Microsoft Courier

Microsoft Courier was the codename for a rumored Booklet PC from Microsoft. The unit would have contained dual-touchscreens that faced each other in a booklet form factor, and would have utilized a stylus and finger touch for input. Microsoft has announced it did work on the product, but will not release the device.

The device would have been hinged like a book, with the seven-inch screens facing each other when the "book" was closed. A 3-megapixel digital camera with 4x zoom was integrated into the prototype system, and the final model might have contained an inductive charging pad for charging batteries wirelessly. Reports had indicated that the system was largely developed outside of the normal development channels, and existence of the project was only known by a few key engineers. The project was considered to be a successor of Codex and InkSeine, two earlier Microsoft Research efforts.

Microsoft had previously classified the project as in "incubation", which is further along than a "research" project but is not yet in the commercial pipeline.The tablet was reported to have two seven-inch screens with a flexible hinge to allow closure like a book.

The outside of the hinge would have contained wireless signal and battery strength indicators, and a home button to interact with the system while the booklet was closed. Courier would have relied entirely on touch input and handwriting recognition, as no external keyboard would have been available.Reports indicated that it would have been powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra 250 processor and would have weighed a little over a poundThe system's main purpose would have been to function as a personal notebook and day planner to track contacts, tasks, and appointments.

Courier would have included applications such as Microsoft Paint and notepad to help users create and organize original content, as well as web and photo browsers, email applications, and possibly an e-readerThe core operating system of the Courier was reportedly a specialized version of Microsoft Windows CE  however the Courier would not have allowed installation of native Windows applications onto the system.