Microsofts project Origami team did quite a good job of raising awareness of UMPC’s didnt they. The team blog shows that it even suprised them! However, the ultra mobile PC doesnt appear to be an intel and MS-only category, just a buzzword. There’ll be others that will be introducing products into this market and Via seems to be hot on the tail of the marketing momentum.

VIA has announced a new core logic chip to sit alongside its C7-M processor. The VX700.
‘Core Logic’ is a term they’re using to describe an integrated north/southbridge chip. In summary, these chips perform i/o functions and include memory control and hardware control. The new chip includes 2D/3D graphics acceleration, MPEG2 support, and dual monitor outputs. Importantly, the processor chipset is ultra-low power (1GHz VIA C7-M draws 3.5W during normal system operation, and as little as 0.1W in idle mode) and allows motherboard space-savings due to the reduced space needed for one chip over two. A future version on the chip, the VX700-M, will include hardware acceleration for HDTV and, more importantly, MPEG4.

The combination gives ultra mobile PC manufacturers an alternative platform on which to build. Competition is always good and part of the announcement includes a promised device from Paceblade. Mobits and Amtek were also quoted as possible users of the chipset. Availability of chipset is expect in several months.

Its nice to see competition and if these manufacturers are free to work outside any specification, then it gives them more technical and creative flexibility.

Keywords: origami, carrypad, via, umpc

Post updated (V3 now!) to clarify the terms used. ultra mobile PC just seems to be a ms-intel-via buzzword right now (I think that VIA are part of the official ultra mobile PC development team) but it does have a very rough specification set here:I’ll continue to use the term ‘carrypad’ for my ‘dream device’ as I’ve done since before all the origami buzz. My definition is made pretty clear in the sidebar on my blog site.
I’ve decided to use ultra mobile PC to describe the general market segment from the Nokia 770 up to the OQO as this term seems to be entering general use. This could change!!

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/week3/origamipics.jpg[/img]

Week 3 just got here for Microsofts Origami and it looks like it is showing the new devices seen at CeBit today http://www.origamiproject.com/3/

According to the new community site the Origami will include something called the Microsoft Touch Pack which includes new software that was specifically designed for easy targeting with your finger on the touch screen.

Software included is:

* Program Launcher — A customizable interface that let’s you quickly get to the programs and web sites you use the most. In addition to changing the categories and the shortcuts in Program Launcher, you can also change the background to one of the images we provided or to one of your own.

* Brilliant Black — A Windows Media Player skin designed to make it easier to target the user interface with your finger.

* DialKeys — A program by Fortune Fountain Ltd. that gives you a way to input text on the touch-screen computer.

* Touch Improvements — A group of settings that make Windows easier to use and view on an Ultra-Mobile PC.

* Sudoku — A touch- and pen-optimized version of this popular number game.

The page also has a link to a new community site at
[url=http://origamiproject.com/default.aspx]http://origamiproject.com/default.aspx[/url]

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/week3/origamicommunity.jpg[/img]

And they even have program launcher backgrounds available on the site. However they say you can only download them if you promise to only use them with the Microsoft Touch Pack. Thats like using the honor system.

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/week3/gallery.jpg[/img]

…..

Read the full story

Well, the video Scoble is set to premier on Channel 9 tonight (interview and demo with the Origami Creator, Otto Berkes) is available for download on msdn right now.

This is the first official video from Microsoft detailing the actual product. It checks in at 37 minutes and 28 seconds and features an interview with the head of Microsofts Ultra Mobile PC Group, Otto Berkes.

[b]Lots of Details about the Origami Products to be released soon revealed below:[/b]

1) Otto is holding the Samsung ultra mobile PC we posted shots of earlier. He said this is one of the pre-production units in the Ultra Mobile PC class that will be going to market in the next few months.

2) Hey Look, its the form-factor from the original leaked promo vid:
[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/otto/otto2.jpg[/img]

3) Otto says you will be able to run PhotoShop on this, although he wasn’t too emphatic with it. He confirmed that you can [b]run any Windows application on the device[/b], some make more sense than others.

4) Plan is to eventually take applications made for desktops and notebooks and create specialized versions optimized to run on ultra mobile PCs. Specifically, to utilize the [b]touch-screen abilities[/b] of these new devices, so you can navigate with your fingers.

5) This is just the first-generation. There is a road-map for future products. This future vision is the Haiku model that Gates showed at the last WinHEC (Pictured half-way down this post). There is still a lot of hardware and software work to do before they get to that point.

6) Back to talking about the first-generation devices. [b]Processing power in the 1 GHz[/b] class, full x86 compatible architecture. Integrated graphics capabilities [b](DirectX 7, DirectX8 Level)[/b]. You’re not going to run Halo 2 on this generation.

7) All of them will be [b]XP Tablet Edition and come with a stylus[/b]. Otto’s handwriting leaves a lot to be desired, as seen below:
[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/otto/otto4.jpg[/img]

8) The Samsung model has a [b]USB port on the left-side and one on the right-side[/b] that you could use for a USB keyboard. Some models will also have integrated docking connectors that could potentially connect to a full-sized keyboard and full-sized monitor. There is also a [b]VGA connector on the side[/b] and you could run the External monitor on the high resolutions you would expect.

9) No exact number given on the number of Origami manufacturers, because the number is increasing on a regular basis.

10) No answer on the price, waiting till the products are announced, but the [b]expected price-range is $599-999[/b]. [b]Weighs 2 pounds[/b].

More analysis below. Read the full story

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/origamiuipics/origami_ui.jpg[/img]

New items from CeBit have been emerging today around the Origami and ultra mobile PC devices.

The picture above was discovered in the Official CeBit news [url=http://cebitnews.turnpages.com/]here[/url].

It shows a screen accessible keyboard running on top of a windows XP device. It also has some of the specs for the Samsung device saying it has a 40GB hard drive with both Bluetooth and WiFi built in.

The news article also talks of an add on DVD player for ripping movies to the device and a bluetooth keyboard.

New pictures have also surfaced on [url=http://www.golem.de/]golem.de[/url] showing a new Asus UMPC. This particular device is the first pictures shoeing the OS that was in the leaked origami picture that was first featured on this site.

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/origamiuipics/asusorigami3.jpg[/img]

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/origamiuipics/asusorigami4.jpg[/img]

So there seems to be 2 different OS versions running on the devices that have been shown.

We are continually staying on top of the CeBit and Origami News over the next couple days, so check back for more info.

[b]Update 03/09/2006 6:21 pm: [/b]

We have learned that the OS shown on the Asus is actually an application launcher that will be included with the ultra mobile PC devices. It sounds as though it can be turned off so that the normal Windows XP interface can be used.
Read the full story

[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/samsungq1.jpg[/img]

Samsung gave us an early glimpse of their Origami / Ultra Mobile PC at CeBIT today, and we like the looks of this device much more than the prototype shown at IDF yesterday. Samsung is calling their first device the Q1 and Microsoft and Intel will be releasing more details on this device tomorrow.

The device measures about 6×8 inches (15×20 cm) runs on a low-power 900MHz Celeron and has 512MB of RAM. In addition, it boasts WLAN, 802.11 A/G and Bluetooth connections, and uses touch-screen controls, while running on XP Tablet Edition. It also runs an instant-on multimedia player so users don’t have to launch the full XP operating system to watch a video.

More details as they come in. Specifically, we still haven’t heard anything about final release dates or prices. Thanks for the heads-up chippy.

[b]Update 03/08/06 11:27 AM:[/b]
[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/samsung_q1_i00.jpg[/img]

InfoSync has a few other photos of the Q1 up, including the one pictured above.

Also, there is a video up on ZDNet that gives a hands-on preview of the Intel ultra mobile PC we saw yesterday. In the video you can see the quick launch interface that gives you access to music, videos, etc., and the touch-sensitive gestures control (In the video you can see the user draw an ‘m’ with his finger to access music, draw an ‘h’ to go back to the home screen, etc.). It also displays the built-in GPS and camera functionality.

Lastly, Engadget got a chance to play around with Samsung’s Q1 Tablet for a few minutes. They are reporting that Samsung will release their ultra mobile PC / Origami device with optional GPS and DVB-T mobile digital TV expansion modules, as well as WiBRO support for when that goes live in Korea around June. The version we grabbed, the Q1, also supports Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and sports a 30GB hard disk.

Here are some pics from the report:

[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/samsung_q1_1.JPG[/img]

[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/samsung_q1_2.JPG[/img]

Read the full story

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/intelumpc/umpc1.jpg[/img]

So the Intel Developers Forum is being held today and finally some real info about the ultra mobile PC (Ultra Mobile PC) is being displayed.

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/intelumpc/umpcred.jpg[/img]
Umpc concept open and closed.
[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/intelumpc/umpcred2.jpg[/img]

CNet got some pictures of the device and posted them on their website [url=http://news.com.com/2300-1044_3-6046778-1.html?tag=ne.gall.pg]here[/url]

The first devices released will have a 7 inch touch screen and will be able to run Windows XP and according to [url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1040_22-6046793.html]ZDNet[/url] it will get about 3 hours of battery life.

They also showed a red swivel ultra mobile PC that had a moveable screen that displayed a keyboard.

Thay are also apparently banking on having a pocket sized Tablet PC device in the next year or so that will have all-day battery life and sell for around $500.

According to Intel the biggest draw of these new Mobile Tablet PCs is the ability to get the internet anywhere. While its second draw is the video and music capabilities.

This device is more geared towards tech enthusiasts in it’s first stage but after it gets smaller will likely catch on faster with other markets.

[b]Update 3/07/06 4:11 PM:[/b]
MSNBC is at the IDF in San Francisco and has a video up that shows the prototypes listed above (Video Page works for IE only).

Also, Scoble lets us know that he has a 1 hour video with the Origami’s architect, Otto Berkes, that he will be able to post at about 3 a.m. Pacific Time on Thursday morning. (Via Tokash)

[b]Update 3/08/06 10:05 AM:[/b]
A much more interesting, hands-on video can be found here. Read the full story

Well, we went ahead and did a frame-by-frame analysis of the ultra mobile PC preview video intel has up here.

[b]Play, Listen, Enjoy[/b]

[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/umpc/intel_umpc/1.jpg[/img]
We’re starting with the game playing video because, hey, we love games. A young man is playing games on his house on what looks like a PC, and then his friends arrive so he has to go. In this shot, we can see him holding the stylus and looking at a few interesting icons: Napster, Games, and Synch.

[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/umpc/intel_umpc/2.jpg[/img]
In this shot, he has selected sync, and then selects “Sync Game State.” It seems like he might then be able to go to his friends house, and load up the same game on his friends PC, preserving the state. Pretty cool.

[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/umpc/intel_umpc/3.jpg[/img]
Later on, in this scene, he uses napster to synch his home PC music files with his ultra mobile PC files. Then he hopes in his friends car and pressumably kicks back and listens to some road tunes.

[b]Connect and Communicate[/b]

[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/umpc/intel_umpc/4.jpg[/img]
This scene shows the ultra mobile PC being used as a camera. The screen makes a really nice, large viewfinder, and you can see the slide-out panel that contains control buttons. Not a bad blouse either.

[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/umpc/intel_umpc/5.jpg[/img]
After snapping a photo of the blouse, she folds the panel around to reveal a small keyboard and opens up an Instant Messenger interface. She then chats up her boyfriend and sends him the pic she just took.

[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/umpc/intel_umpc/6.jpg[/img]
This is a close-up shot of the chat application.

[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/umpc/intel_umpc/7.jpg[/img]
Later on, she goes to some type of price compare website to see if she is getting a good deal. Hmm, this would be quite interesting if you could just scan a UPC and see the prices at other locations.

[b]Mix work and Pleasure[/b]

[img]http://origamiportal.com/origami/images/umpc/intel_umpc/8.jpg[/img]
Moving on to our next Ultra Mobile Tablet PC, this user pulls up an Alt-Tab like interface and chooses what application to launch. Read the full story