Hands-on with the Samsung BlackJack

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/12/31/hands-on-with-the-samsung-blackjack/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/12/31/hands-on-with-the-samsung-blackjack/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The date: November 16, 2006. The network: Cingular. Smartphone meets HSDPA for the first time on a North American market, with the Samsung i607 BlackJack launching alongside the HTC-sourced 8525. We headed down to our local Cingular corporate store on that fateful day, trying to get a feel for what (if anything) the landmark launches were doing for foot traffic and sales. Much to our surprise -- our very pleasant surprise -- the store is busier than we'd ever seen it, with virtually everyone in the joint inquiring about that sleek new Samsung with a keyboard they've seen on the telly. As it turns out, the store didn't even have any of the bigger, more expensive, less hyped 8525s; the curious customers and would-be customers had all wandered in on the strength of the BlackJack alone. By the end of the day, they'd sold out. What is it about the device that has everyone fired up? More importantly, is it justified?"</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/augusto-20070104-bj.handson.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br />Engadget Mobile has spent some quality time with the Samsung Blackjack and has posted a very interesting hands on review. I am quite pleased with the attention this phone has received as of late. Even my parents want one! In fact while I was heading to work yesterday, and browsing through my email, I was stopped by three different people that wanted to know everything there was to know about the device. The last device I saw to garner this much attention was the Motorola RAZR! 8O

[Jerry Raia]

The last device I saw to garner this much attention was the Motorola RAZR! 8O

I think we should refer to the RAZR as "the device that shall not be named" from now on. 8)

Seriously I think the BlackJack will be one of the devices, along with the Dash, that overshadows the Q now That Moto has decided all it needs to do is color it.

[Kris Kumar]

What are you talking about? The Dash overshadows the Q and the BlackJack combined! :D

[Mike Temporale]

It's interesting because I too have been asked a number of times about that new "blackJack" phone. And not just by other tech people, but also by people that don't usually care about these type things. I wonder what the attraction is?

[Jerry Raia]

I think it looks very professional. A classy device. :)

[Rocco Augusto]

What are you talking about? The Dash overshadows the Q and the BlackJack combined! :D

thats because everyone cant stop staring at its ugly black and silver body ;)

[Kris Kumar]

Ouch! That hurt. :(

Attention! Need backup....need backup. Attention! Calling all Dash lovers. :)

[Rocco Augusto]

Ouch! That hurt. :(

Attention! Need backup....need backup. Attention! Calling all Dash lovers. :)

no need to call the troops! i was kidding! i LOVE the dash and that black and silver body doesn't make it look fat at all! :lol:

[apeguero]

I'll be the first non-contributing editor to chime in. I've tried all three. The Q is history, has been, outdated, worn out. The Dash seems nice but, I don't know if it's the buttons or what but it seems a bit "chunky". There, I avoided the F word to describe the Dash :D . The Blackjack seems and feels a lot nicer. It seems to go well with both a pair of jeans and a t-shirt as well as a nice business suit. Plus it feels more solid and less plasticky.

One thing I did like about the Q was that one could scroll down the program lists without pressing "Next". I didn't notice that on the other two.

Oh, and Happy Birthday Jerry :)

[Kris Kumar]

....There, I avoided the F word to describe the Dash :D ...

Ouch! Ouch! :cry:

[Jerry Raia]

Oh, and Happy Birthday Jerry :)

Why thank you! :)

[WelcomeRain]

I got my Blackjack a little over a week ago and love it. My only complaint is that Cingular's instructions on how to set up AOL based IMAP email and their tech reps' knowledge about it is deficient and inaccurate. It took me the better part of a week to figure out on my own how to set up the AOL IMAP account how to send properly and then send and receive automatically. It is tricky but don't let them tell you it can't be done. It can. POP accounts are easy to set up but instructions in any case are confusing. In the end it was worth it and I feel like a genius since I got it to work. Great phone. I almost didn't buy it because the key board seems too small but it is surprisingly easy to use.


"The date: November 16, 2006. The network: Cingular. Smartphone meets HSDPA for the first time on a North American market, with the Samsung i607 BlackJack launching alongside the HTC-sourced 8525. We headed down to our local Cingular corporate store on that fateful day, trying to get a feel for what (if anything) the landmark launches were doing for foot traffic and sales. Much to our surprise -- our very pleasant surprise -- the store is busier than we'd ever seen it, with virtually everyone in the joint inquiring about that sleek new Samsung with a keyboard they've seen on the telly. As it turns out, the store didn't even have any of the bigger, more expensive, less hyped 8525s; the curious customers and would-be customers had all wandered in on the strength of the BlackJack alone. By the end of the day, they'd sold out. What is it about the device that has everyone fired up? More importantly, is it justified?"

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/augusto-20070104-bj.handson.jpg

Engadget Mobile has spent some quality time with the Samsung Blackjack and has posted a very interesting hands on review. I am quite pleased with the attention this phone has received as of late. Even my parents want one! In fact while I was heading to work yesterday, and browsing through my email, I was stopped by three different people that wanted to know everything there was to know about the device. The last device I saw to garner this much attention was the Motorola RAZR! 8O

[maka]

Currently using the Cingular BlackJack.. it is a nice looking smartphone BUT.. the battery life sucks! does anyone know how it compares to the Moto Q or the TDash. The BlackJack does have a neat Internet Sharing application that enable you to use your bluetooth enable laptop on cingulars 3G.

I will be the first on line to pickup the Cingular Treo 750wx 8O

I'll be the first non-contributing editor to chime in. I've tried all three. The Q is history, has been, outdated, worn out. The Dash seems nice but, I don't know if it's the buttons or what but it seems a bit "chunky". There, I avoided the F word to describe the Dash :D . The Blackjack seems and feels a lot nicer. It seems to go well with both a pair of jeans and a t-shirt as well as a nice business suit. Plus it feels more solid and less plasticky.

One thing I did like about the Q was that one could scroll down the program lists without pressing "Next". I didn't notice that on the other two.

Oh, and Happy Birthday Jerry :)

[Pete Paxton]

I'm a dash lover all the way. I loooove it's sexy round corners! I too get asked a bunch of questions about my Dash. I think I've unknowingly sold a bunch of them.

[jctune]

The Blackjack is probably the best WM device I've owned to date. It's small, comfortable to use, good sound quality, the key spacing works well for me. Samsung also came up with a couple of new homescreen plugins that allow for a collapsing page and for a sliding menu.

Unfortunately, I have to give it back. It's not supported by my company - I thought I was going to be able to hack it enough to get it to work (like I did with my 8125 before it was supported) - but no go. So it's off to an 8525 for me.

[Rocco Augusto]

just a quick note on battrry life, i noticed my battery life improved over time. i went from swapping my batteries out once a day because i was running each one into the ground, to only using one battery and charging it every other day. i havent swapped my batteries out in weeks!

i guess like all electronics, you just have to break them in :)

[Mike Temporale]

Currently using the Cingular BlackJack.. it is a nice looking smartphone BUT.. the battery life sucks! does anyone know how it compares to the Moto Q or the TDash.

The BlackJack is better than the Q but not as good as the Dash. If it really bothers you, there is an extended battery you can pickup.

[maka]

Really... did you have to do any configuration to save power, or just regular use and "breaking it in" provided better battery use!?! :o

just a quick note on battrry life, i noticed my battery life improved over time. i went from swapping my batteries out once a day because i was running each one into the ground, to only using one battery and charging it every other day. i havent swapped my batteries out in weeks!

i guess like all electronics, you just have to break them in :)

[jcjdoss]

It's interesting because I too have been asked a number of times about that new "blackJack" phone. And not just by other tech people, but also by people that don't usually care about these type things. I wonder what the attraction is?

My guess would be the commercial. Very stylish and cool

[Rocco Augusto]

Really... did you have to do any configuration to save power, or just regular use and "breaking it in" provided better battery use!?! :o

i haven't changed any settings or any usage habits. i still talk for a fair amount of time each day as well as download emails for 3 different email accounts every 2 hours and have another email account set up for push email and lately it has received a ton of spam so my phone is making noise every 10-20 minutes :lol:

i do make it a habit of closing all the programs i am not using via the task manager, but this is something i have gotten myself in the habbit of doing since my MPX220.

there has been reports in my city lately that cingular improved their towers so it could be something as simple as be breaking the battery in or the areas i travel to having a constant 3G signal so there is no switching back and fourth between GSM and HSDPA.

[maka]

Thanks!

Currently using the Cingular BlackJack.. it is a nice looking smartphone BUT.. the battery life sucks! does anyone know how it compares to the Moto Q or the TDash.

The BlackJack is better than the Q but not as good as the Dash. If it really bothers you, there is an extended battery you can pickup.

[jctune]

there has been reports in my city lately that cingular improved their towers so it could be something as simple as be breaking the battery in or the areas i travel to having a constant 3G signal so there is no switching back and fourth between GSM and HSDPA.

There's also a few radio settings you can change to improve battery life (one I've directly experienced, the other I've heard works).

In the windows directory there's an application AdminSettings.exe (you have to use a third-party file explorer to see it). Executing this application gives you a configuration menu that allows you to turn off either GSM or WCDMA. In Denver, we don't have WCDMA yet, so once I set it to GSM only my battery life improved dramatically. I don't know if there would be a similar increase if you switched to WCDMA only (although I've read that WCDMA takes more power than GSM - don't know if that's true or not).

There's also a "Network Order" setting. I've heard that if you set that to WCDMA first in markets that have strong 3G signals then the battery life is somewhat better - haven't been able to confirm though.

[maka]

Good points.. I believe here in the DC Metro area we use both! Will give it a try! :D

there has been reports in my city lately that cingular improved their towers so it could be something as simple as be breaking the battery in or the areas i travel to having a constant 3G signal so there is no switching back and fourth between GSM and HSDPA.

There's also a few radio settings you can change to improve battery life (one I've directly experienced, the other I've heard works).

In the windows directory there's an application AdminSettings.exe (you have to use a third-party file explorer to see it). Executing this application gives you a configuration menu that allows you to turn off either GSM or WCDMA. In Denver, we don't have WCDMA yet, so once I set it to GSM only my battery life improved dramatically. I don't know if there would be a similar increase if you switched to WCDMA only (although I've read that WCDMA takes more power than GSM - don't know if that's true or not).

There's also a "Network Order" setting. I've heard that if you set that to WCDMA first in markets that have strong 3G signals then the battery life is somewhat better - haven't been able to confirm though.

[kiwi]

And no one thought it was a Backberry?

I am sure my treo 750v (or if I had the Blackjack) will be mistaken for a fat Blackberry here in Toronto for a while by non techo's

:P