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Microsoft's Dual-Screen Courier Concept Is Everything We Want In A Tablet

Posted 09/23/09 at 05:25:00 AM  by Andy Salisbury

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For some time now Apple has stolen all the thunder when it comes to the idea of a tablet – but it appears that we’ve been looking in the wrong place. In a very real announcement, Microsoft has revealed their Courier tablet concept, and it looks absolutely divine.

The Courier (which can be seen in conceptual video form here), is reportedly in the late stages of development and despite its appearance, is a tablet, not a booklet. The 7-inch screens will support multitouch, writing, flicking, and drawing with a stylus or your fingers. A hinge that houses an iPhone-style home button, which you can use to bookmark pages, connects them both. The back cover will sport a three megapixel camera, and the lights that display status (wireless signal, battery life, etc.) will line up on the bottom.

No word yet on pricing or availability, but there’ll be plenty of news to come in the next few days.

 

Image Credit: Gizmodo, Microsoft

COMMENTS:3
TAGS: microsoft, apple, tablet, hardware, consumer electronics, Courier
COMMENTS
avatarWhat took so long? This is

Submitted by Branden_Stone on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 11:31am

What took so long? This is something we’ve have needed forever. This would dramatically simplify a lot of what we do; especially college students. College students spend several hundred dollars (varies between universities) on books and materials for every semester. What if everything you needed was in one tablet? That would eliminate the need for hauling around those backbreaking book bags around campus. Also, it would allow students to keep everything organized and obtain information instantly via the internet. This could benefit public schools as well. Though, they would need to make it more durable (laugh). Businesses could benefit due to its size, but there’re many different portable laptop tablets already in use. Therefore, I’m not too sure how it would handle in the business realm. Don’t keep us waiting forever Microsoft since you’re already doing that with Project Natal.

(((Important Needed Features)))
Extra Durable Internal Hardware & External Frame
Scratch Resistant Glass Coating and/or Replaceable Protective Glass Cover
Good Handwriting Recognition
Extensive Multitouch Support
External Device Support (ex. Cameras and etc…)
Password Encryption and/or Fingerprint Scanner and/or Facial Recognition
Large Internal Storage
Wi-Fi and/or Ethernet and/or WiMAX Support
Bluetooth Support
USB 2.0-3.0 Support
Media Memory Port (ex. SD or MiniSD)
ETC...

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avatarOpen or closed?

Submitted by Stinky Fartface on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 9:00pm

I'm suprised there aren't more comment son this.That is some pretty sexy tech.

 

It does raise some big questions though:

 

Is this a Windows device or is it a new platform?

WillI be able to run Windows software on it, like Photoshop or Dreameaver?

If it is a closed platform, will a development API be available?

Will I have to purchase and download applications from a closed system like the Apple iPhone and the iTunes store?

 What can I do with it besides cutting stuff out and flickng it around?

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avatarThis thing looks incredibly

Submitted by JCBarry on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 9:08am

This thing looks incredibly badass.
Looking forward to more details.

Jay Barry
MaxPC Profile | Jason Barry

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