As rumors continue to swirl about a new Microsoft tablet PC project, Gizmodo comes along with new evidence of just what Microsoft may be up to.
According to some reports, Microsoft is allegedly in the thick of development on a new tablet-like device code-named “Courier.” According to an All About Microsoft report, “Gizmodo showed off a sneak peek of a video of the Courier device in action during a press-only party in New York on Sept. 22 to mark the opening of the Gizmodo Gallery.”
In its report on the Courier effort, Gizmodo said:
“Courier is a real device, and we’ve heard that it’s in the ‘late prototype’ stage of development. It’s not a tablet, it’s a booklet. The dual 7-inch (or so) screens are multitouch, and designed for writing, flicking and drawing with a stylus, in addition to fingers. They’re connected by a hinge that holds a single iPhone-esque home button. Statuses, like wireless signal and battery life, are displayed along the rim of one of the screens. On the back cover is a camera, and it might charge through an inductive pad, like the Palm Touchstone charging dock for Pre.”
Gizmodo indicated that the “Courier” project appears to be rather far along. “Currently, Courier appears to be at a stage where Microsoft is developing the user experience and showing design concepts to outside agencies,” the Gizmodo report said.
Microsoft is not confirming whether the project exists, nor is the company commenting on the rumors at all. So it remains unclear how close an actual device like Courier might be to delivery. Apple also is rumored to be working on its own tablet PC.
What would a new tablet device mean for developers? Would application developers need to write for another brand-new platform, or would their Windows and Microsoft Surface development skills translate to the new tablet platform? These are some of the questions Microsoft would have to address if it does begin to talk about any tablet projects.