At long last, the exclusivity deal of eXpansys for the Motorola Milestone has finally ended. Of course, if you already bought the device online when it first arrived last December, you can just move along.
Anyway, for many Android smart phone fans, the Motorola DROID is one of the most anticipated devices to ever come out. Not only did it mark the first time that the Android Éclair would be available on a mobile device, it was also one of the first Android phones to make use of a physical QWERTY keyboard. Combined with Motorola’s impressive design aesthetic which lent the device a heavy looking, futuristic appeal, the DROID the Android phone to have.
Anticipation turned to disappointment when it was later learned that Verizon would have exclusive hold on the device, not only was the phone locked only to the United States, but it was even tied down to a specific carrier.
Motorola was quick to sooth the angry voice in the UK by announcing that they would be bringing over the DROID –renamed and updated. The Motorola Milestone was UK’s very own DROID that came with multi touch functionality – a feature not present by default on the older DROID.
While having the Milestone brought over to the UK was a good thing, many people were disappointed with internet retailer eXpansys was able to snag the device for an exclusive two month contract. This meant that the only way to get the device was to order it online through eXpansys.
Now, the deal has ended and Carphone Warehouse is one of the first major retailers to have the device available to the public. No word yet on what the prices will be, but expect to get the Milestone for some pretty good T-Mobile deals if you do not mind a monthly phone tariff.
Read more about Carphone Warehouse and the Motorola Milestone at Stuff TV.
Archive for the ‘Motorola Phones’ Category
Carphone Warehouse Offers the Milestone
Thursday, March 4th, 2010Motorola Milestone Might Get an Update
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
The Motorola Milestone is one of the most impressive Android smart phones of 2009. Originally, it was thought that the Milestone would never be released in the UK. The device launched as the Motorola DROID, an exclusive device for US mobile network operator Verizon. A few weeks after the launch of the DROID, Motorola announced that it would be shipping the device to the UK under the name Milestone. Aside from a new name, the Milestone will also come with multi touch features enabled.
For fans of the Android OS, this was a major event since the Milestone was using the new 2.0 operating system of the Android. The Milestone had been at the forefront of Android technology and is still one of the most successful Android phones released. Now, it looks like the mobile phone will be staying on top of the game with the newly announced 2.1 patch update for DROID users. While this patch will not work with Milestone devices, it is certainly a good sign. With a patch for the DROID already available, it is only a matter of time before a patch for the Milestone will be released.
Aside from the Milestone, Motorola is playing a major role in the development of the Android OS as it has been reported that Motorola’s Shadow project might just be the mobile phone that will be renamed as the Nexus Two. It has been reported that the next Google phone will come with a physical keyboard and with Motorola’s track record with Android smart phones; they might be the perfect choice for the Nexus series.
The 2.1 update for the DROID is expected to come out sometime this week; Milestone owners are hoping for a February release of the update patch for the OS.
Read more about the Milestone and the Android update on Stuff TV.
Motorola and the Next Nexus Phone
Monday, February 1st, 2010
It has not been confirmed whether Google will continue using the Nexus name for its self-branded series of Android phones. After all, the Nexus One has provided the company with some pretty shaky foundations.
The marketing of the device made it difficult to obtain, with the Google Online Store exclusivity discouraging plenty of would be buyers from ordering and paying extra to ship the phone. There has been news that Google will not be delivering stocks to operators, and customers would be advised to go to the online store. Aside from that, the device itself has been encountering problems with connecting to 3G networks. While a fix is reportedly underway, it is still going to be quite some time before Google is able to iron out all the wrinkles. Lastly, talks with the Dick Estate (of Philip K. Dick –author of the book “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”) have yet to be settled; Dick’s daughter is still contesting the use of the name Nexus One.
Anyway, regardless of whether the next Google phone will be named Nexus or not, it is a fact that there will be another Google phone; and according to recent reports, it appears that Motorola will be the company manufacturing the new device.
Shortly after the launch of the Nexus One, rumors were that the next Android from Google would be an enterprise edition of the existing N-One. It comes as to no surprise that Motorola is reportedly working on the Shadow, a slim touch screen phone that comes with a physical slide out keyboard much like the Milestone (DROID in the US).
So far, specs on the device are scarce, but it is expected that the phone will be using either the 1GHz Snapdragon processor or something even faster (like the upcoming dual core Snapdragon).
Get the rest of the Motorola Shadow details from Tech Radar.
The Next Big Android: Motorola Shadow
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
While we all have been busy looking at the awesome wonder that is the Nexus One and have been looking forward to the release of the other Snapdragon powered Android phones such as the HTC Bravo with its 720p HD recording and the massive XPERIA X10 from Sony Ericsson, Motorola has been busy working on its own super Android device.
Meet the Motorola Shadow. This sexy looking phone (just look at the pictures) is promising to be one of the most interesting Android devices of this year yet. The phone will come with a full slide out QWERTY keyboard that will enable users to type long messages, emails and blog posts without tiring out their fingers with the on screen virtual keyboard.
The phone will come with a large 4.3 inch screen with a resolution of 852 x 480. The most interesting feature is that this phone will come with its own HDMI port, allowing you to play back the videos you shoot with its 8 mega pixel 1080p video capturing camera. So far, this is the highest HD recording capability seen in a mobile device.
Motorola’s Android and keyboard combo has started with the successful DROID (known locally as the Milestone). Despite the device not marketed for business class users, the presence of a keyboard provided an additional functionality to the device that many users enjoyed.
Big on the rumor mill are reports that the Motorola Shadow is actually the upcoming Nexus Two. While it has already been said that the next Android phone would have a physical QWERTY keyboard; neither Motorola nor Google has made any claims to support this belief. If this is to follow the trend of the HTC Bravo and the HTC Nexus One, then we might expect to see Motorola’s Nexus Two to have similar specs to the Shadow sans the HD recording capabilities.
The Motorola Enzo Does a Backflip
Saturday, December 19th, 2009
Motorola has an interesting new mobile phone. Originally called the Enzo, the new Motorola Backflip is more than your usual touch screen slider –it’s a Backflip phone.
Clamshell phones are easy to understand, just flip it open and you are set to go. The Backflip is a little more confusing. The keyboard is on the back half of the phone, the screen in on the front. The two sides can be folded out to create the typical keyboard and screen layout seen in other smart phones with touch screens and slide out keyboard.
What makes this phone rather awkward is the fact that the keyboard is on the back of the phone. While you can lock the keyboard when you are not using it, the feeling of holding a phone full of buttons on the back is not comfortable. It also sports a redundant touch pad on the back of the screen. The phone already uses a touch screen display, and having to use the touch pad just for scrolling is a bit of an ergonomic puzzle we would rather not get into.
Lastly, the camera lens is on the keypad. Yep, you can find the phone’s 5 mega pixel camera with auto-focus and flash LED on the 4 row QWERTY keyboard.
Weird, but interesting nonetheless –Motorola has yet to reveal when they would actually bring this Android phone out to the public. But they have already released plenty of pictures that showcase not only the odd-folding system, but also the device’s 3.1 inch HVGA display. The phone also runs on a 528MHz CPU, supports WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth accessories.
Initial reports show that AT&T will be handling the device and they have added in some interesting new features such as Yahoo! search (ironic), AT&T Nav, AT&T Music, and the AT&T mobile application store.
Milestone is Now Available
Monday, December 14th, 2009
Good news for all Android fans, the Motorola Milestone is now here and is available on retail. The only limitation is that it is only available on eXpansys, for how long this exclusivity will last is yet to be announced, but the important thing is that we can now try out the Android 2.0 Éclair.
The phone launched just in time. Google seems to have all but forgotten about the Android 2.0 by announcing version 2.1 rolling out of the development room pretty soon. This leaves the Éclair a few precious weeks of limelight before the OS is phased out (or, like the Android 1.5, it would stick around even while other phones have started using version 1.6). Anyway, this elusive phone finally made it to the UK after a very long time.
This phone was based on the Motorola DROID – a Verizon exclusive device for the United States. Much to the delight of Android fans, Motorola decided to bring the device to the UK and rename it to the Milestone.
The phone boasts of an impressively large 3.7 inch capacitive touch screen display. The screen is very responsive and capacitive technology means finger movements are easily tracked. The screen resolution is 480 x 854 pixels and it has multi-touch, an accelerometer and proximity sensor.
The 5 mega pixel camera comes with dual LED flash –making it perfect for taking shots almost anywhere. Geo-tagging is also available, just be sure to resize the 2592 x 1944 images before uploading them. The phone can also handle video recording up to 720 x 480 at 24 FPS.
The device supports both 2G GSM and 3G HSDPA, allowing users a choice of GPRS, EDGE and 3G network connectivity. It also has support for Bluetooth, A-GPS, WiFi, microSD cards (up to 32GB) and micro USB v2.0.
Milestone to Hit UK on December 7
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
The Motorola Milestone is making everyone excited, with only a few more days until the release date, many Android fans are already fantasizing about what apps and functions they will try on their very own Android 2.0 device.
Despite the recent announcement by Google that the Android 2.1 OS is on its way next year, many people have no chance to actually try out the new 2.0 OS. Most Android smart phones use older versions of the OS. It is too early to tell whether all the 1.5 Cupcake and 1.6 Donut devices will be upgradeable but right now, only Motorola’s DROID/Milestone is the only device with the new version of the Android. HTC’s Hero has confirmed that it will be upgradeable, but the device has yet to be launched.
Anyway, aside from being the only 2.0 device available, the Milestone packs some very impressive features. The screen is a nice 3.7 inches and has 854 x 480 pixels of high resolution, multi touch goodness. It is bright and it delivers excellent quality visuals. The slide out keyboard has an excellent layout and the buttons are spaced evenly for people with large hands. The buttons have a nice subtle click as feedback and keeps the typing pace in a nice, fast, rhythmic speed.
The device also features Bluetooth support for accessories such as wireless headsets and earphones. The 5 mega pixel camera comes with dual LED flash and auto focus allowing users to take photos without much setting up. A-GPS is also present and expect to see functionality from Google Maps using this.
The DROID was originally announced as a Verizon exclusive before Motorola announced that it would be renamed and brought to the UK. As said in the title, the UK only has to wait until December 7 for the release of the Milestone.
It is a Milestone!
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
This is what happens when a mobile phone arrives too late; I get flustered. After days of wishing that the Motorola DROID be released outside the United States, Motorola finally makes it known that they will be releasing the mobile phone in the UK under the name Milestone. This should be good news, if it was not announced a couple of days after Sony Ericsson confirmed the Xperia X10 to be running a Snapdragon 1 GHz processor and Google Android.
Why is Motorola bringing out the Milestone now? The sensible, and logical answer is that they did not know that Sony Ericsson would be coming out with the X10 announcement so soon. After all, are we all not yet done lamenting the disappointment of the just released X2?
It seems like Sony Ericsson knows how to truly work the crowd, their timing could not be better. Not only did they take the focus away from a major flop, they also indirectly sabotaged the released of a major competitor. The Milestone definitely needs to be released a few weeks ahead of X10 it Motorola has any hopes of gaining new footing in the Android market. Not to mention deliver a lower price too. Compared to the X10, the puny 600 MHz Arm Cortex processor on the Milestone will definitely drag it down.
Multi touch has just been announced for the Milestone. Maybe Motorola has a few upgrades added in with the localization. I doubt they will change the processor, but if they upgrade the existing hardware enough, the Milestone just might make a niche for itself. Right now, the world is still focused on the smoke and mirrors show for the Xperia X10. Personally, I’m dazzled too. Even without the hype the X10 promises to be one of the best phones this year, easily edging out the Milestone.
Motorola Droid to become a MILESTONE
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009Motorola were once one of the top mobile phone brands in the UK but in recent years seem to have been overshadowed by the dominance of Asian companies that have proven so successful at piling in every piece of technology they can into their handsets. Now Motorola is making a comeback with their own slider phone the MILESTONE, which also boasts the illustrious title of the first Android 2.0 phone to be released in Europe.
The MILESTONE is set for release in Germany and shortly after in Italy, although a UK release is yet to be confirmed. The MILESTONE has already made an appearance in the US under the name of the Droid where it has been met with high levels of approval. However, there are some marked differences to the US handset, most noticeably in the inclusion of multi-touch functionality (that had purportedly been omitted due to pressure from Apple).
Yes, this means that the MILESTONE features a capacitive touchscreen, and a very spacious 3.7″ one at that. The screen also makes use of gesture recognition and haptic feedback so that you can be sure your selection has been accepted.
Operating on a sliding form the MILESTONE comes with a full QWERTY keypad and has a much more robust feel than many slider phones of this nature on the market. Motorola has also bundled in a very nice 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flash and digital zoom.
The Android OS doesn’t come with any touch up or interface overhaul from Motorola, but this is fine as you get to enjoy the Google Operating System in all its glory. This includes all the new Google services to be bundled into the new iteration of Android.
Motorola is not messing about with their foray into the Android market, and having the first Android 2.0 phone should certainly give them an edge over the competition. Whether this will be enough to revive the Motorola brand remains to be seen, but from the looks of the MILESTONE it certainly ought to.
Motorola Droid The Full Specs
Friday, October 30th, 2009
The latest Motorola mobile phone set to run under the Android 2.0 operating system, the Moto Droid, was announced officially some time ago. Previously known as the Motorola “Sholes”, the device has a great name now, along with some great specs.
The Moto Droid arrives with a 3.7 inch capacitive touch screen display which sports a 854 x 480 pixel resolution, as well as a 16:9 aspect ratio, a very reasonable Arm Cortex processor which runs at 550 MHz, a 5 mega pixel camera with dual LED flash, auto focus and incredible TV quality video recording functionality, as well as a very slick slide out full QWERTY keyboard, and support for a microSD card in case you want some additional memory; this is especially relevant to those of you who use your mobile phone to film, as once you start it is going ot be hard to stop.
As far as connectivity goes there is Bluetooth 2.1, Wi Fi capabilities, a high speed USB 2.0, and the stock standard 3.5mm headphone jack. The Motorola Droid also has an inbuilt music player which supports all of your favourite formats, from AAC and MP3 all the way up to WMA and WAV.
The device measures 60 x 115.8 x 13.7mm and weighs 169 grams; which is quite reasonable considering the battery inside is a 1400 mAh which will last for up to 6.4 hours of continual usage before needing a charge, or up to 11 days on standby.
The Motorola Droid is looking better and better, and we can’t wait to see what other surprises are in store for us when it comes out of its box.