The bill is meant to be held like a handle, and the crown of the cap is heavily weighted, in case you want to bust some skulls but don't have any pocket space for a normal blackjack. It's not really clear what's actually providing the weight; apparently it's a "unique material that is 110% the density of lead and will not rust," which is thoughtful, because a rusty baseball cap is a dead giveaway that something weird is going on. [Product Page via Fashionably Geek]

AT&T INTRODUCES SAMSUNG EPIX™, THE FIRST SMARTPHONE WITH BUILT-IN OPTICAL MOUSE

Tags: Epix, news release, samsung epix, SGH-i907

New Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Handset Boasts State-of-the-Art Features Including Wi-Fi, Built-in aGPS, Video Share and 2.0 Megapixel Camera

DALLAS, Oct. 21, 2008 — AT&T customers can now have a smartphone of “epix” proportions. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announced today the availability of the Samsung Epix™, an innovative new smartphone featuring both an advanced touch screen and new optical mouse technology that is powered by AT&T’s 3G network, the nation’s fastest, and the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system.

The Epix, which is available exclusively to AT&T customers in the U.S., provides users with a choice of ways to navigate its touch screen, including the first-ever implementation of optical mouse technology on a phone sold in the U.S. Located in the center of the device between the right and left soft keys, the optical mouse allows for quick and easy navigation by simply sweeping a finger over it. To make a selection, a single click will bring users to their desired location within the phone’s menus. The optical mouse can also be switched to a four-way navigation key for more traditional navigation. For those who would rather interact directly with the touch screen, they can either use their finger to navigate or the Epix’s built-in stylus for pinpoint accuracy.

The Epix, which has a cool silver finish, follows a long line of robust and groundbreaking crossover smartphones from AT&T and Samsung Mobile. The Epix is a next-generation, sleek, stylish and compact handset. It brings users the ease of use of a personal computer with Windows Mobile 6.1 to a slim pocket-sized device that is perfect for today’s on-the-go mobile consumer.

In addition, the Epix boasts an impressive feature set, which includes:

* Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g) — to connect with home or campus networks or access more than 17,000 AT&T hot spots nationwide, including at thousands of participating Starbucks locations.

* Built-in aGPS — for use with AT&T Navigator, AT&T Navigator Global Edition and other GPS-based applications for personal and business use.
* AT&T Video ShareSM — the first-ever service in the U.S. that allows users to share live video over wireless devices while participating in a voice call, so they can share family moments, monitor progress on a job site or review the day’s work without having to leave the office.

* Global Capabilities — when abroad, AT&T customers can use the Epix to make or receive a phone call in more than 200 countries and check e-mail, browse the Web or perform other data functions in more than 150 countries, including in more than 60 — such as Japan and South Korea — that have deployed 3G networks.
* 2.0 Megapixel Camera — with video-capture capabilities.
* Slim, Light Form Factor – Equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard, the Samsung Epix measures 4.6 inches x 2.4 inches x 0.5 inches, weighs just 4.4 ounces and includes a large 2.5-inch TFT color display.

The Epix also provides users with access to multiple e-mail accounts with Microsoft Direct Push for corporate users and AT&T Xpress Mail, which includes access to most major personal e-mail accounts. The Epix also offers over-the-air synchronization of contacts, calendars and task lists with Microsoft Exchange Server or Xpress Mail and support for Good Mobile Messaging.

“The Samsung Epix provides AT&T customers with the choice of the cutting-edge capabilities of a touch screen and optical mouse combined with the convenience of a QWERTY keyboard,” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Business Mobility Products for AT&T’s wireless unit. “AT&T and Samsung have had a very successful history of bringing innovative smartphones, such as BlackJack™ and BlackJack II™, to market and the Epix is no exception. We’re sure that the Epix will resonate equally well with AT&T customers.”

“Samsung developed this phone with the business user in mind,” said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Telecommunications America. “Users want a device that they can take on the road with them. The Epix allows you to never miss a beat at the office, stay in touch with colleagues and family and enjoy entertainment.”

Personal Computer in a Pocket-Sized Design

With Windows Mobile 6.1, the Epix brings a powerful personal computer experience to a compact device. Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile keeps people connected with synchronization of schedules and contacts, Internet Explorer Mobile provides improved quick and easy Web browsing and Office Mobile enhances productivity with the ability to manage Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents. Additional Windows Mobile 6.1 features on the Epix include threaded SMS messaging, Internet connection sharing, mobile banking and Voice Command.

The Samsung Epix also supports Microsoft’s System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, an enterprise-grade mobile solution for managing and protecting Windows Mobile 6.1 phones. Mobile Device Manager provides users with software distribution capabilities and security-enhanced access to company data while they are away from the office.

“People increasingly need powerful phones to be able to stay in touch with their work and personal lives,” said Todd Peters, vice president of marketing, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft. “The Epix continues Samsung’s tradition of sleek, versatile devices that appeal to our shared customer and adds to the already expansive portfolio of Windows Mobile phones on AT&T.”

Instant Access to Entertainment

In addition to being a feature-rich communications tools, the Epix is a multimedia and entertainment powerhouse. Epix users have access to AT&T Mobile Music, an integrated, on-the-go music experience that delivers “your music, your way” by providing simple access to a robust collection of music content, including access to online subscription music content from Napster Mobile®, XM Radio Mobile™ and more.

For the visually oriented, CV (Cellular Video) from AT&T gives viewers access to thousands of video clips — news, sports, weather, entertainment, premium HBO MobileSM content and more — via streaming video. Those who prefer full-length streaming video programming can access MobiTV.

The Epix also includes features such as stereo Bluetooth® technology, with stereo headset support, a 2.0 megapixel camera with video-capture capabilities, Windows Media Player 10 Mobile and microSD™ memory card slot for external storage of up to 32GB of data. The Epix also features a built-in 1800 mAh battery to ensure users can maximize their productivity and stay entertained.

Backing the Epix is the AT&T BroadbandConnect 3G network, which currently is available in more than 32 major metropolitan areas in the U.S., and by year-end, AT&T expects to offer the service in nearly 350 leading U.S. markets. The network’s HSPA-based technology allows Epix users to perform data functions and conduct a phone call simultaneously. In addition to 3G connectivity, the Epix is also designed to connect seamlessly with AT&T’s nationwide1 EDGE network, which is available in more than 13,000 cities and towns and along some 40,000 miles of major highways.

Pricing and Availability

The Samsung Epix will be available through select AT&T retail locations or at http://www.att.com/wireless for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a mail-in rebate. For more information, please go to www.att.com/samsungepix.

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.

[Samsung

The table comes pre-configured with blackjack and Texas Hold Em' and can deal up to 50 hands in an hour. It can even allow users to play both games simultaneously. In other words, it completely eliminates the need for cards, chips and a dealer for maximum gambling efficiency. Games like this are already available in many casinos, but if you want to get one for your home, you had better fine-tune your card-counting system, because it will cost you around $30,000. [Play Hard Gaming via BornRich]

The Price: $149 with two-year contract.

The Verdict: There's not much about this in terms of general speed and build that we haven't said already in the first hands-on, but here are the things we didn't cover. The 3G is super speedy and pulls down emails and web pages like a champ. Sound quality is on par with other Windows Mobile phones (namely, it's good), and its battery is also much improved over the BJ1, lasting over the weekend on one charge—with us making a handful of calls and doing a little web browsing and Google mapping. The GPS is pretty awesome when used with the free Google Maps, but has a bit of trouble getting a signal around my apartment. It's fine when you're out on the road, even though you're not really supposed to be using this while driving. For this amount of performance (speediness) and functionality (GPS, 3G), the BlackJack 2 is a pretty good deal at $149. If you're a fan of the BlackJack platform, this isn't a revolutionary improvement, but it's definitely a solid evolutionary one. [AT&T]

The official word is that there is not going to be a recall, but users of a small number of BlackJack devices purchased between Nov. 2006 and Feb. 2007 may be entitled to an exchange if they are experiencing an inordinate amount of dropped calls. If that sounds like you, check out the official Q and A below.

Q: What is the nature of the product advisory issued by ATT and Samsung regarding the SGH-i607 BlackJack?
A: First, there is no recall of product. Some customers who purchased the Samsung BlackJack i607, which was manufactured during the months of November 2006 - February 2007, may find they are experiencing dropped calls or poor signal reception.

Q: What should I do if I am experiencing these issues with my BlackJack phone?
A: If you are experiencing these issues, contact AT&T's Exchange by Mail (XBM) program at 1-800-801-1101. The XBM representative will assist customers with devices built in the timeframe by exchanging their device for another.

Q: How can I tell when my phone was manufactured?
A: The date will be located on the lower right hand side of the identification sticker in the battery compartment. It is in the format of yy.mm.

Q: What has Samsung done to correct the issue?
A: Samsung has implemented some design changes to fix these issues and there have been no issues with call performance with all new hardware manufactured from and after March 2007.

We liked the scroll wheel (think the original circular movable wheel of the original 1G iPod) that let us scroll around. It's not as convenient as having a touchscreen, but it's good enough. The screen, although 320x240 resolution, is still large enough at 2.4 inches to clearly display Barbara Walter's mug on the on-board Slingbox Mobile app. We couldn't test the GPS since the phone was bolted down, but Telenav was fantastic when we tested it with the AT&T Tilt earlier this month. So far the BlackJack II is a decent, if similar, follow-up to the original.

BlackJack WM6 Update: Q3 at best [WMExperts via Boy Genius Report]

Product Page [Via Bargainist]

I am not a Blackjack user, but I happily salute and applaud companies that include the extended batteries with their products. Lets just hope more companies catch on. –Travis Hudson

Blackjack Now Shipping with Extended battery? [CG]

The same old problems still haunt the Motorola Q on Sprint. A lack of dedicated volume controls and awkwardly placed backspace key mar an otherwise just-ok design. The Motorola Q is also wider than the Samsung BlackJack (available from Cingular), another popular consumer-oriented smartphone. Also, Sprint's Q was quite a bit slower than Verizon's offering. Kinda lame, Sprint.

At the end of the day, if you're a Sprint customer, the Motorola Q isn't a terrible deal. It's no better than Verizon's Q (and is worse in the aforementioned respects) and the BlackJack actually makes use of Cingular's music and video service, something the Q doesn't do on either service. Essentially, tread this way only if you have to. – Nicholas Deleon

Sprint MOTO Q [Laptop]

Press Release [Sprint via Everything Motorola Q]

While the release of Dash and BlackJack-compatible Sling software is nice and all, there's still no sign of BlackBerry support. Not like that's a popular brand or anything. Show some hustle, Sling. – Nicholas Deleon

Download Page [Sling via Zatz Not Funny]