OLO dreams up iPhone-powered netbook, CELIO shouts "don't do it!"

You were looking for a laugh to start your Columbus Day / Canadian Thanksgiving Day / etc. off, weren't you? Consider yourself lucky. OLO Computer is reportedly thinking of bringing to market a netbook-styled device that would actually enable (require?) users to plop their iPhone / iPhone 3G into the palm rest; from there, the handset would act as the brains of the operation and double as a trackpad. At the present time, there are no real specifications to speak of -- just a zany teaser page and lots of speculation. We shouldn't have to remind you what an epic failure the whole "cellphone companion" sector has been, as one look at Palm's axed Foleo and the deeply discounted Celio REDFLY should be explanation enough. Hey, we're not trying to discourage you from giving this a go, OLO, but we'd probably have a backup plan ready to roll in case Apple itself drops a netbook on the world in the next 48 hours.

[Via Liliputing]

Read - Official teaser page
Read - Netbook-style clamshell for iPhone is coming

[bartoron @ Oct 13th 2008 8:16AM]

And this netbook would most likely cost more than the iPhone itself, right?

[ZaxCG2 @ Oct 13th 2008 9:39AM]

It was at this point Apple realized, the iPhone accessory hath triumphed over the iPhone itself.

[OneLove @ Oct 13th 2008 1:26PM]

"Charging is not supported on this device"

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Oct 13th 2008 3:25PM]

Sweet! Now I can see even bigger when I'm trying to write down a URL on paper, then type it back in the address bar...

It's called "iCopy"


http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=wartqd&s=4

[matt @ Oct 13th 2008 8:22AM]

I think this looks really good, like a dock for home on the desk. I would buy one if it were around £100/$200 mark..

[j_g_puff @ Oct 13th 2008 10:10AM]

It's quite a novel idea - I like their thinking. Unfortunately it is totally useless, dispatching both the iPhone's advantages (portability) and the laptop's (processing power, usability sans-iPhone) whilst offering no discernable benefits. The only application for this thing is, as you suggest, some kind of dock for casual use. This would only work if priced low - even £100 sounds too much for me. I'd probably pay £30. But they couldn't make it for £30. Therefore, I predict bankrupcy.

[Johan S @ Oct 13th 2008 8:24AM]

Since this is sort of like tethering, wouldn't AT&T have a hissy fit and go crying to Apple?

[Andy TGD @ Oct 13th 2008 8:24AM]

Why? Just. Why?

[Tom Robertson @ Oct 13th 2008 8:28AM]

Wrong... On so many levels.

[Samboini @ Oct 13th 2008 3:57PM]

List them all or get down-ranked.

[ben @ Oct 13th 2008 8:32AM]

Looks like it's running the desktop/laptop version of Mac OS X, which technically isn't legal on non-Apple hardware.

[Kizorblade @ Oct 13th 2008 9:30AM]

CRYSIS CAN'T BE RUN ON THE GODDAMN IMAGINATION.

*Spreads against wall*

Andy TGD, go ahead.

[Kizorblade @ Oct 13th 2008 9:31AM]

Oh I look so stupid. That was a response to aznofazns.

Engadget, why must thou make thy look stupid?

[mercurysunblast @ Oct 13th 2008 2:10PM]

LOLOL @Kizorblade
I was seriously looking at your comment like:
o_O wtf....schizo...

[Andy TGD @ Oct 13th 2008 3:22PM]

@Kizorblade

lmao, I think you performed your own execution there. :-)

[aznofazns @ Oct 13th 2008 8:34AM]

Look on the bright side, at least it can play Crysis.

[Andy TGD @ Oct 13th 2008 8:59AM]

Next person to reference a device running Crysis will be executed.
Thank You.

- Signed: The people's executioner.

[Johan S @ Oct 13th 2008 8:38AM]

My problem with the REDFLY is that its one inch thickness beaten by some laptops (plus the LCD resolution sucks). So if you are willing to carry around that much inconvenience you might as well carry around a laptop since phones don't have enough horsepower yet.

[Akshat @ Oct 13th 2008 8:50AM]

Dude the iphone itself stutters after u install a few apps, this netbook thing will move at turtle pace!

[Charles R Hamilton @ Oct 13th 2008 8:55AM]

If you are holding your breath for a an Apple netbook, I would stop now before you pass out.

This thing has some potential, I wouldn't go hate'n on it like you did the Foleo. Let em put it out and see what it amounts to.

[John @ Oct 13th 2008 8:57AM]

Does it support Copy/Paste?

[Vander @ Oct 13th 2008 2:37PM]

hahahahah So good!

[kevjohn @ Oct 13th 2008 8:58AM]

My friend Axel Foley loved his axed Foleo.

[nanobis @ Oct 13th 2008 9:05AM]

just dont do it. its wrong.

[Samboini @ Oct 13th 2008 3:59PM]

So is giving it the bird in the tradesman, but we all still do it!

[avis @ Oct 13th 2008 9:10AM]

this is really promising! if it is something like multi monitor with built in keyboard and some storage

[pfromg @ Oct 13th 2008 9:20AM]

I can see a lot of potential in this idea.Not specifically for the iphone .
That really could be any mobile device docking to such a netbook.Which is potentially a huge idea.

[L @ Oct 13th 2008 10:28AM]

As the headline says: Ask Celio how "huge" that idea really is...

[Poke4Christ @ Oct 13th 2008 9:23AM]

I actually don't share Engadget's pesimism here. Yes, I too thought the Foleo was stupid when it came out and knew it would fail, but this is somewhat different. Really, it's just an add on option for the iPhone that I think could actually get some play.

Since it doesn't have near as many internals it might actually be able to hit the price point of 200. However, turning the OS into a laptop OS might be a big leap and require a lot of software. We'll see.

[nico @ Oct 13th 2008 9:34AM]

i don't see any similarities to the foleo (expect for the obvious ones, looks like a notebook et cetera)

[Phoenix @ Oct 13th 2008 9:40AM]

Aside from being the EXACT SAME THING

[nico @ Oct 13th 2008 3:00PM]

hmm, as far as i know the foleo is indipendent from any other device, but this one isnt...

[nico @ Oct 13th 2008 3:07PM]

ok, read again about the foleo, but i still think it's not the same, the foleo has it's own OS, and hardware. This device seems to be more like an expansion unit.

[bioadam @ Oct 13th 2008 9:53AM]

I see a lot of promising "innovations" with this proposed devide: the phone doesn't hang off a dongle; it uses the iPhone as a trackpad, how cool is that; it allows touch typing; freedom from the tiny phone screen (like say, for watching movies). Don't be hatin' the modular goodness.

[Samboini @ Oct 13th 2008 4:00PM]

Spot the dude with shares in the company...

[Spekulatius @ Oct 13th 2008 10:13AM]

When the first sketches of the new MacBooks appeared on the internet (the ones with a 2nd screen as a touchpad), the first thing i thought was: why don't they put a dockingstation for your iphone underneath the keyboard instead of a touch-pad.
This would be the easy way... well I guess someone had the same idea here...

[Phoenix @ Oct 13th 2008 12:54PM]

the reason Apple didn't do that is because that would render the computer unusable without either a mouse or an iPhone. nobody wants to carry their mouse wherever they carry their laptop, and Apple would never release a laptop that ONLY people with an iPhone could use.

Try thinking next time.

[Spekulatius @ Oct 14th 2008 2:54AM]

You know... iPod Touch would work as well it has the same screen.

[Richard @ Oct 13th 2008 10:36AM]

This might be a motivator for me to actually get an iPhone! Well, if I didn't already have an N95 that is.

[Alex @ Oct 13th 2008 10:58AM]

That makes perfect sense. God people can be so stupid sometimes.

[Dan Mihaliak @ Oct 13th 2008 11:14AM]

I could use one of those when will they be ready?

http://www.wvtaxsales.com

[xtom @ Oct 13th 2008 12:27PM]

I'm dreaming a 7 inch touchscreen docking for iPhone, just because Apple isn't quick enough with the iTablet.

Unfortunately the iPhone dock connector seems insufficient for theese devices.

[spam_free @ Oct 13th 2008 12:38PM]

And when it fails, the company shall be renamed "ONO".

[waterboy99troop @ Oct 13th 2008 11:50PM]

personally, i think they just failed at trying to name themselves LOL...

[Tim @ Oct 13th 2008 12:40PM]

I might buy one. I think the iPhone's keyboard is crap.

[qrius @ Oct 13th 2008 12:54PM]

haha, but you still can't copy and paste, right?

[mercurysunblast @ Oct 13th 2008 2:21PM]

Ugh, people suck big time! This gets me pissed off every time I think about this. Look at you all, actually giving this thing the time of day, some consideration. When the Foleo was announced, you guys (general public) just shred it to pieces before you even saw what it could do...and it was WAY more useful than this crap AND the Celio Redfly combined.

It ran its own OS, boot-up time was in seconds, had an awesome keyboard AND was thin and light. The only downside that I saw was that it was a bit overpriced. But because people were so damned close-minded it never made it to market.

And now look! People actually finding "uses" for such devices...hm..novel concept huh?

[Vander @ Oct 13th 2008 2:45PM]

not video allowed :_(

[Byrdman @ Oct 13th 2008 3:30PM]

will this work with an iPod touch?

[Spekulatius @ Oct 13th 2008 4:17PM]

Domain registered: 08-Oct-2008 from a guy in France, so he is definitly aping this idea:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/25/supposed-macbook-pro-redesign-meet-mr-blurryiphonecam/

propaply trying to make a quick bug by selling the idea...