Samsung BlackJack II

[Archetype]

The good news is that the new Samsung BlackJack II rocks a full-fledged SiRF
III GPS receiver - none of that cell-tower signal triangulation stuff here.
The bad news, unfortunately, is that the GPS hardware in the BlackJack II is
locked-down to only work with the bundled TeleNav software (AT&T's way of
getting more TeleNav revenue). You see, there's this driver, called GPS
Intermediary Driver (GPSID), that Microsoft uses to serve as the
communications middle-man between the GPS hardware and applications that
need to access the hardware. While the GPSID driver seems to be configured
to work with the TeleNav software and Windows Live Search, there's no
provision for any other application to make use of the SiRF III GPS module.
Well, BlackJack 2 hopefuls will be glad to hear that the MoDaCo Smartphone
GPS Activator will open up the GPS hardware on your Samsung BlackJack II
(and probably the Motorola Q9h) to a host of GPS-enabled applications. The
MoDaCo hack will open up the COM4 port for GPS access, allowing you to use
associate your favorite apps like Virtual Mobile Earth or Google Maps with
the GPS unit.

Turns out, the MoDaCo Smartphone GPS Activator also Application Unlocks your
Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard handset. That means you can re-order the
applications on your Start Menu - bonus!

Oh, and if any Motorola Q9h owners out there want to give this utility a go,
please drop us a line and let us know how it works.

Over-The-Air install:
Point your mobile browser to: http://modaco.com/gpsactivatorbj2

On-device CAB install:
Run this CAB file from your handset:
http://content.modaco.net/MoDaCo.Sma...vator.COM4.CAB

Computer installation:
Run this executable from your PC:
http://content.modaco.net/Setup.MoDa...vator.COM4.EXE



From what I've read here is you get to keep re-ordering it for free. You
sign up for the 3 day pass. Then after it expires run the hack and it goes
another 3 days. Over and Over again.

[ShaneW]

My new BlackjackII uses the GPS locate in google maps just fine,
you can see it go from the big blue circle where you are "somewhere in
there"
to a really accurate dot. No hack required here.

[JTD]

Google Maps only uses a GPS if you explicitly enabled it (at least on
the devices I've tried), without a GPS connected Google Maps uses other
clues, such as the towers visible, signal strength, and wifi available
in the area.

It's surprisingly accurate even on my iPod Touch, which has neither GPS
nor cellular access.