Red Fly integrated keyboard and 8inch 800×480 screen

[bassplaya]

Check it out:http://tamspalm.tamoggemon.com/2008/01/04/foleo-gets-revived-as-redfly-for-windows-mobile/ It's like the Palm Foleo except for windows mobile users. It uses USB connection to connect to you windows powered device and also charges it. It also has an integrated keyboard and 8 inch screen!


Picture: http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l315/moneybassman02/redfly.jpg

[endiz]

Interesting.. but $500!?!

[sirgawain123]

At that price point, i'd rather buy an Asus EEE, providing an interface is developed that can take advantage of whole screen "a la redfly".
In windows we have mymobiler and SOTI (dont remember the name of the proggie from SOTI), but that software mantains PDA QVGA native resolution (or just upscales). Apparently Redfly uses its screen native 800*480 resolution increasing that from PDA.
Do we have something in Linux?

[pyro9219]

The Redfly is currently avaiable for $199, but my question is actually:

Why isn't there software to do this for those of us that already own a notebook PC? If I were to buy this, I'd need to carry two ultra portable notebooks (I've got a convertable tablet PC that I take everywhere) as well as my phone? I can't imagine this technology is much further away then some tweaks to mymobiler? Maybe redfly will sell just the driver and a VM or whatever it is that their system uses?

[james4840]

The best thing about the Redfly is the battery life. About 8 hours. It is also instant on and will connect bluetooth. Just hit power and then bluetooth button and you are ready to go. The other feature I like is you can use other usb devices, like a flash drive. It will show up like an external drive. I think it is well worth the 199 I paid. It can be hooked to an external video source like a monitor or projector also.

[meckah]

So is this an actuall full working laptop?

or it's only used to project images from your phone to a notebook?

I see no specs just screen size.

I wonder really how useful this could be.

[Ineedtoys]

So is this an actuall full working laptop?

or it's only used to project images from your phone to a notebook?

I see no specs just screen size.

I wonder really how useful this could be.

Basically it's a Bluetooth keyboard and screen, battery extender, SVGA adapter and (limited) USB hub rolled into one. It's certainly not a laptop.

If you find WM does pretty much all you need while on the road, except you wish it had a bigger screen, proper keyboard, and the battery didn't give out before your working day was over, the Redfly is for you.

It's no good for you if you're in the habit of loading your smartphone and applications with CPU-hogging eye-candy, want to run full full-blown Windows apps, or use it as a games console or video player.

It gains over a laptop, because it's almost instant on. Powering up from cold, establishing the data connection to your phone, and displaying your application on screen, takes around 10 seconds start to finish.

It claims a battery life to dream of - at least 8 hours on time, and it keeps your phone charged up too.

You don't need to sync, copy or update data or apps - there's only one copy, and it's on your phone.

It's secure - because all the data's on your phone, not the Redfly, if the "notebook" falls into the wrong hands there's no personal data to expose, no passwords to crack, no file systems to "recover".

It's low cost of ownership (in time and money) - there are no applications to licence, install, configure, maintain or duplicate over those already on your phone (bar the Redfly driver). Plug your phone in, and it's all there, how you like it.

It doesn't need any anti-virus/spyware/firewall protection to install, update or certify (especially if taking into secure corporate environments).

So far it's working pretty well for me, and I've tried many alternative approaches.

I supplemented my smartphone with an EeePC. I had to turn it off at every opportunity just to get through the day.

But the biggest snag was a creeper- after a few weeks I ended up with duplicate records, files and documents all over the place. The one file I need was usually the one I'd forgotten to sync. Keeping everything in step was a real headache, as it now involved 3 seperate storages - phone, EeePC, main PC. WM just isn't designed for 3 way syncing, after all, it's not that robust at 2. Simple things like maintaining two copies of SplashID became a nightmare (bye bye latest time-expired passwords). And I could never be 100% sure that there wasn't an old copy of some "In Confidence" data lurking unnoticed on one of the machines.

I also had a "do everything" X7500. But that was inappropriately large and conspicous in some locations, was damn hard to use a phone, and the battery was usually on its last legs by lunch. Great in some situations. Totally impractical in others.

Not forgetting the old classic, the Universal. To this day not beaten in many respects, but still cumbersome when all you want is a phone not a mini-laptop.

The Redfly is by no means perfect (e.g. it's no speed daemon, doesn't work with all phones, has difficulty coping with video or graphic "skinned" programs). But it does give me a unique choice over other solutions - big screen and keyboard and hours of battery when I need it, or just the phone in my pocket when I don't - all using a common set of applications and data (with the option to copy/to from a flash drive).

At the "seed" price, if you have that kind of need, then I think it's well worth it. If you have requirements outside the above, then get a Netbook (but don't forget the accessory bag or power cord ...)

[Monty Burns]

Blimey, that sounds awesome!

So, are you saying that its effectivley a dumb terminal for your phone thats connected via BT? Is all the processing done on the phone like a kind of Citrix setup?

[Monty Burns]

scratch that - here is all the info i needed (http://www.mobilegazette.com/redfly-mobile-companion-08x07x15.htm) :)

I checked the official supported phone list and sadly my (in the post) Omnia isn't on it. Anyone tried it with an Omnia?

[Ineedtoys]

Paul @ Modaco has it working on an Omnia, albeit with minor issues. See
post #25
http://www.modaco.com/content-page/272947/Array/page/20/

[wyreless]

I received mine today. The greatest thing is the Instant On and seeing my XV6800 and PALM 700wx with that large screen. Makes working oin a phone a realistic approach.

One WARNING,
The AC Power Cord has an issue with staying inside the Port on the RedFly. It works its way out. Short version, bad design flaw that slipped through the R and D phase. I have seen a few other owners complain about it as well. If the unit is not setting completely still, that cord will probably pop out. A definite hinderance. I have emails into Redfly.

But all in all, down to $199 with another $17.35 off with a Modaco Voucher, was a good move IMHO. EXPANSYS had mine shipped the same day and I had it delivered 2nd day for $12.

My main concern is this really a "Seed Program" like they say is the reason for the $199 price, or they blowing them out and SEE YA LATER RedFly, which means additional drivers for current and future devices will be nill. That is a real possibility. After all, it is a whole nother ball game to announce the concept was a flop and we are blowing them out, enjoy em! And no one can convince me otherwise, unril they are still here this time next year.

[Monty Burns]

Paul @ Modaco has it working on an Omnia, albeit with minor issues. See
post #25
http://www.modaco.com/content-page/272947/Array/page/20/

Indeed he has, he answered another post of mine regarding this question. That Paul guy is a genius....

[Mal Bridgeman]

I received mine today. The greatest thing is the Instant On and seeing my XV6800 and PALM 700wx with that large screen. Makes working oin a phone a realistic approach.

One WARNING,
The AC Power Cord has an issue with staying inside the Port on the RedFly. It works its way out. Short version, bad design flaw that slipped through the R and D phase. I have seen a few other owners complain about it as well. If the unit is not setting completely still, that cord will probably pop out. A definite hinderance. I have emails into Redfly.

But all in all, down to $199 with another $17.35 off with a Modaco Voucher, was a good move IMHO. EXPANSYS had mine shipped the same day and I had it delivered 2nd day for $12.

My main concern is this really a "Seed Program" like they say is the reason for the $199 price, or they blowing them out and SEE YA LATER RedFly, which means additional drivers for current and future devices will be nill. That is a real possibility. After all, it is a whole nother ball game to announce the concept was a flop and we are blowing them out, enjoy em! And no one can convince me otherwise, unril they are still here this time next year.

So long as they chuck out the driver code SDK I wouldn't be that unhappy .... it is such a useful device for being on the road/train that I will tolerate its "individualities" e.g. the dog's breakfast of a charger with 2 adapters to work on UK plug sockets!!

I like it :D
Mal

[badersk]

One WARNING,
The AC Power Cord has an issue with staying inside the Port on the RedFly. It works its way out. Short version, bad design flaw that slipped through the R and D phase. I have seen a few other owners complain about it as well. If the unit is not setting completely still, that cord will probably pop out. A definite hinderance. I have emails into Redfly.

Make sure you have it plugged in all the way the socket is really tight.

[Monty Burns]

One WARNING,
The AC Power Cord has an issue with staying inside the Port on the RedFly. It works its way out. Short version, bad design flaw that slipped through the R and D phase. I have seen a few other owners complain about it as well. If the unit is not setting completely still, that cord will probably pop out. A definite hinderance. I have emails into Redfly.

Make sure you have it plugged in all the way the socket is really tight.


:D Thread reading skills for the win