Samsung Epix (AT&T) first look

It’s about that time of year. Smartphones that were released in 2007 are reaching the end of their life cycles, and the new school of devices are lining up to take their places. Such is the case for the Samsung BlackJack II. While not officially being retired, the BlackJack II has seen its day, and a flashier, shinier model is now on the block: the Samsung Epix. While the two smartphones look largely similar on the surface, save for a couple of buttons, the Epix steps it up with a touch screen and optical mouse. It also ships with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition and adds integrated Wi-Fi. We wouldn’t call it a major overhaul, but the new design features add great value and provide a good user experience; plus, the smartphone offers solid performance. It’s a great messaging-centric smartphone for mobile professionals, but current BlackJack II owners could probably wait till they’re due for an upgrade (no need to pay full retail price) to switch to the Epix, especially since you can download a Windows Mobile 6.1 software update for your device. The Samsung Epix is available now from AT&T for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates and discounts.