First public showing for Origami

GBA News | Details on Microsoft handheld unfold; April release date mooted.

Around a week and a half ago, regular readers may recall we posted a rumour regarding 'Origami', the code name for a new handheld multimedia device supposedly put together by the chaps at Microsoft that could possibly rival Sony's PSP and Nintendo's DS. Well, earlier today at the Cebit technology fair in Hanover (Germany for the geographically challenged), the first working version of the Origami handheld was revealed.

Dubbed simply as 'Q1' by maker Samsung, the device is due to go on sale in the next few weeks, with an April launch apparently on the cards. We also learned more about the inner workings of the black, paperback sized gadget, so for the more technically minded amongst us, here's what Origami comes packed with:

Intel Celeron 900mhz
40 GB hard drive
7 inch WGA screen
Weight of 779g
Bluetooth

It also runs the tablet version of Windows XP, uses wi-fi and bluetooth to communicate, and will play host to a series of extras, including a Bluetooth keyboard and a card that allows users to communicate via mobile phone networks. It also includes a Digital Media Broadcasting tuner (so it can handle TV programmes broadcast for mobile gadgets) and will play music, movies and games. So far, so good, but there's a disturbingly low battery life to contend with (three hours, says Samsung) and a disturbingly high price (£699/$1,600AU). Urk.

Samsung are hardly short of optimism where the Q1 is concerned though, with the company's vice president of digital media business, Dr David Steel, saying its new toy could "act as a replacement for Sony's PSP game gadget," while also suggesting Origami would "usurp personal digital assistants like the iPaq and personal music players such as the iPod."

More news as it breaks. In the meantime, take a look at the first (rather small) image of Samsung's Q1 in the Media Panel. And here's some elderly lady holding one.

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14 Comments

Rush152

7 years ago

LOL

"usurp personal digital assistants like the iPaq and personal music players such as the iPod."

REAAAAAALLY NOW??

They designed the thing to be about THAT big and THAT expensive.. ohh yea I really think that the iPods are in trouble with this massively thick picture frame

Who the hell would even make such a statement.. for the price of $1600 I could buy FOUR PSPs.. (or maybe just 3 and a few games

)

power7714

7 years ago

Is this going to be able to play games like the xbox has as well as other consoles or is this just another attempt at a mini pc?

Suetekh

7 years ago

As no games have been announced, i would assume it is pretty much a mini PC.

So big! So expensive! I would think it is more in competition with laptops, than to DS's and PSP's.

Hyperworm

7 years ago

Suetekh wrote

As no games have been announced, i would assume it is pretty much a mini PC.

So big! So expensive! I would think it is more in competition with laptops, than to DS's and PSP's.

Yep. All very good points.
Origami isn't a dedicated Microsoft gaming handheld or anything. It has no particular relevance to gaming specifically. Certainly the article shouldn't be referring to it as a "handheld", comparable to the DS and PSP.

Just another Microsoft product. IMO, coverage of it should cease here (actually before now would have been good, but).

ultracrazy1

7 years ago

Geez, you get to a point where you may as well go get a laptop. They have laptops with touch screens anyway. I don't get who would want this thing...

James

7 years ago

Hyperworm wrote

coverage of it should cease here (actually before now would have been good, but).

It will still play games. However with only a 900MHz processor and limited graphics we'll probably see special versions of games made for for the UMPC. It's more powerful than a handheld but less powerful than a PC, so it's likely to have a signifcant impact on the games industry.

k1dcharm

7 years ago

900MHz, I wonder how long will be battery last.

Nick

7 years ago

3 hour battery life? $1600.

Hmm. No. Well, not yet anyway.

Wait for some good games to be announced, a longer lasting battery and a lower price - then we'll see.

ZNMS

7 years ago

That high price makes the PSP look so cheap and affordable.

Mark

7 years ago

It's a mini-pc that plays PC games, not specific software. It has absolutely nothing to do with the handheld market.

dc0079

7 years ago

It's much weaker than I'd expect it to be, and the price tag. No way!
There are reasonablely small laptops now, not to mention tablet PC.
M$ marketing is going down hill.

Frozencry

7 years ago

First: It's incredibly ugly.
Second: With that money I could buy like 7 DS's.
Third: It's just freaking ugly.

Bad Microsoft. BAD.

Chris-Leigh

7 years ago

'It's a mini-pc that plays PC games, not specific software. It has absolutely nothing to do with the handheld market.'

It is designed to be held in the hands. The Samsung chap even drew comparisons with the PSP in the quotes in the article. It has everything to do with the handheld market.

themak

7 years ago

I'm going out on a limb here:
I like it.

...but I just can't see any practical use for it.
It's too large for your pocket and too small to be treated like a laptop.
The battery life is *appalling* for something thats to be used as an iPod. Besides; people don't want to be holding something like that *all* the time.

But then again, it's a very interesting little piece of kit and worth watching for a while.

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