phones. Anyone with a copy of Visual Studio can write apps for them. No signature or app store required.

      --

      It was me, I did it, I moved your cheese
    14. Re:Looks like a nice device by Abreu · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The ability to use an e-ink device in the sunlight does not change the fact that when it comes to reading indoors (or in public transportation, etc) a regular LCD usually blows it out of the water when it comes to readability, price and speed.

      IMHO, the most critical aspect of E-ink that needs to be improved is the on-screen contrast (the current "grey-on-grey" screens are nearly unusable on regular indoors light)

      --
      No sig for the moment.
    15. Re:Looks like a nice device by Old97 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Who uses Windows mobile phones anymore?

      --
      Very often, people confuse simple with simplistic. The nuance is lost on most. - Clement Mok
    16. Re:Looks like a nice device by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      I've seen Surface in action and used it. It is very fast and responsive and actually everyone who used it was greatly impressed. Resolution was great...good enough to inspect x-rays and MRIs in detail.
      As far as the other projects you mention: not every R&D project becomes a product...that is the nature of R&D. I, for one, am glad to get a glimpse into what people are working on and thinking about. If MS didn't show these R&D efforts, you'd be the first one complaining how secretive they are.
      You are clearly too biased against MS (yeah, I know, welcome to /.)

    17. Re:Looks like a nice device by BrokenHalo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I guess its antecedents are open to debate. One thing that concerns me (but only a little) is from having looked at the demo video, it looks rather as if Microsoft have adopted the finger gestures (or whatever they're called) that Apple just nabbed a patent for a couple of months ago. IIRC there was a /. thread about it, but I can't find it at the moment.

      OT: Given how long Slashdot has been in existence, one might be forgiven for getting a bit cranky over Slashcode's inability to perform a simple keyword search on their own content.

      Anyway, back on-topic, the patent might only extend to mobile phones, but in a way (for once) I hope it doesn't. Having a 400-lb legal team with Microsoft's budget behind it might be just what it takes to nuke the patent from orbit.

  2. Most important question... by Toe,+The · · Score: 2, Funny

    Does it come in brown?

    1. Re:Most important question... by Canazza · · Score: 4, Funny

      You can have any colour you like, so long as it's Beige

      --
      It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
    2. Re:Most important question... by Ronald+Dumsfeld · · Score: 2, Funny

      You can have any colour you like, so long as it's Beige

      They've been working to make 'that damn colour' acceptable for decades.

      But first they had to ban smoking everywhere so it doesn't go nicotine yellow in a few weeks.

      --
      Where's the Kaboom?
      There's supposed to be an Earth-shattering Kaboom.
    3. Re:Most important question... by Penguinisto · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Even better question: Will they ever bother selling it?

      Microsoft has a nasty habit of fending off emerging threats by promising vaporware products that do the same job, only somehow better. In many of these cases, it's main job isn't to do $functionality, but distract attention and hype away from competitors (like, say, Apple's rumored tablet thingy), then the proposed product gets quietly buried once the hoopla is over.

      It's a great way to suck the oxygen out of an emerging concept that threatens any sort of status quo... after all, Microsoft's profit margins got socked in the gut pretty hard by the whole netbook emergence.

      --
      Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
  3. Knowledge Navigator by Toe,+The · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Ya know... it looks a little bit like the Apple Knowledge Navigator, a 1987 concept.

    1. Re:Knowledge Navigator by CannonballHead · · Score: 2

      It does? They both have screens, yes. I don't see too much similar other than that..

  4. To make this device truly useful... by Bicx · · Score: 4, Funny

    one of the screens could be replaced by a full Querty keyboard for rapid word processing. You could then hold it in your lap while typing with the speed of both hands.

    1. Re:To make this device truly useful... by Foofoobar · · Score: 3, Funny

      Querty? I think you put your keys back in the wrong order after cleaning your keyboard.

      --
      This is my sig. There are many like it but this one is mine.
    2. Re:To make this device truly useful... by Bicx · · Score: 5, Funny

      Uhat are you talking about?

    3. Re:To make this device truly useful... by pavon · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hou did yow end wp with tuo 'w' keys?

  5. About Time... by ReverendDC · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Two screens double the size of an iPhones. Very nice. The pocket in the middle...very nice. the folding (a 15" combined screen area in a package the size of a small netbook)...very, very nice. If this thing even thinks about supporting Office, Apple may have a tough time competing with this thing if it is all as listed here. Of course, as with any company, things change before release (anyone remember WinFS?).

  6. OS and Software are the biggest question marks by mantis2009 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The video provided by Gizmodo shows a revolutionary multitouch UI. It might be more related to the system Microsoft developed for its Surface computers, rather than Windows 7's built in multitouch. Whether the mockup described in the video represents an entirely new Microsoft OS or an application running on top of an existing OS will be an interesting clue as to Microsoft's strategy for the tablet market.

  7. The Origami Project by p0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Remember that? Wasn't it supposed to do this shit 3 years ago? Here we go again.

    --
    This is my sig. There are thousands more, but this one is mine.
  8. Can't Wait... by swanzilla · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...dual blue screens of death

    --
    0 = 1 + e^(Alt something)
  9. Re:Looks very nice but... by Brandee07 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The UI is just another part of the mock-up. It looks to be very dependent on handwriting recognition for character input, like entering the URL, which is very, very difficult to do right. (Has anyone done this well enough to be useful yet?)

    There's no evidence that the UI in general is any more developed than the hardware side of the device- and until someone actually gets their hands on one, we won't know if the UI is any good or not. Remember, this is the same company that produced Vista's shutdown menu.

  10. Re:It sucks by Diabolus+Advocatus · · Score: 2, Informative

    Sure MS might suck as a corporation, and release dodgy software and charge more then acceptable for it, but their hardware division is actually quite good. I have plenty of MS hardware and it [i]is[/i] good quality, far better than the software. Don't paint all their products with the same brush.

  11. Why? by miffo.swe · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Reporting on Microsoft vapourware is just plain silly considering how little of their announcements that reach the market. Considering how much specs that gets tossed out the window to get it out after delays upon delays makes it even more pointless.

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    HTTP/1.1 400
  12. Re:It sucks by dtolman · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah - what is MS thinking, trying to sell to hundreds of millions of customers, when they could go after a market of a few hundred thousand.

  13. I like it... but by rAiNsT0rm · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've always been a huge proponent of a dual screen laptop. A ton of people cry about the lack of a tactile keyboard and it always ends there. Haptic feedback is getting better and I can see that as the future but for now something like this is needed. A single screen tablet just isn't useful or natural and they never truly caught on. This type of device is. I think it should actually be oriented as a regular laptop with a simple sensor to know the orientation change to portrait mode and function as shown in the demo videos. Just having the option is better than making it a portrait only device for no real reason.

    My other concern is that Microsoft is not good at UI design. Occasionally they have flashes of brilliance but on the whole they fail miserably in this regard. Apple is not always better, so this isn't some fanboy argument. What they should do it farm out the UI to a design firm, something along the lines of Art Lebedev. Let it be truly revolutionary instead of being handcuffed by old ideas and methodologies.

    Foe me, you give me those two things and make it a bit thinner but strong and I'm totally sold. I don't think it needs to be netbook cheap even, a fair range of $1200-$1600 and I think it is a winner. Teachers, students, professionals, ebooks, etc. in one device is a disruptive technology.

    --
    http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
  14. Re:Someone over there heard "e-books"... by bdsesq · · Score: 2, Informative

    I see a number of significant advantages to a two-page style design:

    Having a hinge with all the necessary wires going thru it is not an advantage. Laptops have similar designs but this looks like it will be flexed a lot more often than people move their laptop screens.

  15. Re:"booklet" computer a great idea by S1ngularity · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I have to agree with you on this one. The fact that it can look like a book sitting in your hands, with what looks like nice leather bindings, adds to a certain aesthetic snoot that usually only applies to Apples products.

  16. Am I the only one... by Comboman · · Score: 2, Funny

    Am I the only one who expected the logo for a Microsoft product called Courier to use a different font?

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