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.