Vaporware 2007: Long Live the King

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.wired.com/gadgets/gadgetreviews/multimedia/2007/12/YE_Vaporware?slide=5' target='_blank'>http://www.wired.com/gadgets/gadgetreviews/multimedia/2007/12/YE_Vaporware?slide=5</a><br /><br /></div><em>&quot;The BlackJack was one of the biggest smartphone stories of 2006. Upon release, it ran the tiny operating system du jour, Windows Mobile 5. Since then, a slew of new handhelds running the newer Windows Mobile 6 have surfaced -- the Palm Treo 750, Motorola Q9, HTC Touch and even Samsung's BlackJack II. A buggy black-market upgrade for AT&amp;T BlackJacks surfaced this summer, but it's a far cry from the real deal. Meanwhile, owners of the original BlackJack are stuck in version-5 limbo after seeing their WM6 dreams go up in vapor.&quot;</em><br /><br /><img border="0" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/spt/auto/1198279034.usr8.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />Coming in on the top 5 spot of Wired's Vaporware 2007 article is none other than, in my opinion at least, 2006's Smartphone of the Year! I think it is pretty safe to say that the new AT&amp;T will most likely never release the Windows Mobile 6 update for the original Samsung Blackjack. For those of you that are still using the Samsung Blackjack, it might be time to sell your old handset online and purchase a shiny new Samsung Blackjack II or Motorola Q9h Global. Christmas is only a few days away after all! ;)

[mbranscum]

For those of you that are still using the Samsung Blackjack, it might be time to sell your old handset online and purchase a shiny new Samsung Blackjack II or Motorola Q9h Global. Christmas is only a few days away after all! ;)

...or mayby tell AT&T and Microsoft to take a flying leap for screwing them out of a promised upgrade and change OS. Perhaps an unbranded N95-3 or (should I dare say)...the dreaded iPhone!!!??? :eek:

[mpaquette]

$349 for a Blackjack II? No way am I ponying up that kind of cash for a locked device.

[Sven Johannsen]

Not having a BJ, I didn't really pay attention. Did Samsung, or more accurately, the carriers ever promise a WM6 upgrade? Or was it just assumed. This wouldn't be the first time consumers were indignant about what they felt was an entitlement, surely covered in the Constitution, or something. Just asking.

Oh, BTW, one of the issues in the past has been specifications like 'upgradeable flash ROM' being read as 'we promise to upgrade your flash ROM, with any new anything that comes out, ever'.

[ksb]

For what it's worth, on 12/17 our AT&T rep gave me 12/24 as the BlackJack WM6 release date. Note, she's provided other dates in the past and been wrong (not that it's her fault), but at least AT&T is still telling its people that a WM6 update is coming for the BlackJack.

[mpaquette]

For what it's worth, on 12/17 our AT&T rep gave me 12/24 as the BlackJack WM6 release date. Note, she's provided other dates in the past and been wrong (not that it's her fault), but at least AT&T is still telling its people that a WM6 update is coming for the BlackJack.

I'm not doubting what you were told, but I'll believe it when I see it.

[waterman]

For what it's worth, on 12/17 our AT&T rep gave me 12/24 as the BlackJack WM6 release date. Note, she's provided other dates in the past and been wrong (not that it's her fault), but at least AT&T is still telling its people that a WM6 update is coming for the BlackJack.

I'm guessing this should suffice:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

good luck!

h2o

[mbranscum]

Did Samsung, or more accurately, the carriers ever promise a WM6 upgrade? Or was it just assumed.

Yes. It was announced by both.

[ksb]

I'm not doubting what you were told, but I'll believe it when I see it.Me, too -- no one should hold their breath for AT&T. That said, wouldn't releasing the upgrade in late December be consistent with how they handled the other WM6 upgrades for old equipment about a month after new generations were released? In the mean time, I've already switched to a BlackJack II; my old i607 is a shelf spare in case someone else breaks or loses theirs.

[Rocco Augusto]

While I would have enjoyed an upgrade for my Blackjack, the Beta ROM that made its way to the public domain proved to be a lot slower than WM5 on the Blackjack. While I am sure there were a lot of bugs to work out there is always the possibility that AT&T were never able to justify giving people a noticeably slower ROM upgrade over getting them behind a new device.

Sure it sucks, but it seems like we're having this very same discussion almost every year. I just expect carriers to never pull through on their announcements now. That way I'm never disappointed.

This morning I was talking to one of my friends that still works in the AT&T corporate office about this very subject and here is what he said:

"AT&T/Cingular were always in the business of making money and releasing a ROM upgrade after you put the gen 2 device on the market would prevent people from upgrading and so they lose money"

What I find funny about this, and was what I told him, is that the original Blackjack was released on the market for barely a smidge over a year ago. They do not let anyone upgrade until they are 21 months into their 24 month contract so it would be impossible for them to lose money on customers that would not be eligible to get the new device to begin with!

Once again, market bull is thwarted by basic common sense. Hopefully we get the upgrade but as I said previously, I just half expect the carriers to let us down now.

[Rocco Augusto]

I'm guessing this should suffice:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

good luck!

h2o

your link is broken ;)

[Mike Temporale]

My sources have told me time and time again that there is an upgrade coming. If they wait much longer, there won't be much point. :(

[rdecker]

While I would have enjoyed an upgrade for my Blackjack, the Beta ROM that made its way to the public domain proved to be a lot slower than WM5 on the Blackjack. While I am sure there were a lot of bugs to work out there is always the possibility that AT&T were never able to justify giving people a noticeably slower ROM upgrade over getting them behind a new device.


I guess I have a different experience. The latest version of the leaked ROM (November release) is very fast and stable. They also seem to have implemented a scheme that disconnects the data connection after a time of non-usage which has improved the battery life. The only bad thing was no ICS; that has been fixed with a .cab file patch so that feature is back.

Hopefully the upgrade will become official but, if not, I'm good with the latest version out there.

[rwl420]

One of the reasons I was not so eager to get the upgrade was that there was no ICS, which is really important to me. In fact the BJII omitted this great feature with the upgraded WM6.

Where can I find the patch that brings this feature back? It will be the deciding factor for me to upgrading to WM6. ;)

[Rocco Augusto]

Send me your email address in a private message and I will send you the .cab file.

Sorry but we do not discuss sending out illegal files on the forums! ;)

[acharn]

Sorry but we do not discuss sending out illegal files on the forums! ;)


but we can advertise our own accessories website. that's just plain hypocritical.

this site is not what i thought it was. i am ready for an upgrade of trusted websites.

[Mike Temporale]

but we can advertise our own accessories website. that's just plain hypocritical.

There's a big difference between promoting illegal material and promoting a accessories store. The majority of sites will not allow you to link to or sharing illegal ROMs. This opens us up to lawsuits from the likes of Microsoft and Samsung/Cingular.

I'm shocked and surprised that you can't see the difference between these two types of links.