In addition to this revealing video picked up at Gizmodo, ZDNet’s Mary Jo-Foley reported on new speculation from a “more verifiable source” that sheds some more light on the still unannounced Microsoft Courier booklet device. Her source claims that the Courier is currently running on top of the Windows 7 operating system. However, the consumer will not be able to install Windows 7 apps on the device: Microsoft tablets of the past “failed because the applications were not tailored to a tablet form factor – that is, Word still had toolbars and menus and scollbars. So, a tablet needs to be like an iPhone – a UX that is specific for the form factor.” The source mentions that the development team at Microsoft is creating this device like they did the Xbox video game console; Microsoft will handle the hardware and software so as to speed up the development process. The source also says that the Courier is on track for a “mid-2010” release.
Very interesting tidbits of information, yes. As Apple is currently in the process of manufacturing their own tablet, I am excited to see how all of this will play out. Will it be the MS Courier vs. the Apple tablet in the near future? Only time (and potential surfacing FCC filings) will tell.
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