Microsoft's handheld to be revealed soon?

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Feb 27, 2006 10:19 am PT

Source: An industry-rattling expose in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The official story: See below. What we heard: Ever since CES in January, rumors have been circulating that Microsoft may soon enter the handheld market. Most of these sprang from a BusinessWeek article, which cited an anonymous...

Source: An industry-rattling expose in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The official story: See below.

What we heard: Ever since CES in January, rumors have been circulating that Microsoft may soon enter the handheld market. Most of these sprang from a BusinessWeek article, which cited an anonymous source inside the Redmond, Washington-based software colossus as "working on plans to develop its own portable digital media device to rival the iPod." Speaking hypothetically, Xbox marketing chief Peter Moore said any such device would also have gaming functionality. "It can't just be our version of the iPod," he told the magazine.

At the same time, one of Microsoft's signature teaser Web sites sprouted up at the URL www.origamiproject.com. Via some slick flash animation, the site asks visitors "Do you know me?" "Do you know what I can do?" "Do you know where I can go?" It then promises that, "You will ... Learn more on 3.2.06."

Given the looming launch of Windows Vista, many assumed the site was part of the effort to help hype Microsoft's new PC operating system. However, over the weekend, reports surfaced that Project Origami is actually the code name for a new portable that combines media-player and PC functionality.

The evidence came in the form of a video clip that was uncovered on the Web site for the film-production company Digital Kitchen. The clip, which has since been taken down, showed a "concept device ... noticeably larger than the iPod and somewhat bigger than Sony's PlayStation Portable," according to the Post-Intelligencer. The video also "shows people using the device not only as a music player, but also as a miniature personal computer for accessing the Internet, sending e-mail, editing photos and playing video games."

What games, you ask? A copy of the video viewed by GameSpot clearly shows a user playing what looks like a handheld version of Halo in a train station, and an image in the Post-Intelligencer's gallery of stills also shows the Bungie game on the portable's screen. Unlike the side-scrolling spin-offs that were once rumored to be coming to portables, the Origami Halo looks much like the same graphic-intensive first-person shooter that has become legendary on the Xbox and PC.

[UPDATE] However, it remains unclear when--or if--gamers will be able to get their hands on a mini Master Chief. Instead of busting out the usual "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation" boilerplate, reps for the company admitted the video was legit. "While Origami is a concept we've been working on with partners, please know that the video seen on Digital Kitchen's web site is a year old and represents our initial exploration into this form factor, including possible uses and scenarios," a Microsoft rep told GameSpot.

Though reps wouldn't comment on the Halo footage specifically, their references to "possible uses and scenarios" means the footage was likely for demonstration purposes only. "Everything in the video was 100 percent pure concept, so take nothing as an indication of what may or may not be in any such final product," a source close to Microsoft told GameSpot. "I'm sure they just took some Halo footage and stuck it in there since it's a Microsoft property." 

So will the portable device have gaming functionality? Hopefully we'll know soon. The reps also said that details on the Origami Project would be revealed "in the coming weeks." Maybe they should have said "the coming days," as the date on the origamiproject.com is this Thursday--less than 72 hours away.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus that something is getting unveiled on March 2--and we can't wait to see what it is.

697 Comments

  • hoxie08

    Posted May 11, 2006 2:53 pm PT

    Piernik is a DA! Half of you people are as well. Go to school, learn to spell, and get a life!

  • fr1dab1rd

    Posted May 3, 2006 6:00 pm PT

    Advance the pawns.

  • Buffmaster

    Posted May 1, 2006 12:45 am PT

    I want it to fit in my pocket, I don't want to walk around while other people are staring at me because it looks like i got a boner.

  • Buffmaster

    Posted May 1, 2006 12:35 am PT

    I'm intrigued, but there's major flaws in that design, for 1, it needs to have 2 analog sticks, this one of the psp's major flaws. and it'll have to be smaller. and maybe you could hook it up 2 your 360 via usb cable and copy your online profile and play online!

  • yellowyfever

    Posted Apr 17, 2006 2:53 pm PT

    microsoft is doing big things in 2006!

  • wasup109

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 11:16 am PT

    OMG go to the origami project website man. and watch all the videos of all the weeks. on weeek 3 it reveals the ultra-portable pc.

  • gigaman299

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 9:39 am PT

    I'd like to see it fit in my pocket o___O
    It doesn't really look like a handheld xD
    I don't doubt the potential of this, but I do doubt the size will attract many people. It's the size of my laptop screen!!

  • evestraw

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 12:38 am PT

    its doesn't really looks like a gaming console more like a tablet pc.
    i expected microsoft to bring out something colosal that is to big to carry around.

    not really that impresive

  • aeguvas_basic

    Posted Mar 14, 2006 12:05 pm PT

    I think I can hear my brain cells explode while trying to read these comments.

  • nailandrew

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 9:49 pm PT

    Why is microsoft so damn greedy? Big screen;PSP,touch screen;DS

  • Zacek1000

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 7:51 am PT

    I'm in the page right now... it looks too big to me...

    You can connect with WiFi... play games, use Windows XP, and has a touch screen...mmh where did I heard that?

  • dodgyd55

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 4:16 am PT

    i looks like he took a lot more of them down then lol..........but he does have a different console game in his wish list (test drive 360) maybe he will not be a fan boy all his life......... i hate fan bhoys, losers give other consoles a try, and its usualy the ps2 that has the fan boys ( im not say xbox didn't have them) but seriously i can no longer play a ps2 after geting a 360, the quality is just so much higher............dont worry im not a fan boy i pwn all the consoles and looking foward to see what the reveloution will offer and (this is the comment that pi**es off people) the george forman grill (ps3) dont like the design of the console, its like they asked george forman if they could hollow out his grill and use it as a console.............im still gonna get it tho lol

  • CsAdK

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 9:40 pm PT

    I seen this one coming.Great ideal but it looks a little too large.They might have made it smaller since its old pictures but who knows...

    alberto2045
    thats bs MICROSOFT still wants to be like SONY

    Hahahahahaha why would anybody want to be sony?Microsoft can do anything sony can do.I think sony fans are just a little bit too scared that someone is gonna replace them.I just love to see sony fans run in fear.Welp I was bored so i decided to take a look at this guys profile and i found something that didnt really surprise me.

    http://www.gamespot.com/pages/profile/contributions.php?user=alberto2045&mode=ratings

    He has gave like EVERY ps2 game he has ever probably played in his worthless life either a 9.5 or above.Oh wait he gave one game a 8.5

  • dodgyd55

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 4:18 pm PT

    u guys are F***ing n00bs try reading the story some time. unless you cant.

    Year OLD pictures

  • dodgyd55

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 4:16 pm PT

    so they have year old pictures here......hmmmm wonder how much smaller it is now?.........................and what will hooking it up to the 360 do.....................and maby thats what the secret update on live was(along side DOA)

  • Thesilverpimp

    Posted Mar 7, 2006 5:30 pm PT

    Xbox 360 DS Advance - anyone? only 400$

  • Thesilverpimp

    Posted Mar 7, 2006 5:15 pm PT

    Xbox 360 DS Advance - anyone? only 400$

  • gamespotr0cks

    Posted Mar 6, 2006 2:17 pm PT

    I DON'T like Micro$oft. Hope the Origami sinks like a ton of bricks tied to Jimmy Hoffa's legs in the New York Harbor.

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Mar 6, 2006 8:09 am PT

    looks like a freakin tablet pc, how is some one supposed to lug one of those around, well micro soft never really tried to consolodate size with their consoles so why should they with their handheld. he he

  • skitzocyko

    Posted Mar 6, 2006 6:53 am PT

    IT ISN"T JUST A GAMING DEVICE!!!

  • cuneofamily

    Posted Mar 5, 2006 5:35 pm PT

    Halo on this thing would make a lot of sense. Remember how Bungie had said it was working on something else besides Halo 3?

  • mrblue2106

    Posted Mar 4, 2006 9:05 pm PT

    I don't recall anyone ever saying it would even play halo. All of what you see in the video is concept (according to the article). And whats to say that they will even reveal it this next thursday. They could just put up more hints. I however love my psp and the things it can do, So, if MS wants to throw something at sony's handheld, then I am GAME! However it appears as thought it might just turn out to be a very small PC, that will probly be very expensive and focused more on its visual appeal (customized face plates and personal screen savers and such) than its specs (I hope thats not the case). It will be exciting to see what they've come up with!


    If A sTaR fElL tO eArTh, I aM sUrE iT wOuLd HiT mE.

  • nintendoboy101

    Posted Mar 4, 2006 3:38 pm PT

    sounds like a humungous price tag. like the 360s. but i still like it. the idea of a portable computer is cool. but it's HUGE

  • general-s

    Posted Mar 4, 2006 3:20 pm PT

    i hate xbox

  • happierthanU

    Posted Mar 4, 2006 1:35 pm PT

    i hope it comes out

  • star35

    Posted Mar 4, 2006 12:59 pm PT

    how do you play halo on it there are what looks like to be one analog stick and a lot of buttons that are out of place and it doesn't fit in a pocket and looks like a tablit pc. I would have better luck whith a laptop to play halo.

  • pyth0n13

    Posted Mar 4, 2006 4:49 am PT

    it's kinda huge for a hand held. it's more like a little laptop.

  • theonlyJZ

    Posted Mar 4, 2006 12:57 am PT

    Even if it is true, there can only be room for so many handhelds and given Microsoft's track record in Japan, they better hope the device sells like hotcakes over here IF it comes out. Gates is always pissed about something and wants to top it. He hates Google and has stated that Microsoft is coming out with something much better. Gates doesn't have the best track record on what he says and what the company does. See Halo 3. So I don't believe anything Gates or Microsoft says until it shows up.

  • xpdude

    Posted Mar 4, 2006 12:18 am PT

    Halo on the go looks great.

    But designed by Microsoft? Hopefully it will be something more like Xbox 360 than the original Xbox.

  • Ice-Cube

    Posted Mar 3, 2006 10:54 pm PT

    Wayy too big to carry..and it looks like it aint gonna work out. Microsoft jus stick with computers. Looks pretty pricey but still doesn't look like its worth it.

    Thers my two cents.

  • snaretrap745

    Posted Mar 3, 2006 9:34 pm PT

    too big. i'm gettin a psp when the price drops.. that is, IF the price drops..

  • xbox_junkii

    Posted Mar 3, 2006 7:58 pm PT

    pretty dope.

  • SoberWarock

    Posted Mar 3, 2006 5:59 pm PT

    OMFG i cant believe this....IT HAS BETTER GRAPHS than a psp....omg I HOPE ITS A FAKE...and this sucks i got a psp and now i want this...the thing is that it a big ass PORTABLE suckr. thats the negative side. though i want it so bad...the only thing i want it is because it play bad ass GRX and now i dont know which to choose pl3 or this.

  • azure_drake

    Posted Mar 3, 2006 3:55 pm PT

    i duno.... unless if dats ludacris with his hulk hands playin on it... it seems kinda big. But if Microsoft can improve on da design, REALLY good specs (bluetooth, WiFi etc.), high performance video and such... i might try it out.... Right now it seems more like one of those really small Sony laptops....

  • X3Plus

    Posted Mar 3, 2006 11:20 am PT

    This is wacko man!!....Imagine it playing videos....having WiFi, bluetooth...
    capabilities.

    If it plays videos MP3s and is able to give you decent gaming ability then I'd buy that for sure.

    If its priced anywere under $400 I am taking it...oh yea as the others mentioned it should be small enough to fit with you...

    This would be a gr8 product especially if it come with a OS...Whoa!

  • NIJASKILLZ

    Posted Mar 3, 2006 8:58 am PT

    Ahh.. I would just give Microsoft a chance theres a first time for everything just learn from your mistakes boys learn from your mistakes..

  • N01dZ

    Posted Mar 3, 2006 8:53 am PT

    LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS THING?!?! Almost just as large as the Atart Lynx... And that IS big!!! You can't call that portable...

  • SolidSniper112

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 6:38 pm PT

    So its basically a NEWLY UPgraded pocket pC?

  • me7111

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 5:19 pm PT

    i agree with vyse the daring it will be takin a big **** on all the competitors

  • me7111

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 5:16 pm PT

    so what if its big, at least its not the size of another laptop. thinki about it if you can play halo on it you want it to be bigger than a freakin psp.

  • Vyse_The_Daring

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 5:13 pm PT

    If you doubt this things potential, you must be insane. This isn't a PSP/DS ripoff, this is a portable computer. It's bloody brilliant: it plays games (PSP/DS), mp3's (ipod), and it appears to have internet access while being smaller than a laptop. It's like they're taking a huge **** on all their competitors at once. The only thing standing in the origami's way is the price, or if people misinterpret it for being mostly a game player, when it's so much more. I would really like to see this product work out for MS.

  • Jedi_Hunter_505

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 5:04 pm PT

    That thing is almost disgusting! Look at how ugly it looks! It's not even portable at all. Its huge! This is a waste of time Microsoft! It looks bad, graphics aren't good, and its not even portable. Waste your time on something else please!!

  • omega_link2

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 3:16 pm PT

    a microsoft handheld?................PLEASE u have got to be kidding this thing is gonna suk!

  • ey_son

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 11:12 am PT

    desktop to laptop to psp/ds on steroids

  • dv8r

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 9:40 pm PT

    If you do a view source on

    http://www.origamiproject.com/2/

    It says:

    Origami Project: the Mobile PC running Windows XP

    Could be interesting if its affordable.

  • wizard142

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 9:06 pm PT

    I dont trust a 3rd party company making a handheld, cause it may suck
    Microsoft is better off making it's own handheld,WITH 2 THUMBSTICKS!something PSP doesn't have, but until they do PSP still kicks nintendo's a$$
    and whats the point of of buying the first exact same halo with the same graphics for dinky handheld that probably is around $200-$500, ur better of playing it on X-Box

  • sgallagher1969

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 5:37 pm PT

    If it's not a portable xbox then forget it. If I can tap into the current supply of xbox games then it would rock as a portable. Also, if it dosen't have analog sticks and triggers then forget it.

  • CorinneQ

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 4:53 pm PT

    Goodness, don't they ever just give up? It's very irritating when game companies compete with each other by coming out with whatever the other one comes out with. Don't rush yourself it might turn out to be a flop, but that's how it is these days anyways.

  • Aeoxins

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 4:35 pm PT

    u see after the MC dies when he is playing halo, he goes to a blue screen. Thats www.bungie.net - internet, thank you MS

  • rottenmeat

    Posted Mar 1, 2006 4:17 pm PT

    its big ,but its worth it. i think lets just see how it turns out!

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