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yet another Microsoft blogger

# Tuesday, November 27, 2007

I'm mad as hell

How mad am I? I'm as mad as an A-list blogger with a video camera and a Kindle. I mean, watch the video... Scoble is angry mad at the Kindle. Imagine if he were using a Blackjack II.

So, I just got my Samsung Blackjack II today. While it has numerous improvements over the Blackjack I, it's also got major regressions. The biggest one of all is that they crippled Internet Connection Sharing, one of the best features of Windows Mobile. There are some other smaller ones (they removed it from the ROM entirely, there is no Internet connection sharing in the \windows folder). On the Motorola Q9h the application can be found in \windows but the shortcut is not there).

I use Internet Connection sharing to get my PC on the Internet whenever I travel, work or pleasure. It comes in super handy.

Now here is the kicker. Why would they (AT&T) remove these bits from the ROM of the device? The Motorola Q9h Global that I purchased for my wife has ICS right there, and these are both brand new phones that just came on the market from AT&T?

I HATE crap like this. It's stuff like this that really has me questioning our mobile device strategy. Is it any different from crapware infested PCees? Is Apple going to out do us here as well (arguably they have as soon as they turn on Exchange Active Sync, get 3G and support tethering and apps).

More later on how you can still get on the net using the old dial strings (*99# anyone?) as well as a more detailed review and comparison of the BJ II and the Moto Q9h Global.

update: updated post to reflect that ICS was remove from the ROM... it's not there folks, not in \windows like it usually is.

 

Tuesday, November 27, 2007 11:00:43 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
Have you considered that this is a decision made by AT&T and not Microsoft?
Praveen
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 11:05:11 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
When my Windows Mobile device was crippled, I found the easiest solution to be http://www.junefabrics.com/pdanet/ As I depend on my phone more and more, I did not want to mess around with dialing in codes and jumping through all of the other hoops, then to worry if something would go bad.

I have no affiliation to the company, other than being a user since have a crippled XV6700 several years ago... That being said, it is as easy to use, easy to set up and works as stated. I actually have it working via bluetooth even so that I no longer have to tether via USB (although I still do from time to time). The latest update supports WM 6 as well.

Hope that helps!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 11:29:38 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
This happened with my Tilt too. Turned out they only hid the shortcut, but the functionality was still there. I just had to recreate the shortcut - Greg Friedman showed me how ;)
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 11:34:03 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
BTW I can't believe he said he wants to beat the crap out of the person who designed the device. HAHAHAHAHA. Violent.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 2:54:38 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
Welcome to the world of American operators locking down your device so they can charge you for extra features that would have otherwise been free if you got the device straight from Samsung.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 6:48:47 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
There's a story behind this. In a nutshell, the capability is still there but AT&T removed the shortcut to the "Internet Connection Sharing" application, which is what puts the phone in tethered mode. You just need to create a new shortcut to \Windows\IntShrUI.exe. However, this may violate your ToS unless you subscribe to the PDAConnect plan.
Mike Powell
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 7:25:43 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
It's not in the \windows folder. It's gone from the ROM.

and PDANet does not work at all on the BJ.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 8:41:17 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
So I picked up the device just two days ago and I'm already frustrated with it as well. As you can see from my last blog entry, my battery life is AWFUL. I have to think I just got a bad unit as it's not lasting nearly a full day. I had to plug it in mid-day yesterday.

Other things I don't like: I want my side wheel back. I hate the shiny kids toy plastic they used. It just shows every greasy fingerprint possible.

But, it's fast.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 10:14:20 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
But tethering was NEVER really allowed, was it? I mean, I know Sprint explicitly forbids it in their terms of service, which is why I've never tried it -- even if it's possible technically, you're violating your contract, and lord only knows what kind of fees they may decide to slap on you.

To me, the carrier hard-disabling this capability is like Microsoft putting activation in Windows XP. The only people it pisses off are those who were doing something they weren't allowed to legally do.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 10:14:45 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
You should be able to copy the files manually over to your device. Try this:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=321393
Frank Kang
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 11:00:58 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
@Omar

Have you tried contacting their support? Originally, they did not support XV or the Q but once contacted added it... It might be worth a shot. Also, did you actually try it or is that because it is not listed? If the latter, many phones work, even though they are not listed.


Regarding Mike's comment. He is on to something there.. I think it depends on the company and the plan you have. Many times, they cripple the device and then sell you tethering for extra - above the data plan price. Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint do this I believe... However, if you have the unlimited data plan, and are using the phone as a modem, it would take a bit to determine the traffic is not reasonable.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 2:04:02 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
My Data Plan supports tethering, so yes, I'm actually paying for it.

Frank the hacks you referenced don't work, I've tried :-(
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 2:59:40 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
Well, if your plan includes it, than that is inexplicable bullshit, and you should be pissed; but it looks like you're already ahead of me on that score...
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 10:23:18 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
Wow, this is crazy. I'm glad you are still my guinea pig before I buy devices. I guess I'm sticking with my original Blackjack until you can find a workaround for me :)
Thursday, November 29, 2007 10:42:06 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
If you're on the data plan that allowed tethering and now you device doesn't tether, call AT&T. If you're looking to see if there is a way to tether, you'll have to go through several round of their tech support (seriously, be nice to them and just keep calling back - it worked for my BJ I which wouldn't connect to 3G).

Otherwise, have them drop you down to the non-tethered plan.
Monday, May 12, 2008 11:37:39 PM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)
I was using BJ1's for my business..

3 of my techs and myself use them, they carry laptops in the field with them, and use tethering to get online..

We upgraded my phone and my lead tech to BJ2's and they cant do it, we have tried everything, whenever he needs to get online he has to switch out his sim card to the old phone..

I want to upgrade all the rest of the phones, but Im not gonna until this gets sorted..

Does anyone have any HAcks or software we can download to the phone???
Mike Douglas
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