The most thrilling Microsoft product in years was killed before it ever officially existed. One of its most awesome services elicits more snickers than nods. Microsoft isn’t even in the mobile space right now. Redwood, we have a problem.
First, Microsoft’s tablet hopes and dreams hinged on the HP Slate. That died. At least there were still rumours of the Courier dual-screen tablet! Until, well. But according to Microsoft honcho Steve Ballmer, there are Windows 7 tablets aplenty coming.
When Microsoft killed Courier dead, they promised that “it will be evaluated for use in future offerings”. One of those innovations appears to have been the iBooks-like “virtual page turn”, which Microsoft applied to patent in January of 2009.
The first details of Microsoft’s dual-screen Courier tablet sent everyone into a tizzy. Then Microsoft proclaimed Courier dead before ever officially acknowledging its existence. But wait: is this email from CEO Steve Ballmer reason enough to hope for Courier’s future?
Microsoft may have cancelled their lovable Courier project, but Sony’s patent application for a dual-screened “Electronic Book With Enhanced Features” may pick up where Microsoft left off.
The WSJ solidifies an intriguing post by Mary Jo Foley last week that J. Allard, the guy behind the Xbox, Zune and Courier – or more formally, the Chief Experience Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft’s E&D division – is leaving after Steve Ballmer killed the Courier tablet project.
