There have been so many products released lately that have piqued my interest, from the iPad to the EVO... but the iPad is just a biggie sized iTouch, and the EVO well when it comes down to it, it’s just another phone. The Courier WAS something new, it was something exciting. Through the rumor mill and the rampant speculation that is the Internet my interest and inherent excitement for the device skyrocketed.
I have an iPhone, I love it, but the iPad just was not what I really wanted in a tablet. After playing with the device I was more impressed than I thought I would be, but ultimately felt that the OS was better suited to a true mobile space as it is in the iPhone. Sure having a bigger screen offers something for games, and makes web browsing a great deal more comfortable, but the iPad itself is simply not made for work. With my iPhone for consumption (reading twitter, digg, checking email, and reading what I’ve missed on Instapaper) and my laptop for actually working on the go, I just cannot find a reason to own an iPad. Which is all a long round about way of getting to my interest in the Courier.
The idea of journaling has always been appealing to me, and I do have a very nice leather journal and fountain pen sitting by my computer, but it almost seems too nice to just jot ideas down in. So imagine my excitement at the idea of a device that allowed me to have a journal for all my ideas, a place where I can write about a bad day and then just delete it when I realize I’m just being petty and whiney, without having to rip a page out of my pristine journal? Oh and I could surf the web, listen to music, download apps, and whatever other mobile magic Microsoft could cram into that magical little device. And on that point, allow me to express my utter distain for Apple’s “Magical Revolution campaign for the iPad. Courier was a revolution, two screens, a brilliant (supposedly, I mean as far as concepts and renders go) user interface, and a truly new audience, that was revolutionary... and I suppose looking back on it that is exactly why I should have realized from the get-go that the Courier would never be released.
Apple did something that very few other developers have ever been able to replicate. They taught an audience how to use a product in stages. This process is a strategy for every single one of their product lines, releasing a generation one product, showing their users how really get the most out of the new device and then iterating on it. Best example? Well the iPhone of course. Apple started will a well received, but not extremely successful product in terms of sales. People got the hang of the new device and then Apple branched off, releasing the iPod Touch and a new iteration of the iPhone. More users latch on, learn the ropes and want more out of the platform, and finally Apple take another big step releasing the iPad. Had they not taken the necessary steps to build the platform ahead of time the iPad would have been possibly the worst move in Apple’s history. The iPad NEEDED to have the app store behind it, after all the device in and of itself, does very, VERY little. It’s all app’s that make the product desirable. Courier didn’t have that backing, it didn’t have an app store, it didn’t have the consumer training it needed to make it successful.
Even if the hardware was mind blowing (which would be a stretch for Microsoft) the Courier absolutely required that users understood the product out of the gate for it to be truly successful. Now I am aware that Microsoft could afford to have a soft product launch, but in a world where an iPad exists and Apple will most certainly continue to iterate and build a better product, having a soft release could, and probably would bury the product. It is rather unfortunate that Apple has an uncanny ability to dominate certain product markets (my mom thinks all MP3 players are iPods) and it seems like the iPad is well on its way to dominating the “tablet” market (or that oddly defined product group that rests between smart phones and laptops/netbooks). Oh and let’s not forget, if you need a stylus, “you blew it.” So why is idea and now memory of the Courier so bittersweet for me? Well, because even if Microsoft blew it with the Courier at least they tried to go into a new space with their device. Apple won’t even push the envelope in the slightest (and yes I know its working for them, but for me it can get a little boring).
So rest in peace Courier. May your dual screens and sleek user interface find solace in the fact that at least 490+ gdgt users wanted you, and that for me, you were the most interesting and desirable piece of tech I have seen in years. Which is something I never thought I would say about a Microsoft product. A digital journal is something that I never thought I would want either, but now that I can’t have it, well I am just downright indignant. I feel like something is missing in my digital library... Every time I go to read a book on Kindle or iPad I’ll think how much cooler having it displayed on two screens could have been. Every time I have to clumsily tap a note into my iPhone I wonder how much easier it would have been to just jot it down with a stylus. And every time I furiously scribble something down in my journal only to read it later and be embarrassed by my petty stupidity and have to cross off or tear out an entry, I’ll think about how convenient a ‘delete’ button is. So goodbye Courier, I never knew you, but I’ll be damned if I don’t miss you.
Discussion about
The greatest gadget upset for me lately has been the death of the Microsoft Courier.
Courier was just a concept. I've seen yesterday very interesting concepts I would like to have which would be more useful than the iPad. It was in Minority Report blu-ray.
But Apple's iPad is a real product.
We have seen a few 3D videos of the Courier UI and you conclude that it would have been the best tablet for you. Don't you think that Microsoft canceled it for a good reason? May be because when you dig far enough into the concept, you often see why it cannot turn into a real product for various reasons.
You bless Microsoft for making cool 3D videos. I bless Apple for making an awesome product.
But Apple's iPad is a real product.
We have seen a few 3D videos of the Courier UI and you conclude that it would have been the best tablet for you. Don't you think that Microsoft canceled it for a good reason? May be because when you dig far enough into the concept, you often see why it cannot turn into a real product for various reasons.
You bless Microsoft for making cool 3D videos. I bless Apple for making an awesome product.
Very well put.
There are a thousand reasons why the Courier would have been at odds with MS's product strategy. I'd definitely like to have seen it come up for sale, but there were too many doubts as to how it'd fit into the WinMo 7 strategy as a whole. Perhaps it was also a political move within MS as well - perhaps the Courier group were a minor team who leaked the video as a way of drumming up interest outside of MS to force a decision inside the company, and maybe some higher up decided to put the boot in as revenge.
Although I'm not so sure about "blessing the awesome Apple product": the only reason I'm considering an iPad is because way too many people ask me about it, and it occurs to me that I should offer an actually fully informed opinion of why those asking me about the iPad are credulous sheep, instead of just telling them that they are credulous sheep :p
There are a thousand reasons why the Courier would have been at odds with MS's product strategy. I'd definitely like to have seen it come up for sale, but there were too many doubts as to how it'd fit into the WinMo 7 strategy as a whole. Perhaps it was also a political move within MS as well - perhaps the Courier group were a minor team who leaked the video as a way of drumming up interest outside of MS to force a decision inside the company, and maybe some higher up decided to put the boot in as revenge.
Although I'm not so sure about "blessing the awesome Apple product": the only reason I'm considering an iPad is because way too many people ask me about it, and it occurs to me that I should offer an actually fully informed opinion of why those asking me about the iPad are credulous sheep, instead of just telling them that they are credulous sheep :p
It really was not my intent to bash the iPad, and honestly in most ways I think that I gave the device a lot of credit. I liked what I saw from it, but at the same time it was not as if the device offered anything truly innovative, rather it just offer a new way in which to do the things we already do. Which may be a similar complaint/issue to raise about the Courier, but at least (I feel) the Courier was ‘trying’ to do something new. And yes I am aware it never became more than some concepts and renders, with no real hardware ever shown off, but the direction that the project was going seemed so very promising it was impossible for me not to get excited. So what I am trying to say, is the iPad achieved something in this new mobile space by being a very excellent product and delivering content in a comfortable and useful way, but the Courier excited me because it was different. I noted the obstacles it faced, and how it’s competition (the iPad) had already worked the market, but at the end of the day I still find the vaporware that could have been the Courier very, very enticing.
Well - as majipoor said, a lot of concepts are very interesting. Courier's gestation to a full product would clearly have been a long process, and while much less fanciful than Nokia's morphinh phones, etc, it was pretty clear that in terms of tech this was pretty bleeding-edge.
As I think I wrote a long time ago when the hype built up about it, even if it was to come out anytime soon, it was also pretty clear that it would undoubtedly have been out of the reach of most in terms of the ol' wallet. Everyone who was excited about it seemed to assume that they would be able to buy it because the iPad pricing was $500 - rather like every idiot on engadget who gets pissed off when a superlight, superportable netbook with a high-res screen, 3G and SSD costs $900 - their 'logic' being the inclusion of an Atom means it's going to be $300
As I think I wrote a long time ago when the hype built up about it, even if it was to come out anytime soon, it was also pretty clear that it would undoubtedly have been out of the reach of most in terms of the ol' wallet. Everyone who was excited about it seemed to assume that they would be able to buy it because the iPad pricing was $500 - rather like every idiot on engadget who gets pissed off when a superlight, superportable netbook with a high-res screen, 3G and SSD costs $900 - their 'logic' being the inclusion of an Atom means it's going to be $300
Give a pencil to anybody with a good sens of technology and innovation and you will get very enticing concepts.
The Courier was quite interesting indeed, but I'm sure Jonathan Ives has many very, very, very enticing concepts in Apple's lab as well. But Apple is not into vaporware: they are building actual products which may be less interesting than some concepts, but at least you can buy an iPad now and have fun with it.
The Courier was quite interesting indeed, but I'm sure Jonathan Ives has many very, very, very enticing concepts in Apple's lab as well. But Apple is not into vaporware: they are building actual products which may be less interesting than some concepts, but at least you can buy an iPad now and have fun with it.
If you were to put a non-Applezombie hat on, (as hard as that may be for some), you could say much more of the same for Microsoft.
My guess, as I said, of how this turned out is politics - that the Courier team was angling for more external publicity to gain internal prominence, and perhaps it backfired. That, and MS has less of a draconian information control culture than Apple.
My guess, as I said, of how this turned out is politics - that the Courier team was angling for more external publicity to gain internal prominence, and perhaps it backfired. That, and MS has less of a draconian information control culture than Apple.
you bash the iPad everytime you refer to it as a giant iPod Touch. The fact that different applications are necessary for an iPod Touch and an iPad point to you being misinformed about the topic that you are writing about.
Sigh~*
I love my iPad, and of course I would love a Courier, but everyone has to wake up and smell the Vaporware. I can make pretty pictures and movies about a future product using my "desktop" too, but when put to execution, it just doesn't happen.
The following happened on the same day, April 30th 2010
Death of the Dell Mini 5
Death of LG's GW990
Death of the Courier
Death of HP's Tablet, highly touted in JANUARY by Steve Balmer.
No love for the iPad yet?
Are you an armchair or Monday Morning Quarterback?
Everyone sits around complaining about a product that has accomplished everything it has set out to do, has been in development since the early 2000's, uses platform familiarity described in this article, and still crushes the price barrier for the adoption of new technology.
Its about execution and attention to detail. The touch interface is still dominated by Apple products, even touch screen phones from LG, Samsung, and Android are not as sensitive, and particularly frustrating when shrinking icons down on high resolution screens. Add the fact that most multitouch patents that actually count (one finger scroll) are owned by Apple, and a neat environment to purchase applications are just icing on the cake.
The iPad may not be for everyone, but it is for me. I have been waiting since 2002, forgoing many opportunities to purchase Laptops, because LAPTOPS are not for me. I will take a desktop over underpowered portable laptop anyday. If a laptop is for "real work" why wouldn't I want to do this on a comfortable position on a desk?
Flash, Multitasking, Filesystem browsers, cross platform compatibility are all easily overcome with imagination and ingenuity. So I say this to the iPad's detractors. Dream big, and the rest will follow.
I love my iPad, and of course I would love a Courier, but everyone has to wake up and smell the Vaporware. I can make pretty pictures and movies about a future product using my "desktop" too, but when put to execution, it just doesn't happen.
The following happened on the same day, April 30th 2010
Death of the Dell Mini 5
Death of LG's GW990
Death of the Courier
Death of HP's Tablet, highly touted in JANUARY by Steve Balmer.
No love for the iPad yet?
Are you an armchair or Monday Morning Quarterback?
Everyone sits around complaining about a product that has accomplished everything it has set out to do, has been in development since the early 2000's, uses platform familiarity described in this article, and still crushes the price barrier for the adoption of new technology.
Its about execution and attention to detail. The touch interface is still dominated by Apple products, even touch screen phones from LG, Samsung, and Android are not as sensitive, and particularly frustrating when shrinking icons down on high resolution screens. Add the fact that most multitouch patents that actually count (one finger scroll) are owned by Apple, and a neat environment to purchase applications are just icing on the cake.
The iPad may not be for everyone, but it is for me. I have been waiting since 2002, forgoing many opportunities to purchase Laptops, because LAPTOPS are not for me. I will take a desktop over underpowered portable laptop anyday. If a laptop is for "real work" why wouldn't I want to do this on a comfortable position on a desk?
Flash, Multitasking, Filesystem browsers, cross platform compatibility are all easily overcome with imagination and ingenuity. So I say this to the iPad's detractors. Dream big, and the rest will follow.
I think it's hilarious that Apple fanatics see the success of this concept item as pie-in-the-sky. I read that as "you're scared." Don't get me wrong, I've been an Apple devotee for 3 decades now and love the brand. But don't go saying that it's a whisper of a dream of a concept. It worked...and people loved it.
It's also amazing that some people defend the canceling of the project by saying it doesn't work as part of the larger product scheme? Whaaaaaaaaa?? One successful product can bring an entire company back to life. (Hello Apple).
The fact is...and this answers the person who said "what's the big deal it's just two screens"....it wasn't the 2 screens that got us....it was the integration that fit our lifestyles. And not just our leisure life like Apple does...but it could have done something TRULY amazing...it could have been Fonzie cool at home...and Blade/Matrix cool AT WORK. The back camera to scan in documents and stuff you like and want to remember ..again not a new idea...but it's the way it all flowed together. Kind of like the iPhone. After awhile, there were phones that did what the iPhone did. But iPhone did it better.
I hope someone with some sense will pick this idea up off a low-hanging tree and eat it. The time is ripe.
It's also amazing that some people defend the canceling of the project by saying it doesn't work as part of the larger product scheme? Whaaaaaaaaa?? One successful product can bring an entire company back to life. (Hello Apple).
The fact is...and this answers the person who said "what's the big deal it's just two screens"....it wasn't the 2 screens that got us....it was the integration that fit our lifestyles. And not just our leisure life like Apple does...but it could have done something TRULY amazing...it could have been Fonzie cool at home...and Blade/Matrix cool AT WORK. The back camera to scan in documents and stuff you like and want to remember ..again not a new idea...but it's the way it all flowed together. Kind of like the iPhone. After awhile, there were phones that did what the iPhone did. But iPhone did it better.
I hope someone with some sense will pick this idea up off a low-hanging tree and eat it. The time is ripe.
Far as I know, the only thing special about the Courier was that it had two screens. You couldn't do anything with those screens that you couldn't theoretically do with a single screen device, as long as you have the right software.
According to TechNewsDaily, Toshiba is going to release a dual-screen tablet running Windows 7.
According to TechNewsDaily, Toshiba is going to release a dual-screen tablet running Windows 7.
Here's the thing.
I hope for innovation just as much as all the other gadget freaks. ... Microsoft, HP, Apple, another? It doesn't matter, if you innovate, people will follow.
NOW,
No matter how much you knock iPhone OS as a platform for a touchscreen laptop device, it is what it it sets out to be .... ground-up build based on touch style interaction.
Windows 7 is NEVER going to be a suitable solution for a touchscreen, low energy consuming, graphically pleasing, quick reacting device. Win7 is the best OS, ever, but it will never be a suitable solution for this type of device. Once Microsoft/HP/Google get this concept, touchscreen devices will become more competitive with Apples product, until then good luck.
I hope for innovation just as much as all the other gadget freaks. ... Microsoft, HP, Apple, another? It doesn't matter, if you innovate, people will follow.
NOW,
No matter how much you knock iPhone OS as a platform for a touchscreen laptop device, it is what it it sets out to be .... ground-up build based on touch style interaction.
Windows 7 is NEVER going to be a suitable solution for a touchscreen, low energy consuming, graphically pleasing, quick reacting device. Win7 is the best OS, ever, but it will never be a suitable solution for this type of device. Once Microsoft/HP/Google get this concept, touchscreen devices will become more competitive with Apples product, until then good luck.
yes, yes, right, correct, yes, super yes, awesome, yes, ultra affirmative, yes...
amazing entry :)
amazing entry :)
also, I have messed with the iPad at both the Apple Store and Best Buy now for hours and come to the conclusion that iPad = Big iPod Touch...
that isn't an insult though and it makes it no less desirable... I also don't own an iPod Touch for its shortcomings either and I'll wait till these products do what I want them to, not what Steve Jobs THINKS I want them to do...
the iPad is great as long as no one mistakes it for a computer.....
that isn't an insult though and it makes it no less desirable... I also don't own an iPod Touch for its shortcomings either and I'll wait till these products do what I want them to, not what Steve Jobs THINKS I want them to do...
the iPad is great as long as no one mistakes it for a computer.....
