Review: ZLink

I’ve been using programs like PowerRun and TealAlia ever since my first Palm. And as new Palms have been released, more and more expansion card shortcutting application have been released, with all of them doing essentially the same thing, launching programs and databases from expansion cards. The high-end launchers, such as ZLauncher, even had this feature built-in. So when ZLink was released, I just assumed it was just another shortcutting application and didn’t think much of it, especially considering I now had a Palm TX and had all the internal memory I could want. But out of curiosity, I decided to try it out. ZLink was much more than I had thought.

ZLink is available from ZZTechs at low price of $17.95. The file itself is only 242kb, and is compatible with all devices OS 4.0 and up. Before I started creating any links or anything, I decided to go into the preferences. It is unbelievable the how many file extensions are supported. It is such a flexible application that I know anyone will love it.

What impressed me instantly was the fantastic looking user interface. It’s a tabbed interface with the device’s internal memory, existing links, and the inserted expansion card. From the “Device” tab, you can see how many associated databases there are for each program and the total size for each. From this tab, you can also delete the selected program, beam the select program, or most importantly, create a link (shortcut) for this program. Similarly, the expansion card tab gives you the same options, and allows you to create links for almost any type of file (avi, jpg, txt, etc.). I love that feature, especially on my Palm TX since I have so much internal memory that I don’t need to use the application shortcutting.

When you add a new link, you get to choose the link’s name and the category that it will appear in, in the launcher. If you’re linking to an application, you’re given the option to move the application out of internal memory and onto your expansion card, with the choice of moving the application alone, or the application with its databases. And if you’re linking to a file like an avi or jpeg, or whatever, then you get the neat extra feature of setting your own choice of an icon. Best of all, ZLink is compatible with ZLauncher icon sets.

Launching a link is fast, with no noticeable delays, and getting rid of links are as simple as a button press. And when your expansion card is removed, the links disappear, and reappear once card is reinserted.

I absolutely love this application and believe it’s essential for the low-memory Palm devices out there, and still a handy program for the others. The compatibility with ZLauncher icon sets is a big plus, as is the large list of supported filetypes (although I do wish I could create links to websites). Overall ZLink is a great program that I recommend you check out.

Funtionality: 10/10
Usability: 10/10
Interface: 9/10