Tapwave Kills Zodiac, Goes Out of Business

[Kent Pribbernow]

http://www.tapwave.com

Scratch another PalmSource licensee. Tapwave has officially ended all sales and support of its Zodiac multimedia device, and is ceasing operation. This is the first time I have ever seen a vendor literally pull up stakes and fold overnight. A message posted on the company's web site reads..

"We are sorry to inform you that the Zodiac business was discontinued and service and support are no longer available as of July 25th 2005."

The site also mentions that any outstanding RMA or product support claim will be handled by Ueker and Associates, which is a clear indication of bankruptcy.

Zodiac started out its short life as a PalmOS-based handheld gaming device. Unfortunately Tapwave was never able to attract support from game publishers, and the platform began to languish. When that strategy failed, Tapwave repositioned Zodiac as a "multimedia device", to compete against even more indomitable foes like the iPod and Archos devices. Needless to say, Zodiac proved to be even less successful in this space than in the gaming market. Earlier this year Tapwave disclosed plans to end the Zodiac operation and move to a new business model based on licensing out Zodiac's hardware design to other firms. Obviously those plans didn't go through.

I happen to have a Zodiac 2 myself, so this is indeed sad news for me. What to do with it? :?

[Kent Pribbernow]

http://www.tapwave.com

Scratch another PalmSource licensee. Tapwave has officially ended all sales and support of its Zodiac multimedia device, and is ceasing operation. This is the first time I have ever seen a vendor literally pull up stakes and fold overnight. A message posted on the company's web site reads..

"We are sorry to inform you that the Zodiac business was discontinued and service and support are no longer available as of July 25th 2005."

The site also mentions that any outstanding RMA or product support claim will be handled by Ueker and Associates, which is a clear indication of bankruptcy.

Zodiac started out its short life as a PalmOS-based handheld gaming device. Unfortunately Tapwave was never able to attract support from game publishers, and the platform began to languish. When that strategy failed, Tapwave repositioned Zodiac as a "multimedia device", to compete against even more indomitable foes like the iPod and Archos devices. Needless to say, Zodiac proved to be even less successful in this space than in the gaming market. Earlier this year Tapwave disclosed plans to end the Zodiac operation and move to a new business model based on licensing out Zodiac's hardware design to other firms. Obviously those plans didn't go through.

I happen to have a Zodiac 2 myself, so this is indeed sad news for me. What to do with it? :?

[Jeremy Charette]

Hack it! :twisted:

[Jason Dunn]

There's exiting the market, and then there's "we're bleeding so badly we can't even offer warranty service". This looks like the latter. Too bad - I loved the look and feel of the Zodiac, but they picked a lame OS. ;-)

[Jason Kravitz]

Originally Posted by Kent Pribbernow

I happen to have a Zodiac 2 myself, so this is indeed sad news for me. What do with it? :?

Cut your losses and buy a PSP like you should have in the first place

In a space crowded by the big 3 game console producers plus regular palm devices and pocket PC's plus slightly more established niche devices like ngage it's pretty bold to venture into yet another device.

What attracted you to purchase one of these in the first place. I thought it seemed cool but figured it would not get much support from game developers. To compete with PSP you need games from the top developers and I don't think they see the money in PalmOS or PocketPC as a gaming platform regardless of device.

[Kent Pribbernow]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

There's exiting the market, and then there's "we're bleeding so badly we can't even offer warranty service". This looks like the latter. Too bad - I loved the look and feel of the Zodiac, but they picked a lame OS. ;-)

A company spokesperson confirmed that Tapwave is in liquidation. They went Bankrupt. Uecker & Associates is a bankruptcy cleanup firm, they're liquidating all Tapwave assets.

Anyone interested in some used office equipment or Aeron chairs? Head on down to Tapwave HQ. :P