Gizmodo, a news source that is one of the best for gadget lovers, has a great scoop on the super-secret Microsoft tablet computer called Courier. I blogged about this before when it story first broke, and as excited as I was about the concept then I'm even more excited now. This thing, assuming its real, is extremely cool.One of the best parts of it, in addition to supporting multi-touch, is that the "booklet" supports multi-modal pen input. I can't stress enough how important pen input is going to be in combination with multi-touch for tablets, slates, and booklets. It's critical. The combination of pen and touch is also critical to the success of larger productivity devices such as the drafting board which I've posted about a number of times.
Check out the new Gizmodo story and and watch a couple of videos (video, video) demonstrating the Microsoft Courier. If Courier is real and will become a product in 2010, than Apple had better out do this if it wants its forthcoming slate to succeed.
Is it just me or is Microsoft the epicenter of innovation in NUI?
2 comments:
If this is indeed in the product pipeline, and the detail in these latest images suggest that, then this is truly a good move by microsoft.
I think the genius here is the non-invention. Mimicing an age old stationary format, means that there is very little to learn. The extra hyper-real functionalities have been designed well to feel obvious in most places.
One detracting thought - I get the feeling this might be a "Microsoft Surface" ploy.
i.e:
2 Months before the iPhone the Surface was announced to steal thunder.
Maybe in 2 months time we'll see a iSlate from the apple camp but people may hold out having seen this courier prototyping?
/conspiracy theory
Hi Lewis,
I like the Courier concept for a lot of the same reasons you do. I also like the kinds of interactions, the user of a stylus and touch, and other things.
As to whether or not this is a ploy, I'm not sure. Sounds a little too Machiavellian to me. I think Microsoft is really innovating in NUI, just as Apple has done, and we should at least give them the benefit of the doubt - with a grain of salt of course.
richard
Post a Comment