Samsung BlackJack Updates OS

Here’s a treat for Samsung BlackJack owners. If you feel that you’re a bit left out with all the Mobile Windows 6.0 smartphones out in the market, Samsung has finally decided to release an update for your mobile device.
The original ROM and instructions on how to update the OS of your BlackJack phone can be found at the following link. A word of caution though, back-up all your data as the process will complete erase all the contents on your phone. The entire process will take some time too so better have everything prepared to make it as fast and smooth as possible.
This time around, Vista users are the ones left out as the update only works with Windows 2000 and XP. So, if you want to spruce up your relatively old Windows Mobile 5.0 running device, follow the link and install the update now.

DISCLAIMER: The update is meant for US customers which is why you’ll notice that the site refers to the model number of the BlackJack as i607 (the local version is i600), but I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t work with phones purchased in other countries. The only way this restriction will occur if they limited the update to work with serial numbers corrsponding to units sold in the US. To be on the safe side, try to get in touch with the local Samsung Service Center to get confirmation if this update will indeed work with locally distributed units.

Video: Unboxing of Samsung BlackJack II

The Samsung SGH-i607 BlackJack II launched over the Turkey weekend and we’ve got an unboxing video for you guys to ogle - courtesy of WMExperts.

If you like what you see, head on over to your nearest AT&T store and grab your very own BlackJack II for about $150 (after contract, of course).



[Via: WMExperts]

Unlock your Samsung BlackJack II's integrated GPS receiver to work outside of TeleNav

The good news is that the new Samsung BlackJack II rocks a full-fledged SiRF III GPS receiver - none of that cell-tower signal triangulation stuff here. The bad news, unfortunately, is that the GPS hardware in the BlackJack II is locked-down to only work with the bundled TeleNav software (AT&T’s way of getting more TeleNav revenue).
You see, there’s this driver, called GPS Intermediary Driver (GPSID), that Microsoft uses to serve as the communications middle-man between the GPS hardware and applications that need to access the hardware. While the GPSID driver seems to be configured to work with the TeleNav software and Windows Live Search, there’s no provision for any other application to make use of the SiRF III GPS module.

Well, BlackJack 2 hopefuls will be glad to hear that the MoDaCo Smartphone GPS Activator will open up the GPS hardware on your Samsung BlackJack II (and probably the Motorola Q9h) to a host of GPS-enabled applications. The MoDaCo hack will open up the COM4 port for GPS access, allowing you to use associate your favorite apps like Virtual Mobile Earth or Google Maps with the GPS unit.

Turns out, the MoDaCo Smartphone GPS Activator also Application Unlocks your Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard handset. That means you can re-order the applications on your Start Menu - bonus!

Oh, and if any Motorola Q9h owners out there want to give this utility a go, please drop us a line and let us know how it works.

Over-The-Air install:
Point your mobile browser to: http://modaco.com/gpsactivatorbj2

On-device CAB install:
Run this CAB file from your handset: http://content.modaco.net/MoDaCo.SmartphoneGPSActivator.COM4.CAB

Computer installation:
Run this executable from your PC: http://content.modaco.net/Setup.MoDaCo.SmartphoneGPSActivator.COM4.EXE

Props to Paul for this awesome hack!

[Via: MoDaCo]

AT&T Shows Samsung BlackJack II

At the CTIA show in San Francisco this morning, the wraps came off the rumored follow-up to Samsung's popular smartphone. The Samsung BlackJack II was shown at a keynote by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. The phone is slightly slimmer than before, and includes features like a 2.4-inch 320 by 240 pixel screen, a 2-megapixel camera, tri-band 3G UMTS/HSDPA and quad-band EDGE/GPRS wireless connectivity, and built-in GPS.

The phone runs Windows Mobile 6 (the previous version had Windows Mobile 5); AT&T says the device will be among the first to support Microsoft's System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, introduced today by Ballmer. The Device Manager provides companies with a means for managing and securing Windows Mobile devices, and for using devices over a Mobile Virtual Private Network.

The BlackJack II will ship by end of year and will cost $150 with a two-year contract (and a mail-in rebate). The phone comes in two colores: "red wine" and piano black.