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When you do something right the first time, you don't need to overhaul it for the next version. The Samsung Blackjack quickly became a favorite when it was introduced, as it was an attractively compact smartphone that ran over AT&T's zippy 3G network. Now, the second version has been released, and while it offers important new features, it's more fine-tuning than a massive overhaul.

The Blackjack II measures 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.5 inches and weighs 4.1 ounces., so it's easy to slip it in a pocket and go. You'll get a 2.4-inch, 320 by 240 pixel display and a full QWERTY keyboard that makes thumb typing simple. The number keys are now placed together, instead of spaced rows apart as with the original Blackjack, which makes dialing easier.

On the front is the same button configuration as before, with dedicated Home, Back, Call Start, and Call End buttons, as well as to contextual soft keys. This arrangement surrounds a new navigation dial, which you can scroll in a circle or tap to move through menus. Chances are you'll find one preferred way and stick to it, but it's nice to have the option.

The left side holds the volume buttons and the proprietary headphone and power port. We're no fans of proprietary anything, and it would have been nice to have a standard headphone port. The package doesn't include earbuds, so it feels like gouging.

The right side holds only the microSD slot and the top holds only the power button. As long as we're talking about the power button, it's incredibly irritating that the Blackjack II makes a loud whooshing sound, like rockets in flight, whenever it's turned on or off.

AT&T is trying to emphasize the speed of the 3G network, but we could only think how embarrassing it would be to turn your phone off in a quiet theater: Enough with the start-up and shut-down sounds, phone makers.

The Blackjack II comes with a charger, USB cable, and replaceable battery. Battery life, one of the few sticking points with the original model, has been improved. Expect to get a big 7 hours of talk time or 14 days of standby.

Besides the battery, several small improvements make the Blackjack II more of a pleasure to use.

For one, the camera has been improved from 1.3 to 2 megapixels, resulting in more detailed images. Also, the phone now includes a GPS chip built-in.

That doesn't mean that it acts as a GPS navigator out of the box, however, so don't be confused. It means that it can work with GPS programs, which cost an extra fee. We tried it with the Garmin Mobile XT, which you buy on a microSD card, and it worked fine.

If you're going to use it for navigation, however, you should invest in a universal suction cup mount. Otherwise, you'll have to hold the phone while you're driving, and that's both unsafe and a pain.

The Blackjack now runs Windows Mobile 6 and features a more powerful processor (260-MHz instead of 220-MHz). While we'd love to see a standard audio jack on the next version, this revision has certainly cemented the Blackjack's hold as one of the top Windows smartphones.

Right now, it sells for a very reasonable $99.99 with a two-year agreement and after a $100 mail-in rebate.