[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/umpc/umpc_rotate.jpg[/img]
[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/umpc/umpc_hold.jpg[/img]

Intel has released more details on their Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC), and gave us a couple glimpses of potential devices (as seen above).

Some interesting notes from the site:

[b]Full PC and Internet Capabilities[/b]
• Full PC capability based on Intel Architecture and full-featured mainstream OSs, allowing consumers to run familiar applications. [i](with the multiple OSs hinted at here, perhaps this goes in line with the first versions running Tablet XP, while later versions will run some version of Vista)[/i]
• Uncompromised Internet access to favorite websites to read news, download videos, search for friends and more.
• New ways to interact with and navigate information using the UMPC.

[b]Location Adaptability[/b]
• Personalized information and services based on location.
• Environment recognition and adaptability.
• Interaction with devices in living room or car. [i](Bluetooth?)[/i]

[b]Anytime Connectivity[/b]
• Connectivity in a variety of ways via WPAN, WLAN, or WWAN.
• Always reachable via email, IM, chat, or VoIP.
• Always informed with the latest news to make educated business
decisions and to stay in touch.

[b]Ultra Mobility[/b]
• Small, thin and light platform design.
• Long battery life to extend productivity.
• Instant access to content and information.

Additionaly, some new, updated pics of the Origami mock-up we first posted Sunday have surfaced online today… Read the full story

I like Andy Diller’s train of thought in his brief blog about Origami against Nokia.
I too feel that Nokia has an excellent chance here as Origami runs the risk of over-stretching itself in terms of capability. The rumors of gaming capability will please Nokia somewhat in that it implies cpu power. Cpu power = cost, energy, heat.
The 770 is coming in from a different angle with the concept pretty much already sold to a large number of people. There are shouts of ‘bring us the 880’ already and if Origami goes in at the high-end of the rumor specifications, the door is open for Nokia to put something in at the low end and to pull customers through from the smartphone market. Nokia 880 would be the smartphone companion. Origami would be the PC companion. They would both be competing in the same market with a different angle and it will be a really interesting fight.
Of course, we could see Mr Jobs come in from the lifestyle angle and clean up.

One of the best things to come out of this whole 2-week rumour campaign is the focus that this sector of the market is getting and the competition that will arise from it.

Keywords: nokia+770, carrypad, umpc

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/umpc/umpcusage.jpg[/img]

Some interesting new ultra mobile PC pics have surfaced at umpc.com.

“With the ultra mobile PC you can take the Internet to places you never thought before.”

YAY!

Otherwise, more of the same info we’ve already heard, including the promise of product information on March, 9th. The FAQ explains Intel’s involvement with the site. I like the looks of the mobile Tablet PC pictured below.

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/umpc/small_umpc.jpg[/img] Read the full story

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/alex2.jpg[/img]

So, if you’re anything like us, after checking out the Origami leaked pic, you were wondering what “Alexandria” was.

Well, we found a promo video for Microsoft Alexandria up on DesignBum and you can check it out here.

There isn’t much to see in the video, but the main jist of it shows a guy holding some type of ultramobile PC (pocket-sized) in a crowded walkway and how everyone who walks by gets drawn to it.

The video ends with the following three taglines:
The Future of Entertainment – Summer 2006 – Microsoft

If you know anything else about Alexandria throw up a comment. How this, or if this product relates to the Origami is still a mystery at this point.

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/alex1.jpg[/img] Read the full story

Someone out there wants a carrypad too.

I’ve just had a look at the results of last weeks ‘What Would Jobs Do’ design competition at Endadget and I have to say, I like the winner. In terms of form and size its got be the closest thing that i’ve seen to a carrypad. Adam K’s Apple Tablet.
Of course, there’s no telling what might be inside this sexy little pearl-white gem, but the size and keyboard (at last) look almost spot on. (Maybe a little on the small side?)
I tip my hat to you Adam K. sir. Whoever you are.

Keywords: carrypad, apple, umpc

Updated 12-03-06 to include the picture.

OrigamiPortal received this leaked photo from an online source today and we decided to share it with our visitors.

If this is the actual final product, it’s pretty slick. And if it’s not, it’s a very nice mockup. The pic we have received shows a device that looks thinner than the ones shown in the Digital Kitchen video. And the UI is definitely some new handheld OS.

In the corner of the window there is the words Alexandria. (The logo kind of looks like the Alexandria library software.) I’m not sure what Alexandria is however.

The UI components seem to emulate what has been shown so far with Windows Vista over the last couple beta releases.

The one weird component is the word “podcast” on the right side tree. If this is real, would Microsoft include this by default in their menus?

And look at that, you can download Law and Order off of it for just $29.99! What a deal!

We will be deconstructing what we feel each of these buttons do in our next news post. In the meantime love the pic and comment on it if you know anything about it.

Also, looks like this story was added to Digg, so go digg the story higher here Read the full story

Previously, I have written a fair bit of text on defining the market segment for the Carrypad and also trying to establish which applications sit in which mobile computing market segment.
To summarise and simplify a lot of my thinking, I have created a diagramatical view of the portable computing segments and the applications that sit within them. I’m really pleased with the way this diagram has turned out as it shows a lot of info in a very simple way. I’m sure Nokia, MS and others have similar diagrams in on their filesystems. I’d love to see one for a comparison!!
Click on the image to see the pdf version.

At this point its important to state that i’m talking about consumer markets and not specialised industry segments. Using a tablet to aid airline checkins is not included!!

The diagram shows the four main segments that I see in the portable computing market. Each device segment has a screen and keyboard that largely defines the size of the device. In addition, the higher in the segment the application is, the more processing power it requires and obviously, the more expensive the device gets. I’ve migrated applications as far to the left as I think is possible. That is, on to the smallest device possible.

One of the most obvious things about this diagram is that, assuming i’ve done the optimum migration of applications to the smallest device as is possible, there is no consolidation. Every device still has a use and therefore a certain number of consumers. Take for example, Advanced Navigation. The Pocket PC sits in the perfect position to be used for that and in fact, we’ve already seen this year, extra sales of PPC’s purely on the back of Navigation software.

Of course, this is a generalised diagram and you will immediately see that some devices that dont slot into the segments i’ve defined. You might even disagree that certain applications are in the wrong place. One device that I find hard to place is the ‘handtop’ PC. The general definition of a handtop is that its a full -power pc in a size just bigger than a PPC. I beleive its a specialised market right now because the costs of minaturising a full PC makes the devices very expensive.

Some of the terms in the diagram, I have defined further below.

• Data storage = 4GB
• Basic navigation = graphical directions and speech
• Advanced navigation = map-based directions and speech
• PIM = Calendar, Reminders, Tasks, Addresses, Tel numbers.
• audio in/out = Audio recording and playback using advanced codecs (mp3 etc.)
• Wireless comms = 2G, 3G, Wifi, Bluetooth
• Low Q video = 320×240, 760kbps rate using advanced codec.
• Med Q video = 480×320, 1.2Mbps rate using advanced codec.
• High Q video = 640×480, 1.8Mbps
• Video clips = 300kbps rate and under.
• optimised browsing = 320×240 no plugins.
• Normal browsing = 800×640 including plugins. (flash etc)
• Advanced browsing = 1024×768 including plugins.

Feel free to comment on the diagram. I’ll optimise it if I think it needs it and keep it updated here. I dont know how to make this officialy an open source diagram, but if you credit and link this blog, i’ll be happy.
Keywords: origami, carrypad, mobile+computing, convergence, lifestyle+pc, umpc

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/origamirenders/origamigreenside.jpg[/img]

So I thought it would be fun today to go through the video and make a render of the Origami. So, I started watching and discovered that there are two different Origami systems shown. What???! That’s right two. Don’t believe me? Here are the pics.

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/origamirenders/origami1.jpg[/img] [img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/origamirenders/origami2pic.jpg[/img]

So that meant that I had to do double work and make 2 different looking renders. Which would be hard, but I knew it had to be done.

So I whipped up the green one first and thought, “What should I make it doing on the screen?” Then it hit me, what else would you do with your Origami but visit Origamiportal.com right? I know that’s what I’ll do with it when I get one.

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/origamirenders/origamigreenfront2.jpg[/img]

Then I moved on the the other design that I hadn’t noticed earlier. which I personally think looks more sleek than the other version. this one I just copied the colors in the video instead of creating a brand new color scheme.

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/origamirenders/origamiside2white.jpg[/img]

And I didn’t forget the front view.
[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/origami/images/origamirenders/origami2pic2.jpg[/img]

All in all they turned out pretty good, so even though Microsoft says the Origami will look different when it comes out, at least I was able to make these sweet pictures.

Also, feel free to use the images on your website as long as you don’t remove the logo imaging. Read the full story