The other day Samsung released the Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard update for the AT&T Jack. We downloaded the update file and with a little effort, updated the Jack to 6.5.

With very few exceptions, had I not performed the upgrade, it would be tough to tell the difference between the old Jack running WM 6.1 and the Jack running WM 6.5.

Ease on past the break for a few screen shots to see if you can tell the difference and our initial thoughts on the Jack's updated OS. 

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The Samsung Jack is still relatively new and slowly but surely, case options are showing up. We've taken a look at the Samsung Horizontal Case for the Jack and now we'll turn our sites on two Smartphone Experts shell-styled cases, the Snap-on and the Click. These two cases are hard shells with one sliding on to your Samsung Jack for protection and the other a two piece hard shell that encases the Jack.

Follow the break to see what type of impression these two hard shell cases left with us.

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The Samsung Jack is turning out to be a very good Windows Mobile phone, and Windows Mobile Standard remains an equally good operating system. The sliding panels of the Samsung Jack's Today Screen can put a lot of information at your fingertips, but I can't help but feel Microsoft missed the boat when it didn't put a contact panel on Windows Mobile Standard 6.1.

Have no fear, CHome Configurator will make up for the lack of a contact panel and then some. CHome Configurator isn't a stranger to Windows Mobile Standard and is a utility that will allow you to add, delete and modify the WM Standard Panels. To see how well CHome fits with the Samsung Jack, follow the break.

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Thinking about picking up a Samsung Jack? We don't blame you - the upate to the BlackJack series seems minor and we suppose it is, but the addition of WiFi and a speedy processor in a newer, smaller form-factor has us pleased.

There's more than a little AT&T-based hassles on this device, but not so many that we'd advise against it.  We'll have a full review up for you in the very near future, but in the meantime check out the hands-on video above and a big old set of photos after the break -- including comparisons to BlackJacks of yore, the Morotola Q9h, and the BlackBerry 8900.

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We'd seen Ozzy Osborne fiddling around with previous Samsung offerings - but they were featurephones.  Well now he's finally stepped up and gotten himself a real phone -- the Samsung Jack.  Said phone should be hitting AT&T's website for sale tomorrow -- anybody out there planning on joining Ozzy?

Oh, hello Samsung Jack on AT&T.  You'll be available on May19th for $99 after contract?  Sounds good!  You're actually a big upgrade to the Blackjack II?  How's that?  Oh, we see:

• Windows Mobile 6.1
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• Tri-band HSDPA (850/1900/2100) and Quadband Edge (850/900/1800/1900)
• aGPS
• 528 MHz processor, 256MB ROM/256MB RAM
• Display: 2.4 inches, 65k, TFT, Color, 320 x 240 pixels
• 5-way navigation with Turbo Scroll
• 3.2MP camera
• Dimensions: 4.4” L x 2.4 W x 0.5” D/Weight 3.6 oz.
• 1480 mAh battery - Talk Time: 7 hours/Stand-by Time: 12 days
• Connectivity options in Bluetooth 2.0 EDR and USB 2.0
• 16GB external memory support via microSD
• 3.5mm Headset Adapter
• An arguably better keyboard
• shorter than the BJII

Well, let's be fair, Jack, not all of those features are new.  But we're liking your looks and we're happy to see WiFi is in the mix.  Very happy to meet you.  Still no 3.5mm headset jack, Jack?  That's ok, we still think you look very svelte.  We're curious to hear about this "Turbo Scroll" thing too, do tell someday, ok?

What's that, you have a corporate-sponsored hands-on video?  Sure, we'll post it after the break. Anything for you, Jack.  A press release and a side shot too? Shucks, Jack, you bet.

(Update: Jack, you sly dog, the press release says you're upgradable to Windows Mobile 6.5.  We don't see a Windows Start flag button, though -- can you explain that one, Jack?)

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Our neighbors to the north are getting the BlackJack II (priced at $299.99 on a 3 year contract, $399 without. Canadian dollars, natch). However, they're not calling it the BlackJack II, they're just calling it the “Samsung Jack.” Why's that? We don't know for sure, but we suspect that it's related to the fact that Canada is the home turf for Research in Motion, who settled a suit with Samsung over the BlackJack name just over a year ago. We're not going to say that suing Samsung over using the word “Black” in a device name is a sign of fear, because it looks like it's Rogers/Samsung who are the nervous ones here.

Or maybe it's not so nefarious as all that, maybe Samsung is taking a page out of HTC's branding book, the page titled “Just call it whatever the heck you feel like.”

via Smartphone Thoughts