A new portable media device that allows users to listen to music, play video games, browse the Internet and jot hand-written notes is the initial vision of a product in development by Microsoft Corp. and its partners, the software giant said.
Microsoft acknowledged that an early version of its new hand-held PC-like device was featured in a video on the Web site for marketing firm Digital Kitchen. "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 spokesman said.
While some media reports flagged the product as a possible rival to Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod digital music player or Sony Corp.'s PlayStation Portable game device, "Origami" seemed to incorporate more functions and appeared to be much larger than those gadgets.
Microsoft acknowledged that an early version of its new hand-held PC-like device was featured in a video on the Web site for marketing firm Digital Kitchen. "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 spokesman said.
While some media reports flagged the product as a possible rival to Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod digital music player or Sony Corp.'s PlayStation Portable game device, "Origami" seemed to incorporate more functions and appeared to be much larger than those gadgets.