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After failing to deliver with the Kin, Pink and Courier projects, Microsoft is brainstorming again and it has already starting working on something called “Menlo”. This project involves a high end mobile device, that’s showcased below, in prototype form.
The handset comes with 4.1 inch capacitive touch display (800 x 480 pixels) and it runs Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2. Its feature list also includes a Bosch BMA150 accelerometer (3 axis) and a barometer (Bosch BMP085 digital pressure sensor). There’s also a nifty software for this platform: Greenfield, used to retrace the user’s footsteps to his car, based on sensors.
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In case you’re a frequent visitor of our site, you must have noticed the Windows Mobile 8 interface concept, created by Remort1. This Esato board member showed us two of this ideas of the UI of the future OS, applied to a Sony Ericsson XPERIA-like device.
This time, we have a look at the media playback menu, complete with browsing, artwork and options.
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We already know that Apple is readying a tablet for those MacBook and iPhone fans, while Microsoft has already leaked its similar product, the Courier tablet. In case you’re worried about having to use a keyboard connected to the portable device in order to be able to write decently, worry not, as Microsoft has got it covered.
What you can see above is a Microsoft multitouch keyboard concept, allowing the user to write efficiently by tapping the display. The technology was recently filed as a patent by the Redmond giant and it turns out that the virtual keyboard will appear on screen whenever the user wants to write something, no matter where the hands are placed on the display.
This provides efficiency and huge user-friendliness, plus you won’t have to look at the screen, specially if the virtual keypad follows your hands. Strangely enough, there seems to be no letter “G” on the keyboard pictured above. Does Microsoft hate Google that much?
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If you thought that Microsoft Courier, the tablet prototype we’ve shown you yesterday was bad, wait till you see the handsets that Microsoft has readied for us! Yes, it’s true, the Project Pink phones have leaked online, the Turtle and Pure handsets being available in the following images.
The devices are made in cooperation with Sharp, using the Danger and Sidekick expertise, which is not necessarily a good thing. Turtle looks just like a Palm Pre on steroids, while Microsoft Pure is an average slider, resembling Motorola CLIQ. Notice that the phones look plasticky and that they feature rounded edges, probably for a more fun approach.
Rumour has it that these devices will provide support for Zune services, but don’t be surprised if there’s also some Xbox action in there.
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Well, what do you know? Microsoft’s done it again! While everyone’s fretting for Apple’s upcoming tablet, Microsoft seemingly readying its own bundle of joy and this time it’s not even an iPhone rival we’re talking about. Microsoft Courier is a mystery tablet that gets pictured below and detailed after the break.
Turns out that Courier is real, although I wouldn’t bet my house on the fact that this isn’t a mere concept, soon to be denied by Microsoft. It’s a tad wrong to call this device a tablet, since it’s more of a booklet, packing dual 7 inch screens, with multitouch support and allowing the user to write, flick and draw with a stylus and his fingers.
The touchscreens are connected via a hinge that incorporates an iPhone-like Home button. At the back you can spot a 3 megapixel camera, with 4x zoom and flash, plus the device is able to charge thanks to an inductive pad, like the Palm Touchstone. Keep in mind that the hinge of the booklet can be used as a “pocket” to hold items that need to be moved from one page to another.
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Count this one as a rumour, or simply the moment when the world learned that Microsoft wants to create an iPhone of its own. Since Zune HD is selling out everywhere, it’s clearly a hit and a phone version of it would surely conquer the world. The guys of 9to5mac have uncovered that Microsoft will launch two phones in 2010, in cooperation with Sharp.
Dubbed “Turtle” and “Pure”, the phones are part of “Project Pink” and Sharp will assist Microsoft through the development of these devices. Word has it that Turtle resembles Motorola QA1, but all in all we might be dealing with Sidekick-like handsets, since the Danger buyout was also mentioned as part of the rumour.
Pure is a more traditional handset, with the candybar form factor and we should expect to see both phones released at CES 2010 in January. Rumours or reality?
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Here’s some neat Windows Mobile concept art, that might predict the future of the platform. The great design was created by Robin Zhu, former Microsoft employee (Visual UX Lead) between 2004 and 2008.
We’ve also found out that Robin Zhu plans on launching a person site with his portofolio on September 9, 2009 (09.09.09… Tim Burton’s movie “9″ is also coming on the same date, strange right?).
What do you say? Does the future look bright for Microsoft’s platform?
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As if Windows Mobile 7 wasn’t cool enough to get shown on any new smartphone, here’s a mystery device showcasing the features of Microsoft’s upcoming operating system. We’re dealing with a screenshot of the navigational feature, plus a bit of the Home screen on what seems to be a futuristic and very slim Windows Mobile smartphone.
Full touch, speakers, huge memory… you know the drill. It this mockup realistic or more close to a concept?
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We know that you’re already familiar with this picture, but it now comes with a brand new set of rumours and maybe specs. The latest rumours claim that there’s a xYz project coming from Microsoft and it includes a portable device, able to play music, movie and guess what… Xbox 360 games. Portable Xbox? Mhm.
Team Xbox says that their inside sources from Microsoft provided the info and that this device is NOT a phone. The xYz will feature a WVGA touchscreen and maybe even WiMAX or graphic processing chipsets. There’s also Live Anywhere on board and a medley of all Microsoft services, providing content, search, maps and games.
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Microsoft has just launched a new Twitter account (fake, see update below) supporting the launch of Office 2010 and they used the occasion to tweet about some Zune novelty coming in June 2009. The Redmond giant also advised folks to hold off from buying an iPhone or Palm Pre, as a new product is about to be launched.
Worst case scenario: Zune HD will make its appearance and attempt to compete against the iPod Touch. Best case scenario: project Pink is real and there’s a Zune Phone out there to stun us all.
However, there’s an even better case scenario, considering that the famous E3 gaming expo kicks off on June 2nd… could the new Zune product (phone or HD player) support Xbox gaming?
UPDATE: Turns out that the Twitter account was fake and it was all a hoax from a non-Microsoft guy. Well, we’re still hoping for the Zune Phone to turn up…
(3 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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After failing to deliver with the Kin, Pink and Courier projects, Microsoft is brainstorming again and it has already starting working on something called “Menlo”. This project involves a high end mobile device, that’s showcased below, in prototype form.
