Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 25

Hello everyone,

For over a year our company has been working to develop an integrated FlipCover design for the Handspring Visor. Since the FlipCover is integrated into the Visor it involved developing a serious backbone. Unlike the Palm III cover that stops at 120 degrees, FlipCover flips all the way to the back of your Visor. We have partnered with Handspring�s largest module manufacturer, ATL Technologies, in order to help developers become compatible to this new platform.

Check it out at:

http://www.FlipCover.com



[Edited by FlipCover on 12-29-2000 at 04:26 PM]

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<a href='http://www.flipcover.com'> www.FlipCover.com</a>

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

Nice design. I really like the way it flips all the way to the back, this will be great for people with standard sized SpringBoard modules or no modules. Too bad it won't work with a Minstrel S though.

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Tim Johnson

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

I have to say I was skeptical at first. But after going to the website, I've decided I think it's a nice product.

A clear or translucent cover would be nice, so that you could see alarms without flipping the lid.

I like that you can stick it onto the dummy module.

Decisions, decisions.

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Jeff

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 1

Cool! Let us know!

Cool! I like it. I'm sure VisorCentral.com will let us know when it ships.. any idea on price? For just a cover it shouldn't be that much, eh?

The website says there is a clear one, and even though I've gotten quite used to flipping my deluxe Ice Visor over when opening the cover, I have dropped just the cover several times.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 25

Re: Cool! Let us know!

quote:

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Originally posted by malejko
Cool! I like it. I'm sure VisorCentral.com will let us know when it ships.. any idea on price? For just a cover it shouldn't be that much, eh?

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Hi malejko,

Thanks for your comments!

We should know the prices very soon. Right now we are working with our tooling house to calculate how many FlipCovers we should run at each tool setup to get a good cost break. For more info, you can stay tuned to the website or join the mail list.


Take care,

Z



[Edited by FlipCover on 12-10-2000 at 03:45 PM]

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

Z,

I went to your site and I'm not sure if I completely understand what's going on. Do I have to stick something to my Visor to get the cover to flip to the back or not?

Frank

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

quote:

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Originally posted by Fdwenlar
Z,

I went to your site and I'm not sure if I completely understand what's going on. Do I have to stick something to my Visor to get the cover to flip to the back or not?

Frank

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Jeff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

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Originally posted by Fdwenlar
Do I have to stick something to my Visor to get the cover to flip to the back or not?

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NC, Indiana
Posts: 465

How much?

How much will the cover, a dummy module with hinges and one retrofit kit for one module cost? Is there a ballpark figure? Will it be comparably priced to the FlipClip w/ PalmIII production lid $10?

Thanks

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-Vincent

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 120

Only thing is... You HAVE to remove it anytime you change the module. Example, say you have the cool flip cover on your "dummy" mudule. All well and good. Then you come home, pull out your backup module for your daily back-up and... guess what? the entire rig in the Visor has to be removed because it's attached to the "dummy" module. So, what do you do if you use other modules? Buy a flip lid for each one? (Or, alright, a small module adapter for each one... but you STILL haver to either switch the lid out, or buy multiple lids.) I dunno, I just want a flip lid designed to remain attached to the Visor no matter what I need to do: back-up, flash mod, etc. even if I interchange modules once a day.

[Edited by sanchan on 12-18-2000 at 12:13 PM]

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NC, Indiana
Posts: 465

Agreed

I have to agree with you Sanchan. There are, however, many people who don't own any modules where this would be just fine. Although anyone who frequently uses different modules will definitely want to take this into consideration. If having your cover go all the way to the back is something that's very important to you than this is the obvious choice over the competitor's product.

Personally, I don't use any modules right now (although I hope to soon... are you listening Santa? ), but I still prefer the non module-dependent nature of the competitor's product. I also don't like the idea of having to modify a module. The system is definitely an intelligent one and well thought out it seems, but there is modification required to springboards you own just to have a cover with all the way folding lid. Having to certify springboards as "Flipped" and modifying a noncompatible springboard so that you can use your lid is a little extreme just to have foldback capability.

I personally prefer the competitor's product for reasons beyond the springboard modifications required. These reasons are backwards compatiblity with PalmIII lids, pretty inexpensive (I'm not sure what the FlipCover will go for, probably near the same price), lids are available from the manufacturer in a plethora of color matched lids, and compatiblity with oversized springboards (however, the VisorPhone will require slight machining modification I understand).

If you don't use springoboards (which is one of the major factors people buy Handspring rather than Palm), then this may be a better solution, featuring a completely folding lid. However I don't believe the ends were worth the means in my own personal opinion unless this is a killer feature to the buyer.

[Edited by Vinny on 12-18-2000 at 05:04 PM]

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-Vincent

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

I think the 'cool' flip cover is just too cool to pass up. From an ex-palm III user, one of the things I hated most was their cover. It always flopped around and when it was open I felt like I was using a Star Trek communicator.

The flip cover looks 'cool' and looks like it will stay shut. I went to the other flip cover forum and saw the pictures of the competitor's product and when you have their clip on adapter and the Palm III cover on it, it looks wide.

Right now my Visor fits perfectly in my pocket and I'm not planning on buying any BIG modules like VisorPhone anyway.

For ten bucks or whatever the price will be, I think I can afford a leap of faith and figure that if Z partnered with ATL, then this will most likely be offered with future developers. If I'm wrong, who cares? I still have the 'cool' cover


Frank

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

PDAENVY is right, you're not sticking anything to your Visor but really you don't have to stick anything to your module either. The standard Flip Cover will come with it's own blank module that has the hinge points on it.



It'll just plug into your springboard slot.

I couldn't agree with you anymore about the Palm III cover, which is one of the reasons why we have been working so hard over here setting up all sorts of partnerships with manufacturers and developers.

As far as colors go, ATL has already been shooting all the Visor colors in their molds so we already have an exact match. Since our FlipCovers will be molded with the colors and not painted on, there is no need to worry about rubbing or discoloration.

What's this going to cost?????

We have been getting countless inquiries about price and availability. I'm sorry to say that we are not officially releasing prices yet, but you can be assured that they will be VERY competitive. I'm meeting with ATL's manufacturing engineer tommorrow, and we will most likely have our pricing calculations finished by the close of the business day.



[Edited by Z on 12-19-2000 at 12:08 AM]

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

Game Face

Can't wait to find out the price. Hopefully it'll be around ten bucks

By any chance, will the flip cover still work with the Visor game face?

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

A pic is worth a thousand words.

We have tested the game face with the FlipCover and it will still snap on with the FlipCover in place.

I've been using them together for the past few days and its pretty nice. I'll flip the cover to the backside and snap on the GF when its time to play.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 25

Price

quote:

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Originally posted by Fdwenlar
Can't wait to find out the price. Hopefully it'll be around ten bucks

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<a href='http://www.flipcover.com'> www.FlipCover.com</a>

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 25

Pre-Production orders have started

We have begun to take pre-production orders for the FlipCover in Graphite Black, Ice, Orange, Blue, and Green.

You don�t pay anything when placing a pre-production order. All you do is supply your shipping info and the type of flip cover you are planning on purchasing and you are immediately entered into our database. All customers who are in our pre-production database will receive an email within the next few weeks when we are ready to ship their order. The email will direct you to our site where you then complete your order by providing us your billing information.

Best of all, people who place their pre-production order will get free domoestic shipping! And don't forget that a pre-production order will ensure you that you will be in our first lot of shipments.


For more info go to:

http://www.flipcover.com/pre-production.htm

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<a href='http://www.flipcover.com'> www.FlipCover.com</a>

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 17

I ordered one this morning; can hardly wait. I'm really looking forward to using it.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Ft Walton Bch, Fl
Posts: 24

Will there be a version for the Prism?

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Prism Flip Cover

There will be a version for the Prism soon. As you already know I'm sure the Prism is one tenth of an inch deeper than a VDX or Platinum so we will need a FlipCover that has a longer linkage to connect the module and the cover.

Our CAD model for this new linkage was sent to our tooling house already. We are waiting for sample parts for testing and color matching. Once we get those and aprove them we will begin taking pre-production orders for Prism FlipCovers as well.