My Blackjack 2

BeeJive

david — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:45:34 +0000

BeeJive

BeeJive (sometime’s refered to as JiveTalk) has made a pretty slick mobile instant messanging client for the Windows Mobile 6+. It supports a wide variety of chat protocols and sports a easy to use interface that works well even on smaller screens (like the Blackjack II’s). I’ve replaced Palringo with BeeJive.. They’re very similar applications but BeeJive makes alittle better use of the screen real estate and I like how it notifies of new instant messages/updates to instant message conversations in the background.

BeeJive is currently FREE for Windows Mobile 6.x because its in beta — if/when BeeJive costs money I will most definitely switch back to Palringo.

BeeJive supports:

AIM / iChat
MSN / Windows Live
Yahoo!
GoogleTalk
ICQ
Jabber
MySpace

Much like Palringo (and most other mobile instant messanger clients) this application is a battery hog and will probably cut your battery life in half if leave it running in the background … So make sure to exit the program when you’re done using it!

The AT&T Samsung Epix (or what we though was going to be the Blackjack 3)

david — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:00:41 +0000

The AT&T Samsung Epix (or what we though was going to be the Blackjack 3)

AT&T quietly launched the Samsung Epix in the United States. The Samsung Epix is what Samsung is called what was previously the hotly anticipated Blackjack 3.

AT&T’s Samsung Epix Product Page

Samsung Epix Pricing:

No Commitment Pricing - $450.00
2 Yr Contract Price - $300.00 before discounts/rebates, $100.00 after discounts and rebates
- Online Discount - $100.00
- Mail-in Rebate - $100.00

SPBattMet (Battery Meter)

david — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:16:12 +0000

SPBattMet (Battery Meter)

Direct Download (Download Page)

After installing Windows Mobile 6.1 I decided to give Saman’s Smartphone Battery Meter another try. This battery meter puts a very thin battery meter at the very top of the screen. It gives you a really good idea how much batter life you have, much better than the default 4 bar battery meter that is default.

For some reason I didn’t like this battery meter as much when I was running Windows Mobile 6.0 - I think because it made the top icon bar feel too cramped.

When installing you may be notified that “this program was developed for a previous version of windows”. This is OK, continue installing.

After installing, restart your Blackjack 2.

(The battery bar is kind of hard to see in this picture, it’s much mroe visible on a smartphone screen)

Windows Mobile 6.1 Upgrade Troubleshooting Tips

david — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:30:07 +0000

Windows Mobile 6.1 Upgrade Troubleshooting Tips

Over the past week or so I’ve been seeing some comments come in from people that are having problems upgrading their Blackjack II smartphones to Windows Mobile 6.1 (WM 6.1 for short). This post is going to try to describe potential problems in the upgrade process and provide possible solutions.

If anyone has better solutions or any other troubleshooting tips, please leave them in the comments and i’ll try to add them to the post.

Thanks to everyone that posted in the Forums and commented on this post (there’s a ton of great troubleshooting info the forums and comments, its just a lot of info to wade through).

In order to run the Windows Mobile 6.1 Upgrade Software you should be running Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista. If you try upgrading using Windows XP SP3 or you MAY run into the “Evil Beep” problem described below! Samsung claims the upgrade will not work if you are running Windows XP SP3, however we do have numerous reports of it working (although we have several reports of the Evil Beep problem as well).

Disable all Anti-virus/Firewall software before performing the update

There are numerous reports that Anti-virus software/Firewall software you may have running on your computer may cause the WM6.1 update process to fail. Try turning all anti-virus and firewall software off before performing the update. After the update is complete, feel free to turn the anti-virus and firewall software back on.

I forgot to remove my SIM card before performing the upgrade

You will probably be OK (I forgot to do this when I upgraded my Blackjack II) - But I highly recommend that you remove your SIM card as instructed before performing the upgrade.

My upgrade process is taking a long time and seems to be hanging

After you’ve connected your Blackjack II to your computer and have begun the upgrade process, the “upgrade” should take around 10 - 15 mins to complete. If the upgrade’s progress bar seems to stop and and the elapsed time is at least 30 mins your installation has hung and you will need to start the upgrade process over. This usually occurs because you running Windows Mobile XP SP3. If you can uninstall SP3 and go back to SP2, do that, reinstall the Modem drivers and run the installer again. Note: If this happens you will probably not be able to boot into your phone, and will have to follow the next troubleshooting tip to continue with the upgrade. You may have to send your Blackjack II to Samsung (under their warranty service) and have your phone reset.

WM 6.1 upgrade software asks me to put phone into “Downloader Mode”

To put your Blackjack II into “Downloader Mode” he phone powered off hold down Volume Up + Back Key while powering on the Blackjack II. After you’ve put your phone into Downloader Mode, connect it to your computer via USB and run the WM 6.1 upgrade software again.If your upgrade fails again (hangs/freezes) try going throught he upgrade process several more time. Users have reported they’ve had to go through the upgrade process 4-5 times before a complete and successful upgrade occurs.

The “Evil Beep” after I boot my Blackjack II into Windows Mobile 6.1

Several users have reported that the upgrade process froze near the end, but they disconnected their phones and were able to boot into Windows Mobile 6.1 — HOWEVER, every 20-30 seconds their Blackjack II would make the beeping noise that we normally associate with unplugging the power adapter from the Blackjack II.This usually occurs because you running Windows Mobile XP SP3. If you can uninstall SP3 and go back to SP2, do that, reinstall the Modem drivers and run the installer again. Users that have fixed this have kept re-running the WM 6.1 update software until they get a complete upgrade without any freezes. Users have reported this may take 4-5 tries. If you run into the upgrade software asking you to put the Blackjack II into “Downloader Mode”, see the above trouble shooting tip.

Nothing works! I tried to upgrade my phone and I can’t get it to start anymore. It just displays a Samsung Logo.

If your upgrade process failed and you’ve been unable to boot into your phone using the troubleshooting tips outline in this post, you will have to contact Samsung Support, mail them your Blackjack II, have them re-flash it to Windows Mobilr 6.0 and have them send the phone back to you.
Samsung Mobile Phone Support
1-888-987-HELP (4357)
Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm (CST)
Sat: 9am-6pm (CST)

Mac and OS X users

The WM 6.1 upgrade software is a Windows application and must be run on a Windows computer. If you are a Mac user I suggest: 1) finding a friend that has a Windows machine and borrow it for 30 mins (the upgrader will in no way hard the computer) or 2) Bootcamp/VM Fusion/Parrallel into a Win XP/Vista install and perform the upgrade from there.

Canadian users

As far as I can tell this upgrade it tied to Blackjack II smartphones sold by AT&T so I don’t think Canadian users will be able to perform this upgrade.If you are a Canadian user, make sure to check out the Blackjack 2 Forums’ Windows Mobile 6.1 Upgrade for Canadian users thread.

Windows Mobile 6.1 Does Not Need Application Unlock?

david — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:05:53 +0000

Windows Mobile 6.1 Does Not Need Application Unlock?

On Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard, in order to modify restricted files on the Blackjack II, the phone has to be Application Unlocked. It appears that in Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard these files/folders/registries are already unlocked so there is no need to Application Unlock a Blackjack II upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.1.

I’ve tried a handful of hacks/mods out that originally required an Application Unlock and they all appear to work without and Application Unlock in Windows Mobile 6.1.

If anyone runs into a situation that requires their phone to be application unlocked (can’t write files, modify registry entries, etc.) Please add a comment to this post.

Also - If you’ve newly upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.1, I suggest you try out GPS without using the MoDaCo GPS Application Unlocker Hack and see if it works (I am going to try this and report back).

If you download/try something out on this site and it works in Windows Mobile 6.1, please leave a comment saying it works in Windows Mobile 6.1. I am working on a system for tagging posts as WM6.1-compatible and your feedback would be very helpful!

List of applications/games/hacks that NEED to your Blackjack II to be application unlocked:

MoDaCo No Data (Unlock Blackjack II with SDA Application Unlocker to get MoDaCo No Data to run)
AT&T and CV button replacement - Some users (including myself) are unable to modify files in the /Windows directory. Will require application unlocking phone.
TCPMP requires special WM 6.1 version.

Thanks and hope everyone is enjoying their Windows Mobile 6.1 installs!

Windows Mobile 6.1 Update Available for the Blackjack II

david — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:30:03 +0000

Windows Mobile 6.1 Update Available for the Blackjack II

The Windows Mobile 6.1 Update for the Samsung Blackjack II is finally here! You can download the updater application that will run on either Windows XP or Windows Vista using the links below. (OS X users, you’ll have to boot into Windows to run this patch!)

Thanks to pukka for starting the forum thread and thanks to everyone (especially Snickolaz) for posting in the comments saying that it’s been released!

Make sure you backup your Blackjack II before installing this update. Use either PIMBackup or Dashwire (quick Dashwire instructions available here, users withOUT unlimited data read this).

Update: I have successfully upgraded my Samsung Blackjack II from Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard to Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard using the above link (WinXP).

Trouble Shooting Tips:

Q: My Upgrader won’t upgrade my phone and keeps asking me to put it into “Download Mode”, how do I manually put my Blackjack II into this mode?

A : To put your Blackjack II into “Download Mode”, turn off your Blackjack II, then hold down Volume Up + Back Key while powering on the handset.

Q: After upgrading to WM 6.1 my Blackjack makes a beeping noise every couple of minutes (the same beep that is made when the power cable is disconnected), how do I fix this?

A: Re-Install the modem drivers (as specified in Samsung’s instructions) and re-run the upgrader.

15% off on the invisibleSHIELD!

david — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:15:19 +0000

15% off on the invisibleSHIELD!

Get the invisibleSHIELD

ZAGG is running a promotion where you can get 15% off your entire order on any invisibleSHIELD product using:

Coupon Code: iphone3g

This coupon code will work on invisibleSHIELD’s for the Blackjack II or whatever else you might want to get one for (not only the iphone3g as the coupon might imply).

After discount the Blackjack II full body kit is $21.21 and the Screen Kit is: $10.16

Read my review of the invisibleSHIELD for more details.

Blackjack II Windows Mobile 6.1 Sooner Than We Hoped? (I Hope!)

david — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:55:21 +0000

Blackjack II Windows Mobile 6.1 Sooner Than We Hoped? (I Hope!)

First off, let me say that this is all speculation and until AT&T and/or Samsung release an official statement!

King Fisher and rkmtnraz have alerted me to an update on Samsung’s Support Web site (Mirror, thanks germ) that suggests that the Windows Mobile 6.1 Update for the Blackjack II will be released sooner than I had thought!

Also Steven C. notified me AT&T has released the Windows Mobile 6.1 Update for the AT&T Tilt which lends even more credence to the notion that AT&T will be rolling out the Windows Mobile 6.1 Update for the Blackjack II soon.

All I have to say is I’m going to pissed if they release it this weekend since I’m going to be stuck in Florida for a wedding. Grr.

Of course there is no guarantees an I’m probably just getting everyone’s hopes up again like I promised not to. Sorry in advance

Skyfire Beta

david — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:24:46 +0000

Skyfire Beta

Get Skyfire Beta

Skyfire is in OPEN BETA. This means you can register to Skyfire and immediately start using the Skyfire browser. There is no longer a need to use a Beta key to access and download Skyfire.

Woo! I finally got my Skyfire Beta key — its only taken 3 months to get but its finally here.. and boy was it worth the wait. Skyfire is hands-down my favorite (windows) mobile browser. Skyfire takes a desktop web browser and moves it onto a mobile device. It’s similar to the iPhone’s Safari browser which renders web pages true to form and lets you zoom in and out to view different sections of the web page. This is how Skyfire works except the controls are a little more cumbersome when running on a non-touch screen device.

The thing that really amazed me about Skyfire was its ability to keep web pages looking and working just like they do on a desktop web browser. You can play YouTube.com video within the browser, use web sites that rely heavily on AJAX (I can even check MyBlackjack2.com and TheSmartFONE.com’s web stats in Google Analytics in Skyfire - and that is a VERY complex AJAX’d web site.)

Remember that Skyfire is still in beta so the client still has some issues. Since posting they’ve resolved some major issues including connection dropping and allowing users to download files.

Even in beta Skyfire has replaced Opera Mobile as my favorite browser.

MoDaCo No Data

david — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:16:01 +0000

MoDaCo No Data

Direct Download (Download Page)

The good people that brought us the infamous MoDaCo GPS Hack have done it again! They released another incredibly handy utility for all you Blackjack 2 users that don’t have unlimited data.

The MoDaCo No Data Utility allows you easily turn off your data connection so you don’t accidently use (especially while roaming!)

Note: You MUST unlock your phone with the SDA Application unlocker to use this program — Application unlocking your phone with just the MoDaCo GPS Hack/Application unlocker will not allow No Data to run properly.

No Data installs an easy to use shortcut in your Start Menu named “No Data”. Big thanks to Paul and the gang at MoDaCo for this handy app and thanks to Zak for giving me the heads-up about it!