I was pleased to see that two new Celio REDFLY models were announced last week. Basically, the REDFLY is a small laptop that uses your phone as its brain. In addition to covering that, this week I want to pass along a how-to on syncing your device with the DVR recorder you use with your TV. And we’ll note an offer of free multiplayer games on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile TotalAccess web site.

Celio REDFLY C7 and C8N

Earlier this fall when the price of the original Celio REDFLY C8 dropped from $500 to $200, there was speculation that it was a prelude to the company’s going out of business. Which would have been too bad, because this is such a perfect idea. And now with two new models out, it looks like they’re here to stay. And their prices are also much lower than the original.

Called the REDFLY Smartphone Terminal, this device is laptop-sized, with a keyboard and screen. But there’s no operating system, central processor, or storage. Instead, you connect your phone to it, and it uses your phone’s applications and storage and processor. It changes your phone’s output resolution so that you can work effectively on the device’s 800x400 screen.

One reason I like the idea of the REDFLY is because it means no syncing. You’re simply using it as an extension of your phone. In addition, it has the instant-on capability of your phone — no long waits while it boots up.

The C8N, weighing in at 2 pounds, is $300 and has an 8-inch display. Its neatest feature, new to this model, is a media port. That means you can also use your REDFLY as a large screen for your iPod, iPhone, Zune, or other media device. In fact, you can have both a Windows Mobile device and a media player feeding the REDFLY at the same time.

This demo video posted on YouTube by Laptop magazine shows how you can be working in Windows Mobile (say, checking e-mail) while at the same time be watching a video on-screen that’s being fed from an iPhone. (The segment showing this feature occurs at about 1:05.)

You can read excellent reviews of the REDFLY C8N on ZDNet (including a video) and Brighthand.

The REDFLY C7, at $225, is basically the same, but lighter at 1.5 pounds, with a 7-inch screen and no media port. The C7 was released November 24, and the C8N is expected December 1.

They don’t work with every device, so you’ll want to be sure your device is supported.

Syncing Your Device with Your DVR

PocketNow has a great article explaining how you can put TV programs on your device by syncing it with your TV set-top DVR. You’ll need Windows Media Center, which comes with Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate, and a Windows Media Center-compatible TV tuner, which costs around $100.

Free Multiplayer Games on Mytopia

Microsoft’s most recent Windows Mobile newsletter announced a 30-day free trial of multiplayer games on Mytopia, which recently launched with 8 games: All-in Hold’em, Sudoku Master, Bingo Island, Chess Arena, Lucky Slots, Spades Master, Ace of Hearts, and Vegas Video Poker. Additional games are being released every month.