Microsoft Ipad rival confirmed
Discussion
The blog post on the Microsoft Jobs website read: "Do you already know everything about Project Natal and the Cloud?..Then check out some of the online chatter surrounding new releases of Windows Phone 7 Series handsets, Internet Explorer 9 and the forthcoming Courier digital journal."
The mention of the Courier has since been removed from the blog post. Microsoft said it would not comment on rumour and speculation surrounding the Courier.
Rumours about the Courier – a dual-screen, tablet computer – have swirled online for months. Microsoft is said to have set up a secret division of engineers and hardware and software experts to work on the device, which could rival Apple's forthcoming iPad.
According to reports on Engadget, the Courier will go on sale towards the end of this year, and runs the Tegra 2 operating system the powers the Zune HD
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/75...
The mention of the Courier has since been removed from the blog post. Microsoft said it would not comment on rumour and speculation surrounding the Courier.
Rumours about the Courier – a dual-screen, tablet computer – have swirled online for months. Microsoft is said to have set up a secret division of engineers and hardware and software experts to work on the device, which could rival Apple's forthcoming iPad.
According to reports on Engadget, the Courier will go on sale towards the end of this year, and runs the Tegra 2 operating system the powers the Zune HD
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/75...
I can't see Microsoft succeeding against Apple in the consumer electronics 'appliance' segment - Apple have that sewn up with ease-of-use and perceived security. Microsoft's iPad rival may not be using Windows but to be anything other than a me-too iPad, it will have to talk to Windows and perhaps display / edit Office files. And then the security paranoia, anti-virus etc. will hit them - even if they have a perfectly secure OS built from scratch for the device. Old reputations are hard to lose... even Microsoftie colleagues with Windows Mobile smartphones bemoan the poor stability / security compared to Linux and OS X phones.
However it was Microsoft who demo'd Surface before the iPhone turned multitouch into 'consumer electronics'. Whether they have any advances in technology that Apple haven't picked up and run with (Apple are brilliant at this - spotting game-changing tech advances and then productionising them *slickly* - they often don't innovate, but make innovations work - and that's why they have the 'image' of being innovative) remains to be seen.
Microsoft own the business sector - mainly because of inertia (many businesses could easily switch to Linux / OS X and OpenOffice these days, to be honest) - but taking on Apple in the home? Cool - hopefully it'll make Apple up their game. I'm sick to the back teeth of Apple's control freakery (and hence have put both iPhone 3GSs up for sale - the Nexus One is now my full-time business phone) and I expect the iPad to be similarly locked-down.
That aspect will determine whether I buy one or not - but there's no chance in *hell* of Microsoft stealing my sale
Unless it runs Linux underneath... and I think Steve Ballmer would spontaneously combust if someone suggested this to him 
However it was Microsoft who demo'd Surface before the iPhone turned multitouch into 'consumer electronics'. Whether they have any advances in technology that Apple haven't picked up and run with (Apple are brilliant at this - spotting game-changing tech advances and then productionising them *slickly* - they often don't innovate, but make innovations work - and that's why they have the 'image' of being innovative) remains to be seen.
Microsoft own the business sector - mainly because of inertia (many businesses could easily switch to Linux / OS X and OpenOffice these days, to be honest) - but taking on Apple in the home? Cool - hopefully it'll make Apple up their game. I'm sick to the back teeth of Apple's control freakery (and hence have put both iPhone 3GSs up for sale - the Nexus One is now my full-time business phone) and I expect the iPad to be similarly locked-down.
That aspect will determine whether I buy one or not - but there's no chance in *hell* of Microsoft stealing my sale
Unless it runs Linux underneath... and I think Steve Ballmer would spontaneously combust if someone suggested this to him cyberface said:
I can't see Microsoft succeeding against Apple in the consumer electronics 'appliance' segment - Apple have that sewn up with ease-of-use and perceived security. Microsoft's iPad rival may not be using Windows but to be anything other than a me-too iPad, it will have to talk to Windows and perhaps display / edit Office files. And then the security paranoia, anti-virus etc. will hit them - even if they have a perfectly secure OS built from scratch for the device. Old reputations are hard to lose... even Microsoftie colleagues with Windows Mobile smartphones bemoan the poor stability / security compared to Linux and OS X phones.
However it was Microsoft who demo'd Surface before the iPhone turned multitouch into 'consumer electronics'. Whether they have any advances in technology that Apple haven't picked up and run with (Apple are brilliant at this - spotting game-changing tech advances and then productionising them *slickly* - they often don't innovate, but make innovations work - and that's why they have the 'image' of being innovative) remains to be seen.
Microsoft own the business sector - mainly because of inertia (many businesses could easily switch to Linux / OS X and OpenOffice these days, to be honest) - but taking on Apple in the home? Cool - hopefully it'll make Apple up their game. I'm sick to the back teeth of Apple's control freakery (and hence have put both iPhone 3GSs up for sale - the Nexus One is now my full-time business phone) and I expect the iPad to be similarly locked-down.
That aspect will determine whether I buy one or not - but there's no chance in *hell* of Microsoft stealing my sale Unless it runs Linux underneath... and I think Steve Ballmer would spontaneously combust if someone suggested this to him
Knowing Microsoft they wll probably create MS Linux with their own standards However it was Microsoft who demo'd Surface before the iPhone turned multitouch into 'consumer electronics'. Whether they have any advances in technology that Apple haven't picked up and run with (Apple are brilliant at this - spotting game-changing tech advances and then productionising them *slickly* - they often don't innovate, but make innovations work - and that's why they have the 'image' of being innovative) remains to be seen.
Microsoft own the business sector - mainly because of inertia (many businesses could easily switch to Linux / OS X and OpenOffice these days, to be honest) - but taking on Apple in the home? Cool - hopefully it'll make Apple up their game. I'm sick to the back teeth of Apple's control freakery (and hence have put both iPhone 3GSs up for sale - the Nexus One is now my full-time business phone) and I expect the iPad to be similarly locked-down.
That aspect will determine whether I buy one or not - but there's no chance in *hell* of Microsoft stealing my sale
Unless it runs Linux underneath... and I think Steve Ballmer would spontaneously combust if someone suggested this to him As you said doubt will get anywhere as per Zune but interesting how they keep attempting.off topic but did you see my thread on the android app Swype? if so how do you find it (as transformed my hero user experience).
tinman0 said:
cyberface said:
However it was Microsoft who demo'd Surface before the iPhone turned multitouch into 'consumer electronics'.
Hate to say it, but Tom Cruise showed off multi touch in 2002....
The Courier has interesting possibilities around automated content delivery, as per one of Cyberface's earlier posts. Daily Wail in easy to C&P format, anyone?
randlemarcus said:
The Courier has interesting possibilities around automated content delivery, as per one of Cyberface's earlier posts. Daily Wail in easy to C&P format, anyone?
Courier is too little too late. iPad is disappearing into the distance and it hasn't even been launched yet. First day sales of 120k, and currently well over 200k on orders, plus a further 700 per shop, so another 150k there. so before the product is launched they are close to 500k of sales. If the iPad is only half of what people expect then the sales will just go through the roof.BTW, the iPad i bought for MrsT - no 3995
(First 4 minutes).As for content delivery, iTunes subscription. Load iTunes in the morning, new copy of some publication is waiting, sync, and then run for the train. Or if the iPad runs the whole app, you simply pick it up in the morning and content is already downloaded. Job done.
randlemarcus said:
tinman0 said:
cyberface said:
However it was Microsoft who demo'd Surface before the iPhone turned multitouch into 'consumer electronics'.
Hate to say it, but Tom Cruise showed off multi touch in 2002....in fact, aren't we due one by now ?
cyberface said:
...the Nexus One is now my full-time business phone...
My G1 just carked and I sent it off to the insurers for repair. They evidently couldn't be arsed as they sent me a G2 back instead. I'm deeply impressed with it and am now re-thinking my intent to get hold of the Desire (UK equivalent of the Nexus One, yes?) when it comes to T-Mobile in a couple of weeks.The G2 is getting Android 2.1 so will have all the functionality of the Desire.. Is the Nexus One/Desire really that brilliant; more to the point, worth upgrading from the G2?
cyberface said:
Microsoft own the business sector - mainly because of inertia (many businesses could easily switch to Linux / OS X and OpenOffice these days, to be honest) - but taking on Apple in the home? Cool - hopefully it'll make Apple up their game. I'm sick to the back teeth of Apple's control freakery (and hence have put both iPhone 3GSs up for sale - the Nexus One is now my full-time business phone) and I expect the iPad to be similarly locked-down.
Microsoft do have a fair home presence though. You do remember the Xbox 360, don't you? Problem is that I can't see Microsoft following through and leveraging that. From the looks on WP7S, they're trying something related to gaming.Microsoft have had some interesting technologies that they've failed to push - the Surface being the prime example. The units around have looked absolutely stunning in their abilities, but Gates' boys are dragging their heels in getting consumer oriented versions. Maybe the Courier will be it, but somehow I doubt it.
Funk said:
cyberface said:
...the Nexus One is now my full-time business phone...
My G1 just carked and I sent it off to the insurers for repair. They evidently couldn't be arsed as they sent me a G2 back instead. I'm deeply impressed with it and am now re-thinking my intent to get hold of the Desire (UK equivalent of the Nexus One, yes?) when it comes to T-Mobile in a couple of weeks.The G2 is getting Android 2.1 so will have all the functionality of the Desire.. Is the Nexus One/Desire really that brilliant; more to the point, worth upgrading from the G2?
simba1 said:
Funk said:
cyberface said:
...the Nexus One is now my full-time business phone...
My G1 just carked and I sent it off to the insurers for repair. They evidently couldn't be arsed as they sent me a G2 back instead. I'm deeply impressed with it and am now re-thinking my intent to get hold of the Desire (UK equivalent of the Nexus One, yes?) when it comes to T-Mobile in a couple of weeks.The G2 is getting Android 2.1 so will have all the functionality of the Desire.. Is the Nexus One/Desire really that brilliant; more to the point, worth upgrading from the G2?
Yes, anything to get the copy in on time so the hack doesn't miss pub time !simba1 said:
Funk said:
cyberface said:
...the Nexus One is now my full-time business phone...
My G1 just carked and I sent it off to the insurers for repair. They evidently couldn't be arsed as they sent me a G2 back instead. I'm deeply impressed with it and am now re-thinking my intent to get hold of the Desire (UK equivalent of the Nexus One, yes?) when it comes to T-Mobile in a couple of weeks.The G2 is getting Android 2.1 so will have all the functionality of the Desire.. Is the Nexus One/Desire really that brilliant; more to the point, worth upgrading from the G2?
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