14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has increasingly been placing a strong emphasis on mobility with its software products. Windows Vista is an illustrative example in this context, the latest Windows client featuring optimizations that allow users to enjoy additional benefits when running the operating system on a mobile computer. But of course that devices such as laptops are only one aspect of mobile computers, and the Redmond company has not been shy at indicating a strong interest in the ultra-mobile PC market.
Microsoft offered a taste of what it was cooking in the field of next-gen UMPC technologies at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference in 2006. And this year, at 2008 International CES, Origami Experience 2.0 came into play. Origami acts as the code name for Microsoft's Ultra-Mobile PC project, and version 2.0 of the product was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show.
"Origami Experience 2.0 is been shown at CES this week and is being made available to UMPC manufacturers for testing and pre-installation this month. In this release we have included four applications, all optimized for the UMPC", revealed a member of the Origami Project, referring to Origami Central, Origami Now, Origami Picture Password and Touch Settings.
Via the Origami Project, Microsoft has partnered with hardware manufacturers (including Samsung, Asus, and Founder), in order to build a small touch-screen PC, featuring a screen size of 7 inches, or less (Ultra-Mobile PC). The initial devices, as they ship from the first original equipment manufacturers, will come with the Microsoft Touch Pack that will enable the interaction with Windows XP. Windows Vista capable Ultra-Mobile PCs will, of course, come with the latest Windows client, but tests are still being run at this point in time.
"Origami Central is an update to the original Origami Experience application in the 1.0 release. As well as the familiar media features, we have created a fully-optimized browsing experience for UMPCs and an RSS reader. We have also extended the media features to include feeds that can provide information on new movies, audio books, or any media content that can be published using RSS. Origami Now provides one-touch access to the information that's important to you, email, calendar, RSS feeds, weather, to-do lists? All organized into one context-sensitive screen that can change the information displayed according to the time, your current location, and freshness of content", Microsoft revealed.
In addition, Origami Picture Password will enable users to use screen interactions, based on specific points in an image as a replacement for traditional text-based passwords. In this manner, the Redmond company is virtually delivering a new login experience.