When we say that the launch of the very first Motorola Milestone is a major milestone for the development of Android smart phones, we are making more than just obvious puns. The arrival of the Milestone (1), or rather, the Motorola DROID in the US, was a big thing for the Android community; a massively impressive handset using Google’s open source platform and comes with a physical QWERTY keyboard.
Not that the Android needs a keyboard in the first place –the only thing you need is a decent capacitive touch screen and you are good to go. However, the presence of a physical keyboard enables something else –the ability to type and chat without having to deal with a virtual touch screen keyboard. While some might say that newer virtual keyboards are becoming more efficient with the presence of technology such as SWYPE, the fact is that the lack of physical feedback is a major issue.
And that is why the arrival of the Milestone was such as big thing. Now, the Motorola is at it again with the upcoming launch of the Milestone 2. According to sources, the official launch of the handset will be on November 17 and right now, the device is already available on pre-order. Those who want that handset as soon as it launches can get it for 449 GBP SIM free though we can expect to see various contract offers for the device.
Specs wise, we can definitely say that the Milestone 2 is an upgrade to the original handset. The CPU is now up to today’s current standards with the 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 and the 5 mega pixel snapper is certainly going to make camera buffs quite happy. The only gripe we have with the device is the new design –which deviates from the rougher polish that the original Milestone had. But in terms of hardware and performance, the Milestone 2 has the definite advantage.
Posts Tagged ‘Motorola-MILESTONE’
Motorola’s Second Milestone is Over the Horizon
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010Android Froyo for Motorola Milestone: September
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
German owners of the Motorola Milestone will be happy to hear that the handset will be getting an update to the latest version of the operating system this coming September. The information has been leaked out from a Tweet by O2 Germany, and confirms that launch date for the Froyo updates for the Milestone and the HTC Desire.
Since the HTC Desire in the UK got an earlier update, it is also possible that the 2.2 Froyo update for the Motorola QWERTY keyboard toting handset might be arriving as early as the end of August. At least, that is what many folks are hoping so. At this point, Motorola and Google have yet to make an announcement regarding the launch of the Froyo update for the Milestone. The only thing that anyone can do at this point is to wait for the official announcement.
Anyway, as exciting as the new Froyo update may be, the Milestone is already a pretty great handset. The device comes with a nice big 3.7 inch TFT touch screen display with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels (slightly larger than on other devices). It uses an ARM Cortex A8 CPU clocked at 600 MHz, so users should not expect to be able to play huge games on this smart phone.
The new Android OS, Froyo is named after “Frozen Yogurt”, as such is the naming theme for the older versions of the Android operating system. The previous versions -starting with version 1.5, the Cupcake; the 1.6 Donut and the 2.0/2.1 is the Éclair. Each operating system version is named alphabetically and is named after sweets and desserts. The next operating system, version 3.0 is expected to be released by the end of the year and it will be named as the Android 3.0 Gingerbread.
Knowing Samsung’s 3G Trio
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
Korean manufacturer Samsung has been busy making new handsets, and they have three impressive mobile phones that 3G users would certainly want to look for.
First on the list is another US exclusive Android handset –one that we are hoping to get a UK version later this year. The Motorola DROID was originally released as a US exclusive too (though the DROID was exclusive to Verizon), the Samsung i897 on the other hand is an exclusive to AT&T.
While we are pretty much certain that the handset will not be coming out for other US carriers, there is always that big possibility that the device will get a name change, have a small new feature added in, and get shipped to the UK. And it is one phone worth looking forward to. This handset brings to Android users a nice big 4 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen (and we are hoping for a confirmation that it will be using the super AMOLED type), a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU and of course, Android 2.1 Éclair.
Samsung has also launched the new dual SIM smart phone, the B7722 handset. The device has already been released in China as the B7702 (despite the name difference, no particular differences in the two devices have been noted) and it is expected to already be available in the UK today. This handset will feature Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface, 2G and 3G support as well as a 3.2 inch touch screen display.
Last on the list is the new Corby 3G: the Samsung S3370. This low end TouchWiz handset is the perfect fit for anyone who needs a reliable 3G handset pronto. No fancy OS like the B7722, but at least the TouchWiz UI is reliable, has plenty of features and is fun to use. The device comes with a 2.6 inch touch screen and 1.3 mega pixel snapper.
Expansys Offers XT 720 Milestone this July
Saturday, June 12th, 2010
Motorola fans are going to be happy to know that the Milestone XT 720 Android smart phone is coming out on July 2 and that online retailer eXpansys has already confirmed that they will have the device in stock and ready to ship by that date. This is great news to anyone looking forward to this handset. While it was originally rumored that the phone would be released by the end of June, the launch date on July 2 is not too bad to wait for.
This Android handset is technically the second version of the already impressive Motorola Milestone. In fact, the two mobile phones look very much alike. Of course, when one pulls out the slide out keyboard on the older Milestone, the difference becomes much more pronounced –the XT 720 Milestone does not have a QWERTY keyboard. Instead, the phone loses the keyboard and comes out significantly slimmer and sleeker looking. Some might even claim that this handset is the slimmest Android handset to be released.
In exchange for dropping the slide out QWERTY keyboard, the Milestone XT 720 will be getting a new 8 mega pixel camera (a major upgrade from the older 5 mega pixel snapper on the previous model) as well as support for 720p video recording and an HDMI output port. This new phone is basically a media upgrade. Despite losing the keyboard, it seems that the new hardware adds inconsiderable weight, the XT 720 is said to be 160 grams –only 5 grams lighter than the original handset.
Losing the keyboard however, also has its drawbacks, typing on the virtual touch screen keyboard is not as fast –and anyone who texts heavily or is a frequent email user will want to stick to the older handset -the XT 720 is a better match for video and media fans instead.
Motorola Milestone XT 720 Announced
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
Motorola is coming out with a second version of the successful Android smart phone, the Milestone. The older handset was originally launched exclusively for the US network operator Verizon and later, it was announced to be shipping to the UK under a new name, Milestone. Naturally, this news made many Android fans happy since Motorola’s new handset design incorporated a very important new feature, a QWERTY keyboard.
As one would expect, the new Motorola Milestone XT 720 uses the Android 2.1 Éclair operating system (new update as to when it will be updated to Android Froyo, but it is almost certain that it will get an update later this year –unless it will be skipping version 2.2 and going straight to version 3.0 Gingerbread).
Oddly enough, the new XT 720 Milestone will not be packed with a QWERTY keyboard which is a very surprising decision from Motorola as one of the key features of the older Milestone was that it came with a QWERTY keyboard –a feature that was not common to Android smart phones. This will certainly be a disappointment to many fans who were expecting to have another great handset that allowed for ease of typing when it came to writing long emails and messages.
Since it lost the QWERTY keyboard, Motorola has brought in a few extra features to the XT 720. First off, the older 5 mega pixel cam has been replaced with an 8 mega pixel camera. The new camera also brings 720p video recording –and the videos recorded on the device can be played straight on your monitor or HDTV through the new HDMI output port on the handset.
In terms of other specs, the XT 720 is virtually identical to the older Android smart phone –so this new device seems like a Milestone “sleek media” version. In terms of size, there is a significant change in the thickness of the device though it still weighs a hefty 160 grams (the older phone was 165 grams) –the weight issue is mostly due to the new hardware on the device.
Carphone Warehouse Offers the Milestone
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
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.
Motorola 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.
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.