Upgrading the Samsung Jack to 6.5

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.
Updating can be a challenge
Downloading the 119-megabyte update file was the easy part of getting Windows Mobile 6.5 on the Samsung Jack. As have many, I recently updated my computer to Windows 7 and after two failed attempts to install WM 6.5 I notice in the "troubleshooting" section of the update information that the installer does not support Windows 7.
Hopefully that won't be the situation for long and I was fortunate to still have another computer running Windows XP. Even with a compatible computer, the installation process was odd and not absent of challenges. (Note: You should be able to run the updater in "XP compatibility mode. Right-click to Properties, and then hit up compatibility mode.")
You need your Jack's battery fully charged and an ActiveSync connection established. When you execute the installer, it uploads a small file on your Jack and then the screen goes blank and a update progression window appears on your computer screen. The ActiveSync connection is terminated and in a few seconds your computer recognizes the Jack as new hardware requiring a different driver to be installed.
Navigate through the driver installation wizard and once the device is recognized, a connection is established and the "Start" button on the update progress window becomes available. Click on the "Start" menu to start to installation of Windows Mobile 6.5 and in about five minutes your Samsung Jack is rebooting with the orange screen of 6.5.
Not much to see ...
Again, had I not performed the update, I would be hard pressed to tell the difference between WM 6.1 and WM 6.5. The Home Screens are identical and navigation around the Windows Phone is the same. It's not until you move away from the Home Screen do you begin to see small indications of the update.
You will see Marketplace installed as well as Pocket Internet Explorer 6 and Vlingo. AT&T also saw fit to add a little more bloatware including AT&T's WiFi, Online Locker along with the customary demo apps.
There's also a difference in available memory with WM 6.5. You loose about 8mb's of on board storage with the update. This is likely due to the inclusion of Marketplace, Vlingo and the other additional apps included in WM 6.5.
There's a new radio version with 6.5 and new PDA version. The updated OS seems to be a little more responsive on the Jack. Power management has always been impressive with Windows Mobile Standard and over the past twenty-four hours it appears WM 6.5 is building on that tradition.
So why update?
If you're unable to update the Jack to WM 6.5 because Windows 7 compatibility issues, I really can't say you're missing out on much. You'll do fine as is until the Win 7 issues are ironed out.
While the update from 6.1 to 6.5 on WM Professional was more noticeable, on the surface, there is very little to the WM Standard update on the Jack. Instead it looks like most of the effort was focused on issues underneath the hood.
You do have an improved version of Internet Explorer and Vlingo is an interesting app. Memory and power management seemed to be the most noticeable improvements with the Jack moving along a bit quicker and surviving off a fully charged battery longer.
All in all, the update is an improvement for the Jack and while the changes are subtle, they are a step (all be it small) in the right direction. Hopefully, the Windows 7 issues will be addressed quickly but for those running Vista or XP, you can find the update over at Samsung's Web site (opens in new tab).
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george - thanks for this update! i put off the update when i heard about the win7 challenges and assumed the same problem existed for vista. you indicate vista should work fine, so i'll give it a spin. :-) on earlier blackjacks, there was a point in the upgrade that if one pressed some buttons during the restart, one could bypass all the bloatware - have you any info about if something similar is available for the jack and 6.5? also, do you think moble standard seems more stable and responsive than mobile pro? everytime i try a winmo pro phone it seems slower.
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i am using vista and i am having trouble updating
please please help ,
i noticed at some point of the install that it said press the j key.
and i did , and nothing happened .
it said i need : QUALCOMM CDMA DRIVERS?
what should i do?
thank you
john -
I was having the same problem with the Qualcomm CDMA Drivers. Here is what worked for me.
In connection settings, Make sure you have: "Allow connections to one of the following:" Checked off.
Select: "Com1" Mine was set to Bluetooth.
Once I made the change the update ran without a problem. -
Hadn't found a way to avoid installing the bloatware.
WM Standard does a lot behind the scenes memory and power management. In many ways it is more responsive than WM Pro because of that.
WM Pro isn't too shabby and has improved tremendously with WM 6.5. The slowness you've experienced may not be as evident with the newer phones. -
I did the update and Explorer went from lousy to relatively useful. This is a big upgrade. However, I can no longer seem to make the change to the FileSizeLimit to allow me to play mp3's as ringtones. Also, the security is locked. I needed to jiggle the security to one tier to allow software to synchronize Lotus Notes. I can no longer do this. So, two things I really used and one of them was essential. They are gone. I have a somewhat better browser. I am not thrilled.
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I am using Vista and I have so much trouble updating my phone. It keeps asking me for Qualcomm CDMA
Technologies MSM driver. I have no idea what that is. -
I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH SAMSUNG TECH. (3RD TIER ?)
AND THEY SENT ME THE DRIVERS YOU NEED TO INSTALL 6.5
INSTALL WENT OKAY, ALL GOOD. BUT I NOTICED ITS SLOWER THAN EVER NOW, INTERNET IS SLOWER.
I USE WIFI, AND STILL SLOWER ,
WAS IT ALL WORTH IT ?
I WILL FIND OUT ...... THANKS SAMSUNG........ -
Upgraded my Jack a few days ago. Windows Media player now moves at a snails pace when trying to play mp4 movies. Garmin XT moves at a snails pace when entering addresses. And when using voice commands, att navigator always opens up along with the requested command. Only positive is the battery seems to last longer.
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