June 30th, 2010

It's alive! Microsoft granted patent for Courier

Okay, it’s not really alive. They stuck a fork in that poor bastard for good. That said, they seemed to like the form factor enough to patent it — if not anything else about the device. If the dimensions shown here reflect what the device really would have been like, I miss it more than ever. Pretenders like the Kno will never win my heart, Courier! You’re always be the only… → Read More

May 28th, 2010

Is Sony developing a Courier lookalike?

The Microsoft Courier might be dead at Microsoft, but Sony just filed a patent that describes almost the exact same thing — but better. → Read More

April 29th, 2010

Microsoft cancels the Courier, the Internet sheds a tear

The Microsoft Courier will never make it out of Microsoft’s labs and into consumers hands. The project is dead. Kaput. Finished. At least that’s what two sources told Gizmodo.

Apparently the Courier team got an email from Microsoft execs that stated the project will “no longer be supported,” which pretty much means the project is dead. Even though it’s somewhat surprising that the project was… → Read More

April 21st, 2010

Microsoft's Courier tablet is coming in 2011

So if you’re still interested in the Courier tablet, Microsoft will be releasing it in 2011. In case you haven’t paid attention these past few weeks, the Courier is Microsoft’s double-screened tablet aimed at, apparently, a market consisting of folks who may or may not want to own an iPad or any of the other *pads that may appear in the next year. → Read More

April 9th, 2010

Pen and finger interface on a Surface looks extremely Courier-like

Hmm. What does this remind me of? Oh, that’s right, the Courier. The ability to use both finger and pen on the Courier concept seems like it would benefit from these UI elements — and probably is. I doubt the two projects could be working on ideas so complementary and not be aware of each other. Or could they? Whatever the case, it looks pretty cool. When I talk about touch-based interfaces… → Read More

March 5th, 2010

The Courier rides again! New shots of Microsoft's "digital journal"

Ever since we saw those first leaked shots and videos of Microsoft’s Courier, we’ve all been itching for more. I personally thought it was particularly wonderful, and was dismayed when they decided to show off a lackluster Windows 7 tablet at CES.

I’ve asked about the Courier at very nearly every Microsoft event I’ve gone to, and asked all my contacts to keep their ears to the ground… but… → Read More

January 6th, 2010

Confirmed: Ballmer will be showing a slate at the CES keynote – but not the Courier

There have been a few rumors swirling about the Courier tablet but our sources inside MS are stating that a Microsoft/HP-powered slate will appear at the CES 2010 keynote today. → Read More

September 29th, 2009

New Microsoft Courier video shows more of interface, suggests limitations

The trickle of news about Microsoft’s Courier device continues, and this time there’s a bit more of a realistic walkthrough. The device is being shown to be much more of a next-generation notepad than all-purpose tablet, and that’s probably for the best; Microsoft overreaching with a device like this could result in a real crash and burn. I suppose the best way to picture the Courier is just as a… → Read More

September 22nd, 2009

Microsoft Courier: the Apple tablet just got bumped into second place

Well, that’s it, I guess. The CrunchPad and Apple Tablet had a good run (in their mysterious ways), but Microsoft has come out of left field to deliver what appears to be the coolest tablet-like computer we’ve ever seen. Those lucky ducks over at Gizmodo appear to have a pretty solid exclusive on it, though, but I’m burning through my little black book of Microsoft guys to get more info. → Read More