| Nat Semi introduces Origami portable mobile communicator |
Nov. 11, 2001
Las Vegas, NV; COMDEX -- (press release excerpt) -- National Semiconductor Corporation today unveiled a new handheld conceptual device that integrates today's most popular Internet and multimedia functions into a single, portable unit. About the size and weight of a small digital camcorder, the National Geode Origami Mobile Communicator is a flexible unit that folds and unfolds to perform eight popular consumer electronics functions in one easy-to-use device. The Geode Origami Mobile Communicator is a proof-of-concept device for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), developed under a joint agreement between National Semiconductor's Conceptual Products Group, Studio RED Inc., and CoCom International, Ltd.
Measuring just 7.5 inches long, less than 4 inches wide, 1.5 inches thick and weighing about 10 ounces, Origami's flexible form factor reflects its multiple uses. The Origami folds and pivots into a digital camera, video camcorder, smartphone, MP3 audio player, PDA, Internet access or Internet picture frame, email device or video conferencing terminal.
Origami utilizes Bluetooth wireless technology for network connectivity. PAN and LAN networks use a Bluetooth-equipped access point, while WAN uses a Bluetooth GSM or CDMA phone. Origami can also be scaled for future 2.5 and 3G cellular networks such as GPRS and W-CDMA.
(Click here for a detailed, larger image).
The device runs Microsoft Windows Embedded XP and leverages the broad array of applications already available for that platform -- applications such as NetMeeting for videoconferencing, Internet Explorer 6.0 for browsing and Windows Media Player.
Studio RED, Inc., a Silicon Valley product development firm, has designed and engineered high-tech consumer products for almost 20 years. National approached Studio RED to create the industrial design for its revolutionary Origami prototype.
CoCom International, Ltd., a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, completed the manufacturing process by combining the silicon content from National with the industrial design from Studio RED.
National's award-winning, high performance, low power Geode SC3200 processor is at the heart of Origami. This processor features integrated, high-end video graphics and full 16-bit stereo audio that offers the optimal balance between cost, performance and power consumption, enabling manufacturers to build affordable, full-function devices.
National's analog technology brings the Geode Origami Mobile Communicator to life with sound powered by National's Boomer audio products, a display enhanced by National's LVDS technology, power management products that prolong battery life while increasing portability, and temperature sensors that monitor and maintain overall system health. Origami is also designed to take full advantage of the complete range of features of National's Wireless Solutions Bluetooth Compact Flash card.
Origami is the latest in a series of industry-shaping products National has introduced at COMDEX Fall. In 1998, the company unveiled the WebPAD device, which spawned a new category of products: information appliances. Last year, National received the 'Best of Show' award in the services category for its Geode WebPAD Metro, a wide-area mobile personal access device. National named its new Origami device after the Japanese art of folding paper into birds, animals or other artistic shapes.
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