Microsoft has made Origami Experience 2.0 available for download. A collection of programs designed to enhance the user experience of ultra-Mobile PCs, Origami Experience 2.0 is set up to integrate seamlessly with Microsoft's latest Windows operating system. In the Redmond company's vision, UMPCs upgraded to Windows Vista should also feature Origami Experience 2.0, as the project announced at the Consumer Electronics Show January 2008 was finalized. In fact, even as early as the start of May, the Origami team was hinting that the downloads of 2.0 were planned to go live with the final bits.

"The Origami Experience 2.0 is designed for Ultra-Mobile PCs that run Windows Vista. To run the Origami Experience 2.0, a UMPC with the following specifications is recommended: minimum 100 MB of available hard disk space; minimum 1 GB of system memory and touch panel display (required for Origami Picture Password)," revealed Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc.

A total of four applications have been packaged into Origami Experience 2.0. Users running Windows Vista Business; Enterprise; Home Premium; and Ultimate on UMPCs will be able to enjoy the added power, flexibility and functionality of Origami Experience 2.0: Origami Central, Origami Now, Origami Picture Password and Touch Settings.

Origami Central will permit Vista UMPC users to do anything from surfing the web to navigating through the media library on the machine, including music, videos and photos. Through Origami Now, a collection of customized tiles can be set up with content such as RSS feeds and email for easy access. Origami Picture Password features a new way to control the login process to UMPCs running Vista, enabling the use of a picture instead of a traditional text password. But most importantly, Origami Experience 2.0 comes with Touch Settings, and Vista copies on UMPCs with Touch capabilities can be customized for what Microsoft refers to as a natural user interface.

"The Origami Experience 2.0 requires the following software installed: Windows Internet Explorer 7. Origami Experience 2.0 requires Internet Explorer 7 for its RSS platform. Windows Media Player 11. Origami Central requires Windows Media Player 11 in order to manage and play media. Microsoft Office Outlook 2007. The calendar tile in Origami Now works only with Office Outlook 2007 Calendar. The mail tile in Origami Now works with Office Outlook 2007 Mail and Windows Mail," LeBlanc added.

Origami Experience 2.0 is available for download here.