Microsoft launching Argo into portable space

The Seattle Times reports that Microsoft is working on an entire line of Xbox handhelds under mythological code name; first device allegedly due by year's end.

Apparently J Allard is a fan of Star Blazers. That, or he digs Greek mythology. According to an article in today's Seattle Times, the once iconoclastic, now reclusive Microsoft corporate vice president is heading up a secret project code-named "Argo." Argo was the name of the ancient trireme sailed by Jason and the Argonauts, as well as the moniker of the spaceship in Blazers, the English-language version of the popular anime series Space Battleship Yamato.

Now, Argo is also apparently the code name for the supposedly secret handheld Xbox project Allard is heading up. While the San Jose Mercury News, New York Post, and Bloomberg news service previously reported that a multimedia portable was in the works at Microsoft's Redmond, Washington, headquarters, the Times article says that the Argo project is prepping several handhelds, not just a single hardware unit.

According to the daily, "What's being developed is actually a complete line of Xbox-branded digital-media products, including a device that plays media, a software media player and an online media service."

Citing "information from a source close to the project," the paper also claims that all handheld Xbox devices will have Wi-Fi connectivity, like the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP, and the first will arrive by the end of the year. The Times believes that the first details will be revealed at Microsoft's annual analyst meeting on July 27, though that had not been officially confirmed as of press time.

191 Comments

  • doom3135

    Posted Sep 21, 2009 2:24 pm PT

    I think that if they were making a handheld xbox they would have done it by now.

  • slayersdeath200

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 11:16 am PT

    I think that a portable xbox would be a good idea make sure that you make it so you can use your xbox live profile and make some kick ass games like halo portable lol (who didnt see that coming).

  • theman1508

    Posted Mar 4, 2009 6:46 pm PT

    Microsoft seems to be in the lead in the gaming world so why not keep it that way by coming out with a kick ass new portable console!

  • bigM10231

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 4:09 pm PT

    if it comes out it would be awesome but im no xbox fan but i am a handheld fan and this would be my only xbox

  • ZERO201

    Posted Jan 10, 2007 2:43 pm PT

    i don't know why so many ppl are against videos and music on a handheld system, but the most important thing is the games. sounds like it will be like the PSP.

  • Ubawalla

    Posted Jul 21, 2006 1:56 pm PT

    why do All you FANBOYS hate so much how come you guys cant appreciate wht all of these companies are doing for us the consumer there pushing the current technology to the limits and making newer better technology. youll understand the concept of the PS3 Xbox360 and WII alot better.

  • Vexx88

    Posted Jul 19, 2006 8:29 pm PT

    i can see it now the DS will take it out in the game department and ppl will use this just for media just like the PSP

  • RadLink5

    Posted Jul 19, 2006 1:44 pm PT

    Wait wait wait, did I miss something? Where did it say anything about them making a handheld that plays games? All I see is it saying they're making handhelds and some of them will play media. >_>

  • urluckyday

    Posted Jul 18, 2006 4:27 pm PT

    We'll see how well this fares against the monster DS or little PSP...not well I assume...
    Oh and...no Sony console ever overtook a Nintendo console except for the GC and PS2, but the PS2 came out 2 years before the Cube...so check your facts...

  • DjINDIA

    Posted Jul 18, 2006 2:11 pm PT

    shinjuki
    people at microsoft are just a big fat bullys that wont rest until they have a complete monopoly on the entertainment world, but they are not doing a very good job. dont think this thing will fare well with video game players, microsoft fanboys on the otherhand....

    U ARE SO JEALOUS

  • oldhott02

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 4:08 pm PT

    just think protable halo.... can you say wi-fi.... halo wi-fi.... it think i wet my pants

  • shinjuki

    Posted Jul 16, 2006 7:28 pm PT

    people at microsoft are just a big fat bullys that wont rest until they have a complete monopoly on the entertainment world, but they are not doing a very good job. dont think this thing will fare well with video game players, microsoft fanboys on the otherhand....

  • WittyGBanter

    Posted Jul 16, 2006 8:31 am PT

    Not too big on portable gaming honestly. Im waiting for the wifi Ipod

  • priestinacloset

    Posted Jul 15, 2006 1:28 pm PT

    MS is doin to much to fast when Gates is gone BOOM KAPOW they are done they are already going downhill

  • hells_zargon

    Posted Jul 15, 2006 8:32 am PT

    A series of? Like Game & Watch? Oh dear...

  • Victer642

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 1:26 pm PT

    oh man. Here we go...

  • saturos

    Posted Jul 12, 2006 9:32 pm PT

    If it is that big text book looking thing then forget about it. they probly will throw out wireless xbox live shiot out there with it but who the hell wants to play xbox live on a text book specially if you are pretty consistant with your games and dont like leaveing the house much. IDK THE LIVING ROOM SEEMS LIKE A MORE COMFORTABLE PLACE TO YELL INSULTS.... HAHAHA TAKE THAT NOOB **** HAHAH EAT IT EAIT IT

  • ssjtrunks6

    Posted Jul 12, 2006 12:34 pm PT

    Microsoft, can you just please on worry about the..how bout spending more time making Halo 3 a better game, people are more excited for Halo 3 than anything...just focus on making the a kick ass game Put out a vote:Halo3 orArgo?.....most people will choose Halo 3 Im pretty sure of it.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Jul 12, 2006 8:47 am PT

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 6:03 pm PT

    i find it ironic that a 360 user would feel the need to call other consumers "herd of cattle". why are micro$haft fans exempt from this label? is it because 360 is not the commercial success the ipod has been? was their marketing not "lucky" enough?

  • jrett

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 3:32 pm PT

    Someone here was praising the IPOD and putting down MS for making a portable digital music playing device. News flash, Apple did not invent the mp3 player, and the fact of the matter is that the IPOD doesn't do anything significantly better than other currently available music players. They just got very lucky with thier marketting and the herd of cattle that are the consumers bought into it. In reality, it is proprietery and limited as such, but it has strong and successfull marketting.

  • cube-gage

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 3:17 pm PT

    they should wait till the next handheld round imo

  • Makaveli2A

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 2:19 pm PT

    It too much already, im getting tired of MS! First they can't show actuall gameplay of Halo 3, then they got no good game for the 360. Now they want battle with the DS and PSP. I hope they do no good.

  • 4quarters

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 1:53 pm PT

    The sad thing is if it launched with a Halo title(even a redo of Halo 1 or 2), you poor xbox fanatics don't care what it would cost, you would line up like lemmings and hold your wallets wide open!!!!Sad but true....

  • cesarotromundo

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 1:24 pm PT

    sweet, as long as its not over $250 dollars!

  • Igwababa

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 1:19 pm PT

    Hey this is microsoft we are talking about they have their hands in about every category you can imagine now (games, music, etc) If they can make this work this could be an iPod killer. Face it the iPod is an awesome piece of technology but it really only plays music. Yet you get 30G and 60G of space. Now I know vidoes take up most of that space, I would know I have to clear up about 10G of space each month off my iPod. My point is if MS can make something that does good in alot of categories by offering it in different machines that are all tied together that would be great. I mean imagine having an iPod Hard drive (4G) and add in game functionality you have a great combo already. See the problem with the PSP is it does alot but doesnt nail one thing great to make it stand out. The DS nails games but it fails in other categories, I mean it doesnt look cool, even the LIte isint that cool. If MS can make something that looks like an iPod, plays like a DS, and features functions of a PSP. You then have a really good platform.

  • rey06

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 1:12 pm PT

    I hate them........... oh well COPYCAT!!!!!!

  • schmiede

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 12:02 pm PT

    YAWN. Come up with something original, Microsoft. Oh wait... it's Microsoft... never mind.

  • mrzero1982pt2

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 11:37 am PT

    think first before jumping in ms. i think you guys were right with the "ipod killer" but when you are attacking nintendo's house, and sony is finally realizing what they did wrong and making quality games(after a year!) this is a horrible gamble which will fail. ladies and gentlemen, the virtual boy of the 21st century. but heck it will be cheaper than the ps3! HA

  • GKBeetle

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 11:21 am PT

    This could be cool. Hopefully what they will do is make different versions of the same handheld. The base system would just be able to play games and would be pretty cheap. Versions with stuff like the ability to play music or act as a phone or PDA would cost more. If they did this, I would probably buy the base system since I don't care about that other stuff. This would be nice, because you could buy whatever type of system you want at the beginning, and if you don't want extra features that the company "thinks" you want, you don't need to get them.

  • d0n7_p4n1k

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 11:03 am PT

    This sounds lame.
    It sounds like a media device first and a gaming device second.
    So why does it have the Xbox name on it?

  • sandy4v

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 10:40 am PT

    Hey folks

    If this is another fancy gadget from MS
    I dont think it can kill either PSP or DS lite
    May be MS should think first rather jumping into this and getting screwed

  • SnowFarmer

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 10:16 am PT

    I don't know if a MS handheld will fail, do alright or win. I'd have to see it first and see what kinds of games it will have. If it is pretty much just a portable Xbox, then I don't think it be a huge challenger to either the PSP or the DS. MS would need to add something a bit extra and new.

  • winnazdaluza

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 9:57 am PT

    People should remeber that the reason nintendo is on top of handhelds is because the competition (if any) sucks.
    If microsoft want's to enter the hand held market I'd say GO FOR IT!!! we don't need monopolies sony's psp does'nt seem to be putting up a fight, and no other handheld competitor exists.
    we need something like the console war going on right now with sony , microsoft and nintendo bringing their best products to the table!!!

    so I really think all those nintendo fanboys who are love to thoughtlessly proclaim that microsoft or anybody can't unsurp nintendo from handheld dominance, should just be quiet period!!!!--such blind loyalty shall encourage nintendo to relax, and stifles the hopes of other good handhelds from bringing fresh blood to the market. we need good competition to keep the fight fresh and content new and even more innovative!!!

    After all you will never know how good what you have is, until you see what others have to offer!!!!!

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 9:39 am PT

    I can't see this taking much of the market. It'll be just another attempt at global technology domination by Microsoft, but will only scrap a small portion of the handheld market. I imagine all of the M$ fanboys, who don't like handhelds and say they're for kids or a similar argument, will automatically love them once this comes out. It won't do as good as a job as Nintendo does, but will probably stay afloat. Still, I'd rather buy this than a PSP.

    As for it being an iPod killer, it has a Grand Theft Auto's chance in Jack Thompson's living room.

  • sieg6529

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 9:39 am PT

    I'm actually surprised they haven't already tried for a slice of the portable pie.

  • skyvader

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 9:35 am PT

    It is obvious MS is capitalizing on the xbox name value. If they called it the "Microsoft Argo" it wouldn't have the impact as calling it the "Xbox Argo". Like Sony and the "Playstation Portable" (aka PSP) as opposed to calling it Sony portable or Gameman. I am affraid the Argo name may get confused with Archos and their jukebox line of media players. Maybe Archos wil sue because of a similar sounding name.

    The whole live anywhere could make this thing a hit as in order to do the live on a phone it would have to be a windows based phone. I like my cingular phone and dont want to switch. so if MS takes that into account they could make this a full portable like the ngage only better. and allow the option for users to have one with a phone or not but not limit them to the live content based on which one they choose. Gamepark has their new XGP and xgp mini in which both have the same power and abilities with the exception being amount of memory installed. Yet due to physical differences it doesn't limit the content available for both. Either one can do the same as the other.

  • diablusx

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 9:11 am PT

    It will be hard to tell how the M$ portable will do because of what M$ said at their press foncerence. If they can get it to work so that 360, Vi$ta, and the portable can work as one then it could be a tough call. Especially if they can add in people's cell phone to the mix. It would be great to call someone on their phone while playing a game on 360 against someone on Vi$ta while a friend/rival can check on your status with one of the afore mentioned devices.

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 8:34 am PT

    umm shouldnt they sort out all those 360 problems first? not to mention DS supremacy. do they really believe people want or need another handheld? surely everyone has a DS already..?

  • 3ternalsword207

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 8:20 am PT

    i think it'll flop but we'll see won't we

  • golden_ashen

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 8:09 am PT

    Microsoft isn't particually targeting PSP and DS, it is mainly trying to target IPOD, but that doesn't mean the handheld will not have playable games, but for Microsoft to say that they will start making mobile phone connectable to handhelds (like a PSP mobile) is complete cow dung, do they really expect to have no experince in the mobile industry, create a handheld like PSP with mobile phone capabilities before any other mobile company, yeah right, bit ahead of themselves. Competing with handhelds, yeah, competing with handhelds and mobile companies......hell no

  • Fallout_red

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 7:58 am PT

    When MS does something, they do it for a reason and there will be a huge impact. Anyway, a portable Xbox is kinda the perfect copy of Sony PSP.

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 7:42 am PT

    It will fail.

  • gamingfreak47

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 7:41 am PT

    I highly doubte its gonna sell well but only time will tell.

  • RanXer0x

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 7:21 am PT

    I would by 5 of the gaming handhelds (assuming that a codename means that their hiding something.), if they could play the xbox cds.

    I really wouldn't care about the weight/ergonomics, as nothing would beat it.

    Nothing.

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 6:41 am PT

    In theory, I enjoy the multi-media capabilities of the PSP, but the music playback interface is just so darn cumbersome for me, and the volume for music playback is way to soft even when maxed out. I'd like to see if M$ could create a multi-media (gaming) device with a more user-friendly interface than the PSP.

  • tom_dar2

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 6:14 am PT

    To the guy complaining that there will be a line of handhelds, I don't understand this point of view. You don't want choice? I've always thought it odd that consoles typically only come in one flavour; one design, one color. You get choice with everything else. There's more than one kind of iPod, several different models of Sony DVD players and many different Nokia cell phones. No one will force you to buy every version of Xbox handheld, and they aren't there to obsolete each other; it's simply about offering choice. I expect that each one will come in at a different price point that will appeal to different people.

    Next, the guy who said Microsoft should hold off until Sony and Nintendo launch their next generation handhelds instead of coming in late to this generation. First off, it doesn't sound like the Xbox handhelds are going to be competing directly anyway. And secondly, even if they were targetting the same people as Nintendo, why hold off until Nintendo comes out with a superior product? It's not like people wait for the start of each hardware cycle then pick one device that they will stick with for the next bunch of years. I'm sure there are plenty of people that have neither a DS nor PSP, and will be interested in an Xbox handheld. And then there are people like me who already have both and still want the Xbox. I suspect that they will let you download Live Arcade games straight to the machine, which sure beats carrying a bunch of loose carts/discs around in your pocket.

  • Leick3

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 4:41 am PT

    first, it said absolutely NOTHING about playing video games, and even if it did, remember what happened to the PSP. Alot of people thought it would be so great because it was from sony, but Nintendo still controls 80% of the handheld market, and it always will control the handheld gaming market. End of discussion.

  • K1LLSWITCH

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 1:35 am PT

    Buyer beware. Pop-up ad's.

  • mezonesxbox

    Posted Jul 11, 2006 1:19 am PT


    I'll buy it!! I want to see what my USB ports on my 360 can do!!! : )

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