Comments on: Tapwave Helix now the Zodiac, Coming Sept?
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RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Stick with Helix and drop the witchcraft Tapwave.
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
(btw my grandfather actually was kidnapped by gypsies)
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Oh, and why do they have the "prophet" kid in the teaser video swearing? That was stupid too.
"btw my grandfather actually was kidnapped by gypsies"
...seriously?
(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Helix was much, much, cooler as a name.
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
I think it'll be a sweet deck, blows the doors off of n-gage IMHO. much better screen, more usable. 2 expansion slots... lets say that again for all hear[palm, sony, hp, etc to listen too...] 2 EXPANSION SLOTS !!! [expandability & versitility is VERY important][especially when tech changes every day] (i can plug in a camera module & memory & not ever have to worry a/b swaping cards or missing a beat !)(or i could have a camera module & a wi-fi card)(.. or... [you get the idea])
Game boy advance/SP... SP is a much nicer form than its predicessor, but the screen still sucks. The screen is also VERY important. @ w/ 320x480 :-) i'm a happy camper. its nice to have a 3:4 ratio. also i hope its form is comfortable to the hands, for what ever the reason on my GBA, i'd cramp up after extended times of play..
I don't remember it mentioned, but if it could have replacable rechargable battery packs that would be so boss ! or even if they did an augmentation like the UX series i'd be lov'n life.
& if it had a usb port .... that would be awesome !
for me the UX-50 is nearing perfection, but the price... but the Helix also has almost hit it perfect for me, prior to the UX series i'd been pining [as most] for a palm w/ 320x480 & virtual graffiti. & the Helix delivers [& it can play games ?! drool !! ]
i say the drop the "zodiac" name [despite it being a real word, it reminds me of all the silly pharmacutical names "zantac", "propecia", etc] & go with something mythical like Pegasus. it'd be a good fit, a very versital creature a horse w/ wings good on land & in the air, a trusted companion ... just like the Helix will be to me, good @ work [scheduling, office docs, contacts] & good for me @ play [GAMES !] & i'll carry it w/ me every where i go [meetings ;-) ]
just my $1.05 (since i was verbos)
-painted dog
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
=============
Another great thing about the design is that we might just see some games taking advantage of the portriat layout instead of just the landscape format.
I'm thinking of some awesome pinball games or even klax and gauntlet from the Atari Lynx handheld era.
September is too late! I want this now!
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Do anyone remembers about that so called 'patent infrigiment' on wireless gaming? That israeli dude that sued Palm over wireless gaming patent infrigiment, what is the status on that?
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
It has a 480 x320 screen, OS5, dual batteries, no slider, dual SD, and will even have a version with 128Mb RAM.
So what is the first thing people worry about? Its bloody name! Have you guys taken a look at YOUR handles recently?
Palmary aka Richard
Owner of a bizarrely named (but excellent) Tungsten T2
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
But I'm not trying to sell myself to a few million people either, am I? Besides, I like my handle. Much better than 'Zodiac' :)
Besides, of course we are going to gripe about the name. The name is what the whole news article was about, wasn't it?
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Nah. That'd be ET and Spielberg would sue.
OK, let me drag out the meme to spread here too...
I can see the ad campaign now:
"Zodiac. It's not just a serial killer anymore."
Change the name!
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
--
"Life is what you experience between racing games"
Galley
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
the scale dawn model (32MB) : zodiac
and the scale up model (128MB) : helix
RE: Can't wait to see it... but the name?
Peace Out
Alan
I posted first!
RE: I posted first!
Anyway, I'm actually encouraged by the higher price points and the apparent lack of camera on the high-end model, but the website has been hinting at a pretty dorky looking toy form factor for a few weeks now (contrary to some earlier hints). Key, for me anyway, will also be software integration to see if this will be a player in the nongaming business environment.
Thanks, robrecht
RE: I posted first!
If you look on the left-hand part of the page near the top, you'll see a link that says "Contribute News."
(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)
RE: I posted first!
What are you talking about? It runs Palm OS. But perhaps in the 19,000 titles at PalmGear, you didn't come across any buisiness apps. And also, this device comes with WordSmith (who knows why not dtg).
RE: I posted first!
Deja-vu all over again. I'm talking about how well the landscape and VG APIs work with Palm business software. For example, I am especially interested in using word processing and spreadsheet programs in landscape mode, which was done well by Handera but not by SONY. Also, the last I heard, it was not definite that keyboards would be supported even though there is a Palm Universal Connector on the bottom of the landscape orientation.
Thanks, robrecht
Cost of Games?
1."Why pay $30-$40 for a MMC that has only a couple of MBs of its total capacity (usually 16mb) utilized?"
2. "Why don't they just consolidate all of the games (Rayman, PopCap, Game Essentials) onto a single card and sell it for $50?".
In the (much, much) more mature PC and console markets, publishers can flood the shelves with bargain $5 and $10 CD-ROMS chock full of many of the same titles you can get on a Palm (for example, the PSOne Rayman is $10 or less--yet the Palm version was $40 last time I checked).
Someone's (Tapwave, Activision etc) going to really lose their shirt and have a major flop on their hands (ala Virtual Boy/32X) unless they can somehow convince consumers that there's a better inherent value in using SD/MMC as a storage medium for portable gaming. It will be up to the publishers to make sure that, at least initially, this becomes a viable platform and will not just be an overpriced novelty. Anyone remember Tiger's "game.com" handheld a few years back? Higher-res than the monochrome Gameboy, built-in modem, but absolutely killed by poor marketing, poor software and the ugliest, cheapest hardware design I've seen in years. Selling them in the toy dept. of Wal Mart instead of in the electronics dept. didn't help matters either.
Instead of just doing a basic port to Palm OS, I'd hope that the developers would take a few chances with some of their titles to distinguish them:
1.Utilize a hybrid readable/writable card so that games can be saved directly onto the card, new level packs added, etc. Handmark has already IIRC on their "PDA Photo" card-which is basically just a cut-down version of SplashPhoto on an SD card with 4mb allocated to store whatever photos you desire. A similar idea like this was also discussed for years for a writable MO drive for the N64 as well as the original Famicon floppy drive in Japan (still going strong after 20+ years, from what I hear).
2. Tapwave platform games (as well as any major publisher's Palm titles in general) need to be optimized for BT/wireless connectivity. Imagine multi-player Doom/Duke Nukem over BT!
3. Will titles for the Helix be playable (with reduced bells and whistles, of course) on any other OS5 Palm?
4. It would be a grand gesture, in order to spice the market up a bit, for a major publisher (say, Activision) to include a Palm version of Doom 1 on the install CD for Doom III (whenever that is released). Additionally, the Tony Hawk 4 (or whatever) PC CD-ROM could contain a Palm version at no charge. I think Sierra tried this on their Hoyle card game series last year--bundling the Palm versions. It must not have done too well because I have not seen any of those boxes with the "Palm version inside!" sticker in months.
5. Do compilations of older "abandonware". For example, Doom I, II, and Final Doom ported to Palm would make for a great CD. Or all of the Dooms as well as the Heretic/Hexen series.....All of the Civilization titles, the list is endless. Just don't try to gouge people who admittedly are taking a big gamble on an unproven company/device!
RE: Cost of Games?
It sounds like they are definitely developing games optimized for this that will take up more than a few mb of data. While i don't believe the videos represent the actual helix (errr... 'Zodiak' - such a dumb name) versions - they might be close. those who have seen it put the quality at at least PS1 - with lots of use of the new 3d engine. I would not expect to see cds loaded with 'abandonware' like doom 1 & 2 however - like you suggested - because its already been stated that there will be an official release of doom 2. im assuming this is better than just a straight port of the pc version (like PPC) because this could be done easily on OS 5 devices now - where-as the tapwave has this integrated 3d engine that im assuming they will take advantage of. who the heck knows though - it all a guess at this point.
RE: Cost of Games?
What happanned to the camera?
Visit http://goodthatway.com/
-better living through better technology.
RE: What happanned to the camera?
(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)
RE: What happanned to the camera?
Helix, why cant palm do better
A Palm in one hand is worth 2 Pocket PC Bricks
: )
-Steve
RE: Helix, why cant palm do better
RE: Helix, why cant palm do better
Bejeweled! Bejeweled!
RE: Bejeweled! Bejeweled!
I want Advance Wars. Advance Wars! Advance Wars!
Not likely, but I can dream (or suck it up and buy a game boy).
"All opinions posted are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled."
RE: Bejeweled! Bejeweled!
I second that.
I want Advance Wars. Advance Wars! Advance Wars!
I want Advance Wars. Advance Wars! Advance Wars!
I want Advance Wars. Advance Wars! Advance Wars!
Best game ever wich I played on the GameBoy Advance. So much fun.
Speaking of games. Why do ne1 makes good games like Broken Sword for palm ? I think OS5 devices will handle that kind of grafics o.k.
Great deal even without games
128 Megs
dual expansion ports
VG
You can't buy anything near that now for $399.
RE: Great deal even without games
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Great deal even without games
-Kevin Crossman
RE: Great deal even without games
mmmm...
dual sd slots
480x320
bt
128megs of ram.
This palm will kickass. I wanna see what pocketPC users say after they see ps1 quality games coming out for a "lesser" OS :)
RE: mmmm...
But the lesser OS is the other one (MSomethin).
I have nothing against the hardware wich the dark side have choosen, but its OS.
RE: mmmm...
RE: mmmm...
RE: mmmm...
It takes something like Sony's PSP to reach the playstation quality. the PSP has 2 mips CPU one running at 333mhz, and emotion engine as graphic accelerator. SO this is in the same class as Psx.
RE: mmmm...
Of course they may be simulated and look nothing like the real deal, but still makes me wonder. Haven't they had working prototypes at one point? Or at least simulated videos of equivalent hardware?
Hmmmm......
Maybe the device should be called "Zodiac Pro" because this Tapwave Device has a lot of meat to play games on a Palm OS Platform smoothly? 128MB On-Handheld RAM? 2 SD/MMC Slots (A Given). Really fast ARM Processor?
I think there should be a Pro version of this Handheld so that there's one for the Average User, and one for the Enthusiasts.
Established Consumer Palm Handheld Possessor since 2002
I must be getting old...
Geez... I am getting old...
Oh well...the world needs burger-flippers, too...
Visit us at www.tdscomputer.com
RE: I must be getting old...
Edward Green
--
http://www.khite.co.uk
"This is the Zodiac speaking..."
All the details on the Zodiac are here:
Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
http://www.palmvenue.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1753
Strange that the source here on PIC mentions two versions, while the press release on TapWave only mentions one, the $299 version.
RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
You're kidding, right? This is a completely differnet target market here.
RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
A Palm in one hand is worth 2 Pocket PC Bricks
: )
-Steve
RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
RE: Nice mock-up of the Helix/Zodiac
> is and how big the screen is.
and just exactly how big is a 480x300 pixel image?
Neverwinter Nights
So going neo-pagan eh?
* The Neo-pagan fad of the "new old religion" is very popular with those of this product's demographics.
* Young ladies have more an affinity for astrology than young guys. Thus, the name change and alluded color may be an attempt keep this market from being 90% male.
* To those who read their horoscope everyday, it is something very personal. Thus, using a name like this lets the product leverage affinity of that name.
* It begins with a "Z" thus feels a bit 80s retro back to cool product and company names beginning with "W thru Z" at the beginning of that era. Hence, it gives the "going on 40" crowd a bit more of a tug to pick up one of these.
* The whole concepts and packaging screams youth market. It is definately going to be the "college gameboy" device.
Will I get one, heck ya! If anything, I'll have the coolest Bluetooth client device around.
RE: So going neo-pagan eh?
will those title sell to the neo-pagan crowd? uhmmm...
RE: So going neo-pagan eh?
There are always the ones overly sensitive over the cute and furry animals. However, there are more who see those cute and furry animals as a good meal and warm pelt.
Humm, thinking about that. A first person hunting game on the Zodiac would be the bomb!
How will the RAM difference affect gameplay?
RE: How will the RAM difference affect gameplay?
RE: How will the RAM difference affect gameplay?
Visit http://goodthatway.com/
-better living through better technology.
RE: How will the RAM difference affect gameplay?
Zodiac runs on Palm OS 5.2.6??
http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=1527&showComments=true
This is obviously some future version of PalmOS that probably incorporates landscape mode. Perhaps it will be the version used in T|T3 as well?...
Visit http://goodthatway.com/
-better living through better technology.
RE: Zodiac runs on Palm OS 5.2.6??
Wanna see what the helix launcher will look like?
RE: Wanna see what the helix launcher will look like?
RE: Wanna see what the helix launcher will look like?
And look at how classy the TW Soft Graffiti area looks compared to the one on the TT3. Hmmmm.
RE: Wanna see what the helix launcher will look like?
The high price of Palm OS hardware
Zodiac A - 32 MB, 480 x 320, $299
Zodiac B - 128 MB, 480 x 320, $399
Vs.
Zire 71 - 16 MB, 320 x 320, $299
Tungsten T - 16 MB, 320 x 320, $329
Tungsten T2 - 32 MB, 320 x 320, $399
Tungsten W - 16 MB, 320 x 320, $419
Tungsten C - 64 MB, 320 x 320, $499
http://www.palm.com/us/products/
SJ33 - 16 MB, 320 x 320, $250
TG50 - 16 MB, 320 x 320, $350
NX73V - 16 MB, 320x 480, $500
NX80V - 32MB, 320 x 480, $600
UX40 - 16MB, 480 x 320, $600
UX50 - 16MB, 480 x 320, $700
NZ90 - 16MB, 320 x 480, $800
http://sonyelectronics.sonystyle.com/micros/clie/comparison/
Vs. Dell's PPC offerings:
Axim X5 - 32 MB, 320 x 480, $199
Axim X5 - 64 MB, 320 x 480, $293
While the above numbers are an oversimplification (omitting other features like cameras, MP3 players, softwaare packages, etc.) they still illustrate that Palm OS hardware costs a lot more than it should. Hopefully, Palm and Sony will start being more generous with their offerings.
RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
-Bosco
RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
...which, I guess, makes Sony like .... uh .... Sony in pricing?
RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
But I agree nonetheless that PPC has offered a better deal on the hardware than PalmOS.
RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
RE: The high price of Palm OS hardware
It is only there for the mindless "Microsoft of death" IT buyers that have havesome internal app was ported to PPC. It is also there when a customer wants a single enterprise support package from corproate server, to desktop, to laptop to PDA.
Putting the Axim in this list is grossly out of margin since it is not an independant business unit like the other PDAs you mentioned.
It will succeed, if it
They will suceed only if they can attract the major retailers to sell these for them (i.e. BestBuy, CC, Amazon...) Look at the poor sales and the demise of Handera, if those of you who remembered...
I am interesting in buying the unit, but I live in Canada. Looks like it would not be possible...
******************
Lie is the future.
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Can't wait to see it... but the name?
"Hey! Whats that you got in your pocket!? A personal astrology chart computer?"