Who remembers the hype around "Origami"? Unveiled in March 2006, Origami was the codename for the Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC). The UMPC is a full Windows PC equipped with a small touch-screen display, a virtual keyboard and unfortunately, a short battery life. A major upgrade is coming for UMPC: Microsoft calls it the "Origami Experience."
The upgrade replaces the old Program Launcher with a Vista-inspired look. The new interface isn"t simply eye-candy: functionality is a key part in the makeover. The Home screen is divided into Music, Videos, Pictures and Programs. A single touch of the icon in the upper left corner turns the screen off. Battery life, network connection status, an Alt-Tab-like switcher button, the current time and media playback controls are always visible on two bars on the top and bottom of the screen.