The new Windows Mobile Standard 6.1 smartphone from Samsung is here...and it looks a heck of a lot like the Motorola Q, doesn't it? That's not a bad thing, mind you, but it's still somewhat surprising to see. Dubbed the Samsung Jack, this phone has the same name as the Blackjack II in Canada. That's right, Samsung decided to give it the name of a previously released product. Maybe they thought no one would notice. I predict they'll do something crazy like call it the Jack II in Canada, further confusing anyone that does a search for this phone. But hey, enough harping about the name - what's it got under the hood?
It's not radically different from the Blackjack II: the Jack has more RAM, 256 MB to be precise, and an unknown amount of storage ROM (I suspect 256 MB as well). Why all the RAM? Because it's going to support Windows Mobile 6.5 when it comes out later this year - Samsung's exact wording from the press release is "The Samsung Jack will also be upgradable to Windows Mobile 6.5." Note that Samsung stopped short of committing to offer a free 6.5 upgrade as HTC has done - so it's anyone's guess as to whether or not Samsung will release an upgrade. We know how often the OEMs change their mind when it comes to upgrades.
Other hardware features include a 3.2 megapixel camera (no mention of a flash), 802.11b/g WiFi, aGPS, 3G GSM, and a microSDHC card slot for expansion. Nothing very exciting hardware-wise, and other than WiFi (which is great!) no fixes to the hardware limitations from the Blackjack II. There's still no 3.5mm headphone jack. It still uses the proprietary Samsung power/sync connector. There's no mention of the screen size or screen resolution, but it looks like it's the same as the Blackjack II.
So if you're a Blackjack II owner, unless you really want WiFi, there's nothing much new here - once Windows Mobile 6.5 is released, presuming Samsung offers an upgrade, this phone might get more interesting. I'm a fan of my Blackjack II - it's a great workhorse - but it sure doesn't have the "wow" factor that the newer touch-screen phones from HTC have. After the break there's a YouTube video from an AT&T employee that shows you what the phone looks like. I've also screen-capped an image that shows that the Jack is shorter, and perhaps a bit thicker than the Blackjack II.
The Jack will be available from AT&T on May 19th for $99.99 USD after a mail-in rebate with a two-year contract. No word on the pricing of it without a contract - I suspect somewhere around $399. The full press release can be found over on MobilitySite.
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I thought that in order for a phone to be eligible for 6.5 it has to have a dedicated Windows button. The Jack doesn't have this so how is Samsung claiming it can be upgraded to 6.5?
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I thought that in order for a phone to be eligible for 6.5 it has to have a dedicated Windows button. The Jack doesn't have this so how is Samsung claiming it can be upgraded to 6.5?
Yeah, someone else I know asked that same question - I have no answer for you, but if I do learn the answer, I'll pass it along.
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Any idea what the AT&T key does? Bring up a branded menu of services?
I've never seen an operator key on a UK phone before.
Usually the AT&T key (I assume you mean the little AT&T world logo button) leads to Media NET, an AT&T portal. It is really just a custom homepage for IE, and you can remap it in settings. At least that's what it was on my Samsung Epix.
I seem to remember that Eric Lin of HTC stated in that Akihabara set of interviews also couldn't state if the HTC Snap would be upgradable to Windows Mobile 6.5 (as was confirmed about the touch screen devices Diamond 2 and Touch Pro 2 that are released about the same time).
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I seem to remember that Eric Lin of HTC stated in that Akihabara set of interviews also couldn't state if the HTC Snap would be upgradable to Windows Mobile 6.5 (as was confirmed about the touch screen devices Diamond 2 and Touch Pro 2 that are released about the same time).
The main thing that I want out of 6.5 is the browser and the marketplace.
As to the Jack, I love it. My only comment that I think I may need a bigger battery. I will admit that I'm using it pretty intensively, but I can barely make it through my work day.
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As to the Jack, I love it. My only comment that I think I may need a bigger battery.
I'm recharging mine about every three days or so...which is about average for this type of device. If you're recharging it every day, you must be using it a LOT.
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AT&T Releases the Samsung Jack
The new Windows Mobile Standard 6.1 smartphone from Samsung is here...and it looks a heck of a lot like the Motorola Q, doesn't it? That's not a bad thing, mind you, but it's still somewhat surprising to see. Dubbed the Samsung Jack, this phone has the same name as the 
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