One of the first things we noticed about the Zodiac is that it really flies when performing an operation, especially when playing games. The images and video are incredibly smooth. The reason for this is that TapWave implemented two processors, a 200 MHz Motorola i.MX1 ARM9 CPU and a ATI Imageon W4200 graphics accelerator with 8 MB of dedicated SDRAM. This runs counter to what most handhelds include, which is a single processor to handle everything. By offloading the graphics to the ATI Imageon, TapWave took a vital step towards making the Zodiac a quality gaming platform.

Perhaps the most important feature for an entertainment device besides its internal processor is the quality of its display. Without a good screen it'll quickly become tiresome to play games and watch videos. The Zodiac's display, quality wise, is right up there with Tungsten T3 and Sony’s devices with high-resolution screens. Like with those devices, its large 3.8 inch transflective display runs at half VGA or 480 x 320 and supports 65,536 colors. A nice feature is that it can be used in portrait or landscape modes, meaning you can use the Zodiac vertically or horizontally. The backlit display performed brilliantly indoors and while dimmer outside, was still quite usable.


Landscape & Vertical Modes

The Zodiac features superior sound courtesy of Yamaha audio component and stereo speakers, a rarity in a handheld. There is a standard 3.5mm stereo jack for headphones (the unit comes with ear buds). A nice feature of the Zodiac is that you can listen to music while using the device.

In terms of game play, the Zodiac features the most impressive array of controls found in a PDA. To the left of the screen is a variable pressure analog controller or joystick, which you setup when the device is first turned on. The joystick also serves as a 5-way navigation system that offers 360 degree control when playing games.

There are also two game triggers, one on the upper left and another on the upper right side of the Zodiac. The device has been ergonomically designed for gaming, so when you have your hands on the device, your two index fingers are by the triggers, while one thumb is at the joystick and your other thumb is on top of four programmable action buttons.


Triggers

In addition to the controls mentioned above, there is also one special function button to the lower right of the joystick, a home button, a power button and one that turns Bluetooth on and off.

Bluetooth is a wireless standard for personal area networking, meaning devices that support Bluetooth can communicate with each other within a short distance. With Bluetooth enabled, Zodiac owners (up to 8) can play against each other wirelessly or, for instance, print to a Bluetooth-enabled printer or even sync with a desktop computer. Speaking of game play, the device features vibration for a silent alarm, but more importantly for feedback while playing games.

As for Software, Zodiac runs on a modified version of Palm OS 5.2 that supports the multimedia and gaming features of the device. When you turn it on you notice how well TapWave modified the user interface to fit the Zodiac's features. There is a taskbar on the right with another set of icons right next to that allows you to modify how you want to view all you files and applications. Even more importantly, the Zodiac implements a circular metaphor for its interface that allows you to easily access your applications and documents by category via the analog controller. This makes navigating the device a breeze. This launcher allows you to launch up to 64 applications with 8 categories that can hold 8 applications each.


User Interface