Redfly Mobile Companion size comparisons

Look at this! It's a genuine Redfly Mobile Companion . . . life-size cutout.

The Redfly is similar to but not quite as capable as the Palm Foleo that never was. I passed on talking about its formal launch at CES 2008 because I try to stick to devices with 7-inch or smaller displays around here. I've broken my self-imposed rule before, though, so I decided to sift through my leftover CES content today after both turn_self_off and James of jkOnTheRun brought up the 8-inch clamshell separately.

Since the Redfly isn't due out for another few months (March, according to the press release), a life-size cutout and a couple of CES pics are all I have to show you at the moment. To make it a bit more interesting, I've also included a full set of specs and a round of size comparisons.

Systems Specifications

According to the press materials I picked up at Digital Experience, the Redfly Mobile Companion (model number C8) will have the following specs when released.

Size:	9 x 6 x 1 inches
Weight:	2 pounds
Display:	8 inches 800 x 480 display and VGA output resolutions
Keyboard:	8.3-inch 80-key QWERTY keyboard Touchpad measures 1 x 2.9 inches
OS Compatibility:	Windows Mobile 5.0 (Pocket PC and Standard) Windows Mobile 6.0 (Professional and Standard) More operating system compatibility TBA
Wireless:	Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
I/O Ports:	VGA port, two USB 2.0 ports, AC power connector
Battery:	4500mAh lithium polymer Up to 8 hours runtime under "normal use" via USB
Other Features:	Connects to smartphones via USB or Bluetooth Charges smartphones through USB connection Compatible with standard USB flash drives, USB mice,      and USB keyboards

The Redfly's Smartphone Interface System "wirelessly extends the smartphone to a larger display, full keyboard, mouse, and USB ports. Any application on the smartphone is shown instantly on the new display without modification or synchronization." The system is made up of two components: Redfly Software (installed on the phone) and Redfly Graphics Engine, which "renders the video on the new display with an accelerated input/output architecture."

Redfly Live Shots

I didn't visit Celio's actual CES booth, but I did see them at Digital Experience the night before the show.

The company rep I spoke to was very enthusiastic and friendly. He even cleared a space for us to snap a few pictures.

Redfly Size Comparisons

Here's the Redfly cutout, which bears the actual dimensions (excluding thickness) of the real device, next to a handful of devices and other items to give you an idea of its size.

AT&T Tilt (HTC TyTN II) & HTC Advantage X7501

Fujitsu LifeBook U810

iGo Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard

Sony Vaio TZ Notebook

Pepper Pad 3

U.S. Dollar

Trust me. You're not the only one who can't believe I took this many pictures of a piece of cardboard.

I don't have any interest in this device for myself, so this might be the one and only time you read it about here.

The RedflyMobile Companion will be available directly from Celio Corp for $499 MSRP.

Comments

[Bruno]

Jenn: Thanks for this article, it only confirmed for me that I really want a Redfly. On the other hand I was not interested in Folio at all.
Unlike you, I do not want another device that can work on its own. A device that, in effect, functions as a dock to one of the devices I already own is perfect. If Redfly, like Folio, were a standalone computer one would be presented with the typical issues of keeping yet another device in sync (always a paid), installing software on it (and possibly having to buy an extra licence of a software for one more machine), swapping SIM cards etc.
Like this I could simply use my smartphone when needed and switch over to Redfly whenever necessary. This would work particularly well with something like Samsung i780 which is a smartphone with WM6.0 Professional, which means it has a remote desktop functionality. Perfect!