Origami gadget to debut at Cebit

The Origami website promises details on 9 March

Details are starting to emerge about Microsoft's mysterious Origami Project.

Speculation about the portable computer grew in early March with the discovery of a website hinting at its capabilities.

More information came via a leaked video that Microsoft confirmed featured a mock-up of the device.

Microsoft said the device will be unveiled at the giant Cebit technology fair that takes place in Hanover, Germany from 9-15 March.

Counting clues

Gadget blogs, technology news sites and Microsoft-watchers have been trading talk about Origami since the teaser website for the gadget was discovered.

A leaked promotional video, produced in 2005, showed people using the paperback-sized computer to play games, write notes, sketch, listen to music and use a mapping service.

It is now known that the gadget will use Intel chips and run a version of the Windows XP operating system for tablet PCs.

Intel is scheduled to unveil more details on 7 March at its Developer Forum in San Francisco. The chip giant has also created a teaser website about the product.

The Intel website uses the name Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) and this is a reference to the concept that Bill Gates talked about at the 2005 Windows Hardware Engineering Conference.

As well as releasing information at its developer gathering, Intel will also reveal details during the Cebit trade fair. It will be joined by hardware firm Samsung that will be making the gadgets for Microsoft.

The New York Times reported that the UMPC gadgets will use a 20cm touchscreen and will be built to play music or movies. It is also likely to have wi-fi net access built in. Final prices for the gadget are not finalised but it is expected to cost less than $1,000 (£572).