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Microsoft Concept Phone Features Borderless Display, Projector, Phaser

By: , IntoMobile
Monday, May 10th, 2010 at 11:55 AM

In an idyllic (but cool) concept video, Microsoft shows off the potential for smartphones in the future within the context of computing in general. The phone bit starts at 2:07, but if you’re at all into tech at large, it’s worth watching from the beginning. Some of the features showcased we’re already seeing hints of today, but pretty much everything in this video is far from mass adoption.

The most striking thing about the handset is the borderless display, something TVs have been working hard at, but when you look at the iPad, hasn’t really translated to mobile that much. Another noteworthy part of the hardware is its seperatability. Modu is trying out the two-piece form factor, and DoCoMo made an especially compelling seperatable phone resembling the one in this video.

Calendar integration consistent and synced up with your desktop is something that will never get old. Location is a big part of the video in a couple of ways. For one, displaying it as a background image is smart, and something Google is doing with the Nexus One. Second, location sharing is also something Google is pushing through Latitude, but Microsoft is making privacy a clear concern by showing the location share expiring after 25 minutes. Augmented reality also makes an appearance, both as a way of navigating a 2D map, as well as providing a projected compass in front of the user. Right now we’re using mobile projectors on stuff like the LG eXpo for business presentations, but projectors will start getting really interesting once they become interactive. Just take a look at some early projects.

On the actual phone call front, Microsoft is just as into video conferencing as Apple seems to be, and displays it with real-time voice translation (a running theme from the beginning of the clip).

So, that’s some of the key features Microsoft is highlighting, and likely attempting to implement in Windows Phone in the long-term. Neat stuff all around, even if it’s just make-believe.

[via InfoSyncWorld]

P.S.: Sorry I lied about the phaser thing.

About The Author

Simon Sage

Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.

  • Joe

    A) This video has been around for at least a year
    C) It was created by the Office Labs organization
    B) These are all artists conceptions

    It is a great vision for the future, but don't confuse it with any actual product work.

  • Lennard

    Microsoft has been moving towards this with many of their products.

    you say Office Labs as if it's a seperate entity from Microsoft…it's not, it's a division within Microsoft, so it is Microsoft, correct? yes the video has been out for about a year now, and of course they're concepts…..but it does gives a glimps of where microsoft is looking.

    I see a lot of NUI in the concept video, which is something Microsoft is pioneering right now, Microsoft surface tech is in there almost everywhere, the "see through" touch screen which they and LG are working on, Pen and Touch which Microsoft is also pioneering which is a part of their NUI, instant translation which they're working on and a lot more

    so yea, Microsoft is developing and researching products that are forward looking to this kind of future.

  • Simon Sage

    Do you know where the video was originally posted Joe? I'd like to keep tabs on the source so I don't keep posting old stuff. :)