Courier real, coming Q3/Q4

March 5, 2010 | By Surur

Engadget has some exclusive pictures and more info on the Microsoft Courier tablet.

They report the device runs Win CE (likely 6), is 5×7 inches closed, weight a bit more than half a kilogram, will functional as a digital journal and synchronize with the cloud.

They say:

As we’ve heard, the interface appears to be pen-based and centered around drawing and writing, with built-in handwriting recognition and a corresponding web site that allows access to everything entered into the device in a blog-like format complete with comments. We’re also hearing that there will be a built-in camera, and there’s a headphone jack for media playback. Most interestingly, it looks like the Courier will also serve as Microsoft’s e-book device, with a dedicated ecosystem centered around reading. It all sounds spectacular, but all we have for a launch date is "Q3 / Q4", and we have no idea how much it’s going to cost, so we’re trying to maintain a healthy skepticism until any of this gets official — call us any time, Microsoft.

See the full gallery of screen shots after the break.

Click larger versions

More at Engadget.com.

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged courier, ereader, microsoft, microsoft courier

http://intensedebate.com/people/Foamy Foamy

ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod.

aleis

+1

this puts the ipad people out of business!
with google doing so well on mobile (this year) and the courier coming later this year…apple is in a whole heap of "holy shit what are we gonna do!"
iphone 4 better be REALLY good!

majg

I like this. But between WP7, Project Natal and other games like Halo: Reach, and this…. I'm going to need a second job so I can buy these things between this coming fall and next spring.

**sigh**
http://intensedebate.com/people/wreiad wreiad

Well it's basically like another iPad then.

Ryan

It seems to be more centered around being a replacement for a paper organizer/notebook than a media device as its primary function

http://intensedebate.com/people/Foamy Foamy

The main difference is that this is portable and the ipad is not. this is meant to complement your smartphone and not your PC.

Peter

No this is not another iPad.

Ipad = Iphone XL = No Innovation

And just for you information Microsoft was working on this before Apple comes with iPhone XL and call it innovation!
Daniel R> H.

Have you seen the videos? It's nothing like iPad
Jos Dewey

O RLY? Please provide more than one example of how this is anything like the iPad.

Seeing this makes me happy, really happy. I'm not totally onboard with WP7, at least not yet, so I was starting to think Microsoft had finally given in and decided to mimic Apple completley and cater to their type of consumers.

But no, seeing this leads me to believe there is still real innovation left at Microsoft. Leave it to Apple to create a 'pad' that is nothing like the traditional paper pad. All Apple envisioned was a large screen so you could play your apps with double the resolution/size, Microsoft is actually attempting to create a real digitized pen and paper.

There is nothing wrong with pen-based inputs, at least not on devices that are larger than a phone. People are just vehemently against any kind of pen-based device because Apple has made it uncool, even though I personally think in many real world applications pens are better than your finger… after all, do we use a pen to write on paper or do we just dip our fingertips in ink?

Man, this thing could be awesome, and I wasn't even excited when the video of it leaked last year… it's just now that the useless iPad has been announced that I think the market needs a better competitor. And this thing will do anything the iPad can do an more… I can already see it, you fold your Courier to 90 degrees and use one screen as a kickstand and the other screen to watch a video. How would you watch all the iTunes videos you've bought on your iPad? By holding it up for hours? Or buy giving Apple more money for that dock/stand, which by the way is only portrait?

John

Now this is what I call Innovation!

I can't wait to buy one, hope it comes by the end of this year.
Goel

Vaporware … This is just a concept.

Released on Q3/Q4? That is impossible.

guest

According to Mary Jo Foley this is more then a concept Q3/Q4, might be a be a bit too early though, she said 2011.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Strangerx Strangerx

If this becomes real and performs exactly how the concept video reflected it, then Microsoft has a winner here… Seems like they're moving forward real quickly in all areas. Windows 7, WP7S, Project Natal, Courier etc.
Jeff

I lost interest when I realized it was yet another OS. Ug. Who's going to port their software to this and a dozen other platforms that keep popping up? Logos won't do a Logos4 app. Adobe won't port their apps. I bet Microsoft won't even port OneNote. I was hoping this would be a Windows7 device. What I really need is the HP slate with an active digitizer and stylus. Unfortunately, that isn't happening either. I'm afraid the lackluster offerings of everyone jumping on the Tablet bandwagon is going to set the Tablet back another 10 years. Sigh.