Palm’s failed Foleo device(a device intended to give Treos a bigger keyboard and screen; more info at our sister site TamsPalm) has just been “revived” by an American company called Celio:
Their RedFly device links up to a Windows Mobile smartphone; and then allows you to run/control the currently running application using its integrated keyboard and 8inch 800×480 screen. The device connects via USB(charges the smartphone in the process) or Bluetooth; and runs on a custom “smartphone operating system”.
As of now, no information is available on when the machine will ship; some web sites claim an initial price point of 500$. Additionally, the “smartphone operating system” can be licensed - it could eventually be run on random laptop computers.
Compared to the Foleo, I feel that the RedFly has a lot more chance to survive on the market. First of all, it is almost completely independent of third party developers(who are even more unlikely to support another such device after the Foleo’s disastrous flop). Basically, if a driver is available for a smartphone; the phone can be used with the RedFly - and Celio seems to be willing to create these drivers itself.
The big issues I see here is the high price - 500$ is too much for such a “display addon”. Long-term marketing experience has taught that a device sets the maximum price for add-ons…and most smartphones are below the 500$ mark. Celio seems to be aware of this problem(and tries to migitate it by offering the software to third parties)…that could help them reduce device prices in the future(or offer a meaningful usage model for many UMPC users disappointed by the slow speed of their devices).
In the end, I would love to take a look at a RedFly - but only time will tell if it will prevail….
Last but not least, the spec sheet can be downloaded here.
P.s. In case you wish to read a few developer’s opinions on the Foleo - our sister site TamsPalm has that, too:
http://tamspalm.tamoggemon.com/2007/06/20/foleo-interviews-the-conclusion/