Microsoft is one of the giants of the software industry and there is no dispute there, but like all giant companies there are people who always hate them. Initially I went with the flow, and also was just a hater, because everyone thought it was evil and so did I. However what I did realize a little later, was the fact that they were trying to do what today seems normal in the Online world, gain some sort of extra market share. However, their methods were the ones in question and it seems to be the same. Google is now facing similar music especially for privacy issues and competition from Apple and such. The point is even through the time that everyone hated them, Microsoft managed to provide the world with some of the most used software on the planet from Windows, to the Office Package. I became a follower of the work and the style of operation of Mr. Gates. He showed that some marketing concepts can be applied in most industries. However, the past few years Microsoft has been slipping on the innovation front and are losing ground. In the darkest of the dark their courier project seemed like a beacon of innovation for the ageing Redmond Giant.

[ad#Assense-Wide-C]

But, they turned it off ! ! Gizmodo wrote a piece of gaining information about Microsoft cancelling the Courier, the folding, two screen prototype tablet. Agreed windows 7 was a decent product and that windows mobile 7 surprised everyone as well. But something that showed that the company had guts to do what an innovative company does has been killed off, Microsoft was treading in unfamiliar waters with the courier but for sure they had the expertise and experience to pull off something like this.

It was clear from the prototype information last year that had leaked that Courier was very near to completion. The combination of both touch- and pen-based computing was compelling. Perhaps the strong launch of Apple’s iPad, currently the only available “mobile tablet” from a major vendor, caused Ballmer to reassess the commitment of Microsoft in a soon-to-be-crowded market.

Microsoft Corporate VP of Communications Frank Shaw has told Gizmodo:

At any given time, we’re looking at new ideas, investigating, testing, incubating them. It’s in our DNA to develop new form factors and natural user interfaces to foster productivity and creativity. The Courier project is an example of this type of effort. It will be evaluated for use in future offerings, but we have no plans to build such a device at this time.

It is a pity. Courier was one of the most innovative concepts out of Redmond in quite some time. But what I loved about Courier was the interface and the thinking behind it, not necessarily its custom operating system. Hopefully some of the smart thinking we have seen in Courier will find its way into Microsoft’s tablets, whether they’re powered by Windows 7 or Windows Phone 7.

Was it the fact that they were scared to compete with Apple, or was it because they are forging new ties with Apple to take on Google ? or was it because the innovative minds have left with Mr. Gates. If ever you guys read this, you have killed it, the fact that you have become a non risk taking giant is making you a vegetarian dinosaur and will become the Carnivore’s Meal soon.