It’s happened. After the success of the Xbox and the slow and eventual gratification for the Xbox360, it was only a matter of time before Microsoft upped-the-ante. Now, just as with the first unveiling of the Xbox360 hardware unit last year, Electronic Articles has exclusive pictures of the forthcoming machine; codenamed Origami.

            A trailer has been leaked onto the internet, clearly displaying the advantages of the new handheld and it’s not hard to recognise the video was probably created in order to get developers interested in the unit. Reportedly dating over a year ago, the video displays a large, Tablet-PC-esque device capable of running imaging and music editing applications, video, music and games, as well as acting as a remote link to existing PC technology.

            The unit’s specifications are likely to change, with an official announcement expected on March 2^nd, 2006, and the first live viewing expected at this year’s E3. While little is known as to how exactly the system will function or the power the system has at its disposal, in the trailer it’s pretty clear that a fully operational version of Halo: Combat Evolved is running on the unit. It has been suggested that the unit will be compatible with Xbox360 releases; however, given the processing speeds that would be demanded from the system, at the moment, this is looking more like ideal-world speculation than being information borne of fact. However, it entirely possible that XboxLIVE! Arcade downloads will be compatible.

            While many members of the Electronic Theatre staff have been commenting on the unit since E3 2005, it’s remained strictly all-quiet in the industry, with insiders more interested in Nintendo’s forthcoming Game Boy Evolution. However, the Tablet-PC style, fully-functional Touch Screen, GPS functionality and PC program compatibility reflects simply everything that we’ve begun to expect from Microsoft’s first handheld venture. As ever, we wait with baited breath for more information, but for the time being, live happy in the knowledge that Electronic Articles will bring you any new information as soon as it happens.  

Kev J.

28/02/06

Return to the Articles Archive 2006 here.

 Each of these articles has been written either independently of Electronic Theatre or by an external viewer. The opinions discussed in these articles in no way reflects the opinions of Electronic Theatre.

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