Software Notebook: Microsoft’s other secret hardware project — Ever since the Xbox, Microsoft has been doing more and more hardware design. While there is a lot of speculation here everyone has missed the obvious: a Gameboy DS type machine using the Transmeta processor. That’s what this is. Both Sony and Nontendo have handheld game units, Microsoft needs to add one to the arsenal. Will it be out by Christmas? Anything is possible.
Note that the architecture of the Transmeta chip is such that it could become a PowerPC chip and the whole device would be a clone of the bigger Xbox-360 box. Genius.
The Santa Clara, Calif., company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings describe the initiative only as a “proprietary Microsoft project.” About 30 Transmeta engineers have been assigned to the effort, according to the company’s filings.
Given the timing, some analysts speculate that the deal could reflect Microsoft’s desire to see hardware makers release new types of machines to generate extra consumer interest later this year, when it launches Windows Vista, the next version of its flagship operating system.
Microsoft’s main business is software, but it often works on prototypes and reference designs to influence the direction of the broader computer market.
“It’s clear that something is up” with the Transmeta deal, said industry analyst Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies Associates. “It fits tactically with the larger strategy of trying to have new, interesting stuff coming out toward the end of the year, when Vista is launched.”
There has been widespread speculation that Microsoft might come out with its own music device, to compete with Apple’s iPod, but analysts said a full-blown processor from Transmeta could be overkill for a limited-purpose digital-media player.
research by Robert Dybas
The DS has a great library but is a little underpowered and the PSP has great power but an underwhelming library. If microsoft could do both it could do good sales everywhere but Japan.
If it comes by Christmas, Sony is screwed thanks to the delay
Sorry to say,
But I sent an email long ago to MS…
About cutting there OS down to make a Gaming OS with networking abilities..
Buying consoles is such a waste for a game, when you are limited to Video, Audio, and network upgrades, thats its a serrious throw back to the C64 and Atari 2600 days…
BUT, back then…When a prog was made, it was MADE for ALL OS and machines, if possible…
I see Sony has Jumped, as their system will have Linux available.
Where the 360 has so much protection in the hardware its rediculous.
“The DS has a great library but …” jasontheodd
“If any one of them could simply play divx movies natively I’d buy one! But that sure in heck won’t happening with Microsoft’s version either.” Steve
The DS does have a great library. Yes it’s a bit underpowered by the PSP. Okay, so the DS can’t play divx movies, but if I wanted to buy a portable movie player, I’d get an fifth generation iPod to play them for me. The PSP has more movies available to it than games.
I can easily see the Xbox handheld becoming another wasted chunk of plastic, with people watching movies and playing old emulated Nintendo games (like many PSP’s I’ve seen) more than the gaming console they should be.
There are beaucoup divx to ipod converters out there, Steve. Including free.
Steve – you’re misinformed – the iPod plays standard mpeg4 video. DivX is however mpeg4 in an Avi wrapper, and a patented implimentation.
So in fact your DivX content is the proprietry video codec. Sort of anyhow. More so than the mpeg4 standard anyhow!
Oh yes. Do it MS, do it! You aren’t losing money fast enough with the Xbox, and XBox 360!
Of course it would only slightly increase the massive flow of money they have been losing every day since the Xbox1 went into production, but hey, every little counts, and the faster they complete this fiscal suicide ritual the sooner console gaming can go back to normal.
I just use the XviD codec for my MPEG4, usually inside an OGM or Matroska container with Ogg Vorbis audio and soft subs.
When someone converges the Game Boy (or similar), the Palm Pilot (or similar), an MP3/DivX player, and a cell phone and do it for a $100 they will sell a gazillion-bazillion of them.
It’s mostly the same piece of hardware and all the technology is off-the-shelf, so it’s just a matter of hitting that price point.
GregAllen,
The N-Gage was kinda like what you said. It just did everything so badly that nobody wanted it. Remember the Taco talking???
I always get a kick out of the anti-console crowd, trying to make a case that the consoles of the world are holding us back.
Consoles allow programmers to write code for one specific platform. That allows for more powerful software to be written than if the same software was coded only for a specific OS.
Hell, M$ is trying to standardize hardware on the PC front: The 360 controller is also PC compatible, and they’re pushing its design as a standard. Likewise, DirectX 10 will require full implementation on the hardware level, and won’t be supported by current cards. Are you going to claim that will hold us back, too?
Maybe M$ should stop worring about this nonsense and concentrate on Vista that is now not coming out until 07.