The REDFLY from Celio is a product like no other, and can be a good fit for road warriors. The REDFLY is built to do only one thing, extend the screen and add a full keyboard to supported smartphones. The little laptop has no memory, no storage and no processor; it uses those on the connected smartphone. All it does is display the phone screen on the 8-inch display of the REDFLY, and makes the keyboard and trackpad available to interact with the phone.

I was impressed with the original REDFLY when I tested it over a year ago. That model worked with Windows Mobile phones, and I found it worked very well. That is important, as a special device like the REDFLY built to do one thing has to do it well. I was excited to hear a new version was available to work with the BlackBerry, as that would be the perfect target audience for the REDFLY. An evaluation unit arrived late yesterday, and in just a short time I must say this is not a solution I would recommend to BlackBerry owners.

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Passwords while on the go can certainly be a challenge. If you use multiple devices like I do, you might have passwords spread out on notebooks, netbooks and other computers as well. While there are cloud-based solutions to help with this situation, some people don’t want to rely on them. For starters, you’re transferring password information over the air, you’re storing password data on someone else’s machine and if you lose connectivity, you’re out of luck. I think there are ways to mitigate all of those concerns, but understandably, not everyone feels comfortable with a web-based solution. RoboForm2GO provides a more tangible solution to password management by offering a portable version on a USB stick. I took a review unit supplied by RoboForm for a spin on my netbook and it certainly solves the problem with a few caveats.

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No question about it, Verizon’s ad campaign for the Droid has stoked public awareness of the new Android phone. I have been using it solid for a few days now and it is rare to run into someone who hasn’t heard about the Motorola Droid. Like the campaign that Sprint and Palm run for the Pre, it shows how mainstream smartphones are becoming.

Having used the Droid for a few days, let me share my ongoing impressions of the phone. First up, I get asked how I can use so many evaluation phones, while maintaining my sanity having four carrier phones of my own. That’s a fair question, and one with a simple answer. Google Voice is the magic that makes all this work for me. I forward all four of my own phone lines to the Google Voice number, and the GV number is forwarded to the phone I carry with me. Right now that phone is the Droid, so no matter which of my numbers gets a call, it rings on the Droid. Text messages to all four of my phones go right to the Droid through GV, too. And since the Android version of GV is so complete, I set the Droid to use GV for all outgoing calls. It just works.

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The big buzz, or rather the quiet background buzz, about the launch of the Storm2 pushed the ways the new Storm2 was better than the original. Truth be told, the hardware update is largely incremental over the Storm, and with the release of the BlackBerry OS 5.0 for the original Storm it has become clear just how incremental the Storm2 really is. I applied the OS update to my original Storm and it has turned the handset into a whole new phone. I have been using it non-stop since the update and while I was impressed with the Storm at launch, I am really pleased at how good a unit it is with the new OS.

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As an avid runner, I went out and bought a Nike+ sensor as soon as I upgraded my original iPhone to a 3GS. That solution worked OK, but I think it’s lacking for me in some areas: it has to be calibrated for accuracy, works only with certain shoes and can only be used for running or walking activities. Looking for something to compensate for those limitations, I found RunKeeper in the iTunes App Store. There’s a free version and a $9.95 RunKeeper Pro version. At half the price, I find RunKeeper Pro to be a far better value than the Nike+ sensor because of its flexibility and fewer restrictions.

In this video, I show you what the application looks like and talk about how it works by using the GPS in your handset. Some have complained that the application eats up your phone’s battery too fast, but I simply turn my iPhone display off, which helps tremendously. I did an hour-and-a-half bike ride with the application and only used up around 25% of my battery. Oh, that’s right — you can use this for cycling, which is something else I like to do. You can’t do that with a Nike+. After showing you the application, I share a walkthrough of the online tracking and logging that’s done automatically. It offers a great summary of workouts and dives into some details for those that want more.

Dell e4300 w/ Latitude ON

Dell created some excitement with their recent announcement of the Latitude Z notebook with wireless charging. During the announcement they touched on a new “instant on” technology they were launching, Latitude ON. Instant on technology is nothing new, but Dell’s approach with Latitude ON is novel. Dell was good enough to send me an evaluation notebook, the E4300, with the Latitude ON inside to give you my thoughts. I have been playing with it for a few days and am sharing my first impressions of this new technology.

I will be shooting a video of Latitude ON in action as that is the only way to demonstrate what it does. The rolling thunderstorms today have precluded my ability to do that, so that will have to follow next week.

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For the last six weeks or so, I’ve been using an ASUS Eee PC 1005HA netbook on loan direct from ASUS. This model is one of the top responses I hear to the question, “What’s the best netbook out there right now?” After my usage, I’m inclined to agree, although there are some other comparable models, like the Toshiba NB205 that I purchased. In fact, from a hardware perspective, there’s very little that’s different under the hood between the two devices. In situations like that, it generally comes down to personal preferences and little value-adds such as custom software. Let’s take a closer look at the 1005HA, so you understand what I mean.

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As a tech writer, I read far more than I write. And most of my reading is through RSS feeds on a computer, be it a netbook or a notebook. I used to read feeds on smaller devices, but the experience was generally sub-par for me. The new NetNewsWire app for iPhone has changed that perception in a big way. I downloaded the free version of the app a few days ago and I’m totally enjoying it. I’m not keen on the advertisements in the free version, mainly because they take up a bit too much space when in landscape mode, so I’m dropping the $1.99 to get the ad-free version. The app is slated for a price increase to $4.99 in October, so hurry up and try the free version if you’re remotely interested.

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Regular readers know that I couldn’t do without Skype. The voice over IP service has been a daily staple in my routine since early 2005. Since I use it so much, I’m a perfect candidate to test out new Skype accessories like the FREETALK Everyman USB headset I have on loan. I was initially skeptical because of the headset’s low, $22.88 price tag. But as they say, the proof is in the pudding. After using the Everyman headset for Skype over the past few weeks, it’s easily worth every penny and then some. Have a quick look — and listen — to the audio quality.

This week has been a hectic one, with visitors in from out of state I have been running all over town. I wanted to be a good host so we have visited many attractions I rarely visit, and we have been driving all over the place. I am a firm believer in using a good GPS navigation system and I am quite pleased how well the Palm Pre has stepped in to fill that need. The Sprint Navigation system that comes with every Palm Pre has been not only incredibly useful, it has become my new BFF.

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