Jkkmobile has a video review of the just released Origami Experience 2.0.

By the way, you can download Origami Experience and run it on a UMPC or a desktop. Of course, it really makes the mose sense on a UMPC and some features won’t be available if you don’t have a touch display. The Windows Vista Blogs lists some of the caveats:

The Origami Experience 2.0 is designed for Ultra-Mobile PCs that run Windows Vista. To run the Origami Experience 2.0, a UMPC with the following specifications is recommended:

Minimum 100 MB of available hard disk space
Minimum 1 GB of system memory
Touch panel display (required for Origami Picture Password)
The Origami Experience 2.0 requires the following software installed:

Windows Internet Explorer 7. Origami Experience 2.0 requires Internet Explorer 7 for its RSS platform.
Windows Media Player 11. Origami Central requires Windows Media Player 11 in order to manage and play media.
Microsoft Office Outlook 2007. The calendar tile in Origami Now works only with Office Outlook 2007 Calendar. The mail tile in Origami Now works with Office Outlook 2007 Mail and Windows Mail.
The Windows update available here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932406 . This update is highly recommended if you use the mail tile in Origami Now with Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.

The Vista blog also has a couple additional postings on Web Browsing optimizations in OE2 and it’s RSS support. Believe me, there’s lots more to OE2. Definitely worth checking out.

Rob Zelt, Neil Roodyn and others from the community had a roundtable luncheon with Bill Gates last week at TechEd. Think about this: How many executives from any tech company you can think of set aside time like this to meet with members of the community? Not many.

Rob Zelt has the best write up at this time.

According to Rob, the main topic of conversation was about education including a bit about Tablet PCs.

It’s great to hear on both accounts.

Bill Gates has been the leading public advocate of Tablet PCs. Just look at his last five speeches listed on Microsoft’s Presspass:

From TechEd: “We’ve also got the pen capability that we’re taking to a whole new level in terms of easy recognition, and how that is implemented in the hardware. I think of every student having a device that avoids the need for paper textbooks. The tablet device will let them take notes, record audio, connect to the Internet. It will be superior in every way, and yet it can’t be purely keyboard based. It has to have this touch and pen as well.”

From advance08 The Future of Media: “So that idea of seeing will have that in many places — your desktop in your office, you’ll be able to have things displayed and just point and expand the information, your whiteboard will be an intelligent whiteboard and you can navigate through information there. So it’s pretty spectacular when you get what we call natural interface. Likewise, being able to talk to the computer, talk to your mobile phone and say what you want or have a tablet-like device that you can just take notes on and those notes can be recognized or searched, sent off to other people. That is the combination of incredible processing power together with software breakthroughs.”

Microsoft CEO Summit: “The early uses of this, besides Surface, include things like the touch on some of the phones, including Apple’s, it includes the pen on tablet computers that are very popular in verticals like medicine, and we expect to catch on with students who want to take notes or people who sit in meetings.”

2008 Government Leaders Forum Asia: “I’ve got one last thing to show, and I previewed this earlier, and that’s related to the student Tablet. To me this is an important milestone, and Microsoft has been investing in this for a long time. We see lots of ways that we’re going to drive this into the mainstream. In fact, my own daughter goes to a school where she uses a Tablet PC, and it’s phenomenal to see how comfortable she is, how she learns better. She tries out her knowledge, she communicates with her teacher in a new way. It is completely digital. The Internet is there, the ability to create things is there.”

Japan Premium Forum: “This will be important in the office and it will be important at home, so it will touch computing everywhere. You’ll see on your phone, of course, we’ll have touch and the pen as well. You’ll see on the portable computer we’ll have a tablet-like device that will have touch and that’s where the pen with the ink and ink recognition comes in.”

Five speeches. Five mentions of Tablets. If I went further through the list of speech transcripts, I imagine the trend would continue. That’s the way Bill Gates has been.

I also like the fact that Bill Gates spent so much talking about education. Oh, how I wish I could have listened in. Early on while developing for the Tablet PC I began to see how ideal a device like it might be for education. I’ve been working on some eWorkbooks (or activity books) for awhile that I think will offer a natural way for students to interact with their learning material. Cancer was a bit of hiccup along the way and now I’m racing to pay off bills like you can’t imagine, so my work has gotten more splintered, however, my goals have not. I can’t help but get inspired each time I think about how education can be improved with the right technology. The time is right. The devices are getting inexpensive enough, mobile enough, connected enough, and interactive enough. Now we need the software and content packaged well to leverage these devices.

I hope you don’t mind a little self-archiving here as I re-post some of my eWorkbook “applications” that I’ve been working on.

These include a variety of components ranging from crossword puzzles, clock problems, coin counting problems, math problems, matching problems, reading problems, word search problems, coloring surfaces, connect the dots problems, and so on that fit together nicely in an eWorkbook format. In addition, each component supports both handwriting and keyboard input as well as most importantly interactive feedback:

And here are a mix of algebra problems:

And an eBook that reads aloud for beginner readers:

As well as a personal diary eBook:

And a music composition eWorkbook:

Technology wise, they’re all written with WPF and XAML with portions ported to Silverlight.

As I look back over these screenshots I get goosebumps.

If you could cut your boot times by a quarter and extend your UMPC’s battery life by 40% would you switch from Windows to another OS? Acer is betting so, according to this article on vnunet.com.

Here’s the problem as I see it: Will developers embrace these machines, let’s say like they have the iPhone? If not, Acer is going to have a tough time no matter what the OS.

This is the challenge for Acer, Intel, Microsoft and the others. Now possibly the developers will follow the users if large numbers of people adopt these systems, but I bet you’ll have to capture the imagination of the developers from the get go. So far that hasn’t happened in large enough numbers.

Now if Acer truly is going to keep the price low–and I mean really low–then maybe they will attract a slew of Linux developers and advocates. However, there are many developers like me that want more. I don’t mean in terms of cost, but rather in terms of compelling features. There’s got to be some unique communication capabilities or multi-touch or GPS or something.

PCMag sees a brighter future for UMPCs.

Actually, the brighter future that PCMag is forecasting is more about what Microsoft is calling Ultra-Low Cost PCs (ULPCs) and not UMPCs per se.

I’d also quibble with some other points in the article. A great UMPC in my mind is very much about lightness. Give me a unit as close as you can to one pound and now you have a real winner. Two pounds is OK, but when you get up in the three pound range, it’s just a compact notebook to me.

Today Microsoft announced that it would be extending the lifetime for Windows (XP we presume) for netbooks. It had already done so for ultra-low cost PCs, such as the Eee PC.

This leaves the UMPC and similar Tablet-enabled devices even further out on a limb as UMPCPortal points out as they are becoming even more expensive relative to other similar featured devices. I think Warner over at Gottabemobile hints at the product confusion too and reflects on how this all may shake out in the end.

Here’s the problem as I see it: Despite the fact that these low-cost devices are in part being targeted to students, there won’t be ink. There won’t be touch. There won’t be handwriting recognition. All of which make lots of sense for students. These great Tablet features are not included in XP Home, which is what Microsoft is giving breaks to OEMs on.

Now fortunately there’s Silverlight and I guess handwriting recognition can go through a server for these low cost devices, but this is not the ideal situation.

It’s disappointing to see Microsoft’s licensing shifts–that are clearly needed I know–potentially hurting Tablets/UMPCs in the education market at a time like this.

I think part of the problem here is that Microsoft sees the Tablet features more as a premium experience. Like the licensing issue with XP themselves, it needs to drop this and get over it. Tablet features aren’t premium. In fact, Tablet features should be mainstream, native features that are cross platform even (Silverlight, Messenger on the Mac, Office on the Mac). If Silverlight can inch this direction, I’m perplexed why Windows can’t across all its SKUs.

Here’s my plea for Microsoft: If you could just transfer the responsibility of ink and handwriting recognition from Windows and put in under the management of the .NET Framework team, I think developers, customers, and OEMs would all be better off.

Yeah, this is part of my continuing campaign to see Windows as having the core responsibility of saying “No” as part of its objectives of being more stable and secure and the .NET Framework, et al, as our path to the future. Move all the good stuff to .NET so we can get on with it. It’s the new API.

At today’s OLPC Media event, Nicholas Negrponte announced concept designs for the next generation device.

Wade Roush is blogging the event here and I’ve borrowed one of his photos of the proposed OLPC 2, shown below.

The small device will boast two touch screens that can be used as a two-page book, as a notebook-style keyboard/display combination, or a horizontal/slate mode.

Of course, this is a concept design and who knows what a shippable device will really look like. We all know how far Haiku got, for instance.

But I think this is going a good direction.

Very nice.

Laptopmag.org is at the event too and has some more pictures and a video of part of Negroponte’s presentation.

Kevin Tofel points to the latest scoop on the Fujitsu UMPC: It’s scheduled for an update. This time around it’s going to get an Intel Atom CPU. Kevin is also speculating that it’ll come with Vista. That may not be as bad a choice as he expects, but we’ll have to see.

CNet is reporting that a Samsung senior manager has warned that Samsung will leave the laptop market–including UMPCs–if market share does not improve. The exit date? 2011.

Who knows if this report is more than just a rumor or someone grumbling. However, of all the UMPCs, the Samsung Q1s are near my top as favs, eventhough I’d sure like them thinner, lighter, and a lot less expensive. Hey, what can I say, I want it all

Will Intel’s version of the MIDs follow the wacky pricing of UMPCs? Rumors are beginning to spread that this might just be the case. Oh, boy. Here we go again.

All I can say is, maybe this time Apple will provide some much needed competition and show the OEMs how this game is played.

What I’d like to see is a device with a display larger than the iPhone’s, great connectivity, a great browsing experience, good battery life, and a rich programmable platform. Put all of these together at a reasonable price and you have something I and many others would purchase. Price it in the $1000 range and you have a flop.

Intel needs to sit down with its engineers and think this through a bit more.

Update: Some are suggesting that the first-to-market MIDs will be in the $750 range. Still too high if you ask me.

The experience better be killer at this price. Otherwise, I’m going to be in line with everyone else buying, not a MID, but another Apple product.

Word is spreading that Microsoft’s Ultra-Low Cost PCs (ULCPCs or ULPCs) pricing program will not support touch.

JKKMobile offers up some choice words/advice for Microsoft.

Let’s be clear though that we’re talking about unnamed, leaked sources here. Also, from what Microsoft mentioned publically earlier, they’re basically offering deep discounts for XP Home. By definition, this exludes Tablet bits (essentially) and domain join. For me, touch gets less interesting at this point. In fact, encouraging touch without Tablet could dilute the Tablet market, I guess. XP Home knocks out schools using these as Tablet PCs in any organized manner as well. I’ve already blogged about my thoughts on this. However, schools can always decide to pay a little extra for the Tablet bits and Vista and a machine that can run it reasonably well. This is just an incentive program.

And we’re really talking about a competitive nudge against Linux. That’s what’s motivating this. We’re not talking about where Microsoft’s heart is. We know no more or less whether Microsoft is committed to low-cost Tablet PCs or Tablet PCs in education.

Of course, the problem here is that in its battle against Linux, Microsoft is going to be discouraging Tablet sales and disouraging the notion that Tablet features should be everywhere. This collision course looks unavoidable. To me, it’s not a question whether Microsoft should be blocking touch on ULCPCs, it’s about whether they should be encouraging Tablets and Tablet features to be low cost. For us Tablet advocates, well, we’ve got more work cut out for us. Now, not only do we have the unwelcome $200+ premium for the digitizers, we have an additional price premium for the OS on the low-end.

Oh well, maybe these low-cost PCs will flop and we can all go back to $1500 UMPCs.

OK, maybe it’s not exactly this HTC Shift review that’s got me rethinking things, but it does add one more feather to the cap.

I miss a good slate Tablet PC–even a good slate UMPC. I want something super thin–at least on par with the NEC LitePad–that’s very light (under 2 pounds–close to 1 pound), has great connectivity, lasts more than 2 hours on a fresh battery, and a great multi-touch experience as well as pen support. And I’d like all this for under $1000.

Why do I still feel like I’m dreaming?

I’m not.

This has got to be possible given today’s technology.

How would I use such a device? If it’s close to 10″ in size, it would become my companion notetaking machine. With Live Mesh on the cusp, I’d do whatever I can to make connectivity work while working. In the meantime, EverNote would probably become my most used app, because of its note sharing support. This would get me going.

For a smaller form factor–let’s say in the 5 to 7″ range–I’d use it more as a carry-everywhere Internet browser. In this case, I’d need battery life of at least 4 hours continuous use.

Why am I wanting a great slate again? Because I’ve had to switch much of my development back to a desktop and I desperately miss inking. Yes, I use my M700 Tablet PC all the time too, however, when I’m at the desktop a slate is a better match. Also, after using the iPhone so much for browsing, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need a bigger browsing device. So that’s where a 5″ or so device fits in.

Am I asking for too much? Probably. I know I’m going to have to wait for the rest of the market to catch up and drive demand. My other hope is that Apple will get into the mix here and stir the market up. Maybe a little healthy competition will get things going.

What’s the most interesting thing going on right now with UMPCs? Running OS X on them.

Several people have tried running OS X on the diminutive PCs, including the OQO which
Engadget is linking to and today showing OS X running. Hmmm. This is getting interesting. Now if OS X would just add some decent handwriting recognition this would be even more interesting….

What have we seen so far? OS X on an Eee PC, Sony Vaio UX, and Mini-Note, Samsung Q1 Ultra, and I think James Kendrick did the same with the Fujitsu P1620.

This all beggs the question: Is OS X a good UMPC OS? So far I haven’t seen anything that says yes, which kind of points out the disparity between the experience in the iPhone and that in a UMPC running OS X. In terms of touch experience, I’d still say the iPhone wins out, Vista on a UMPC is in second place, and a UMPC running OS X trails a distant third.

How much would it take for Apple to catch up in the UMPC space? Or put another way, if Apple decided to go into this space, what might we see? Gets the brain spinning, doesn’t it?

Interested in purchasing a low-cost, ultraportable? Check out this list at liliputing.com.

I say: Please add a dual digitizer with capacitive multi-touch and pen support for handwriting. Yeah, I want the world. I know, but what a wonderful world it would be

Apple may not think that their iPhone is ready for video, but it looks like the cellular industry thinks the time is now to support scenarios such as this. In an USA Today article several cellphone providers are talking up how you might be able to watch TV on your cellphone. Sounds good to me.

All of this makes me wonder how MIDs and UMPCs might fit into this. Assuming they have they connectivity, will the video experience be up to par or will the setup assume very small displays?

I also think any video watching scenario needs to assume that people will be watching videos from services such as YouTube. Gone are the days of exclusively watching TV networks or shows from major movie studios.

This is going to be very interesting to watch.

I love Tablet PCs. If you’re been following this blog, you probably already know that. UMPCs, well, I haven’t met one that I use a lot day to day, but I do carry one with me whenever I travel. I like the smaller size, but yet the full computer experience. I also love my iPhone. It’s my favorite way to check Twitter or TechMeme or thredr.com. I’m also looking forward to the MIDs. My fingers are crossed that they’ll hit the useage sweet spot.

So given these three devices how would I like to see them take the next step?

Here are a ten things:

1) I want these devices to be more aware of my context–where I’m at, what I’m doing. GPS is a part of this. As I outlined in an earlier post with Smart Cameras, there’s so much more.

2) I’d like to see more services that let me use which ever device I’m on. That includes watching movie, TV shows, music and so on.

3) More horsepower. I know this goes against the battery life, but there’s so much more that could be done with video, for instance.

4) OK. I’d like even longer battery life too or at least lighter spare batteries

5) Improved and transparent connectivity. I want to be connected to devices in an adhoc manner or on the Internet via WiFi or WiMax or whatever without having to think about it.

6) This kind of goes along with #3; I’d like to see better cameras in all of these devices.

7) Instant on for the larger devices.

Better interactivity, including multi-touch, better speech recognition, better ink drawing and painting experience, better ink in the browser, better Voip, and so on. In a nutshell, let me communicate better between apps, with others, and when I’m creating new content.

9) I’d buy a 24″ table-top “Tablet” if there was such a thing. The Wacom Cintiq is close, but not exactly what I have in mind.

10) If my UMPC had instant on, I’d probably use it at home for a TV show lookup.

I better stop, I’m coming up with too many ideas now and I said I’d only list 10. Hmmm…maybe I should have said my top 20 wish list. Oh well, time to get back to work.