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TELUS Motorola Milestone Video Review
The TELUS Motorola Milestone is one of those sought after devices that will be launching very soon. In our first review we showed you the Milestone hardware and believe it’ll last you several years in both design and durability. Key features of this Android-powered Smartphone are the 3.7 inch WVGA display (resolution is 480×854) and you’ll see in the video below it shows movies and pictures with great clarity, QWERTY slide-out keyboard and that it can pack up to 32GB with a microSD card.
When it comes to the OS, the version that’s loaded in the one we’ve got is 2.0.1. Some notable features of this are the unlock screen, power control widget, improved stability and battery life (1400 mAh Li Ion) and the media gallery. With all Android devices you have quick access to sync your e-mail (Gmail, POP, Exchange), contact, calendar. In addition, text messaging and picture messaging is a joke and incredibly easy.
The Milestone’s slider is one of the best around but one concern I still have is the physical QWERTY keyboard. I find the keys really small and close together. There is a 4-way directional pad that I’ve used for about 20 seconds in total. The directional pad takes up about 1/5 of the real estate on the Milestone and if it was eliminated it would give room to expand the keys and add more dedicated one-touch buttons for the web, Android Market etc… I’m also finding that one of the keys is already lifting above the keyboard. What is nice is the touchscreen QWERTY keyboard… now this is really responsive and you can actually type faster using it. The Milestone also comes loaded with auto-correct in case you type your words incorrectly.
With it’s 5 megapixel camera (auto focus, dual LED flash 4x zoom) has good quality to it. You can check out the videos that were upload directly from the device. Sound quality was good but more importantly the picture capabilities we well represented. With this OS version you’ll see your media all lined up in an easy to use format which makes it pleasant to look at.
When it comes to surfing the web, the Milestone again is top notch as it renders full HTML websites and has WiFi. The best part is that is uses the entire 3.7-inch display, has multi-touch and you can pinch and zoom to the exact location you want. No area is compromised when this was put together. We captured a few sites and also streamed a video from YouTube to show you how it looks on the device.
Other features are Google Maps and MotoNav for all your GPS needs, the Music Player that can hold all your music (the Milestone has the ability to hold up to 32GB with a mircoSD card). Th Motorola Phone Portal lets you control your device straight from your computer – either by USB or a WiFi signal.
Overall I’m impressed with the Milestone. It’s by far the best Android that will be available in Canada and offers both a QWERTY physical and touchscreen keyboard. I’m sure when OS 2.1 is released this will have the benefit of being upgraded. Rumours are that this will launching on February 18th at the following price plans: $199 on a 3-year contract and $549 outright.
Check out the video below (the quality will improve when YouTube has finished processing)
Discussion
43 comments for “TELUS Motorola Milestone Video Review”
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Sweet, now if only it will launch.
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now the big question is when is it coming out?? WHEN???? god damn telus taking their sweet time!!
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I like the phone but I don’t think the the best out there. I would have liked to see the directional pad on the other side, it would have been nice for playing games.
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Hopefully Telus will not drop the ball like Rogers when it comes to updates for this phone. This whole 911 problem and cutting off phone services ordeal regarding my HTC Dream has been a nightmare! I will be switching to another carrier when my contract ends with Rogers.
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Nice review so when will you be giving one of these way?
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Can’t wait. Hopefully the 18th was right.
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Thanks for the review.
This may be just me but the browser did not look very impressive. The scrolling and zooming appeared VERY choppy.
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I forgot to ask, was this actually running on Telus’ network or were you using WIFI?
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Looks like he was using wifi
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How long is Telus’ exclusivity deal for this phone? when ( if ever) will it be available to Bell customers?
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Thanks for the review. Can’t wait to get the phone and start playing with it. Do you know if you can root the phone, and is it digitally signed like the other milestone versions?
Great to see it comes with 2.0.1 though.
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Personally, I think the X10 has more to offer…..if it ever comes out!
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Probably will have a 6 month exclusive and it as of today it is retailing for $599.99 outright.
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Tam,
The root part depends on the build number; if it’s 1.14 we’re good to go and can root (has buggy recovery partition that allows exploit). If they shipped it with build 1.15 (or later) it’s very unlikely that it will be rootable (for now at least).
Most other countries’ updates have been 1.14 so there is a chance.
As for the signed boot/recovery and other partitions, they likely will be. Every other Milestone has been this way and I don’t see why Moto would decide to make the Canadian one any different.
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Paid apps please. I think I’m going to get wind tonight.
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Would you recomment this or the lg eve? I am only 14 and new to smartphones (PLEASE TAKE PRICE IN DEEP CONSIDERATION)
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so can the reviewer tell us if it’s 1.14 or 1.15 system built ?
thanxs
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Frank,
What will you use your phone for the MOST?
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John,
With root access you can get paid apps now.
As for WIND, this phone won’t work with their 3G network.
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Hi there, does it have push email like Telus Mobile Email Softwate that comes pre-loaded on Telus windows mobile phones?
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@Martin , the browsing was choppy since the site wasn’t fully loaded (progress bar still going
). Once a site is loaded they fly on the device and pinch to zoom then works super well. Just dying to know which build the os is, but even if its the wrong one you can access paid apps with a AT&T sim over wifi just make sure your phone is sim unlocked.
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Noticed the dead pixel on the screen, wonder if that’s covered under warranty?
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I think this is the first time I’ve been completely satisfied with a phone review. You covered everything for me. Great job!
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John,
You’re right about a US SIM card. I’m trying to avoid that option. I’m guessing I’d have to go to the states to get one. Is there a way to have one shipped here? I’d also like to have the ability to download paid Apps anywhere not just over WIFI (not to mention all the other benefits of having root access).
As for the browser speed I do hope you’re right. I’ve been seeing evidence that the 2.0.1 browser is much slower than the 2.0 browser (due to a change in anti aliasing settings). There is a fix for it but as most of these things it requires root. This is the main reason I really want root access. It allows us to take advantage of the open source nature of Android. I think it would be poor form for Moto to negate this benefit by locking down the device.
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$599.99? I thought the outright price for the Milestone was $549.99. Plus, it wouldn’t be hard to find where the video on the phone was shot. I saw the Gardiner EXWY plus the C.N.E. . HAHAHA (evil laugh)
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Damn the video was shot outside. Thought he was shooting it from his residence.
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If you root your phone you can use Market Enabler to enable paid apps in the market.
No need for a US SIM.
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For the paid apps in the market, if you don’t want to root your phone and just want to use a US sim instead, then get one for a couple of bucks from eBay.
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@Martin
I grabbed a used AT&T sim card from ebay for $3.8 and change shipped.I only grabbed one as a last resort if we dont have root since I want a few paid apps. The market enabler is the way to go, but here is hoping its Build 14 so we have no problems
.
As for the browser, while loading a page it’s usually slow on android (check youtube) , once its loaded it’s “normally” smooth. I know of the situation your speaking of, a lot of people are saying they have lagged scrolling now with 2.0.1. The odd thing is , its not everyone. I’ve seen a lot of videos on youtube and the scrolling is fast, the pinch and zoom is okay but not as good as goole enabled one (2.1) .
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Went to Telus today and the Rep showed me coupons for a free milestone GPS dock that will be shipped later.
Price between 500-600$.
Pretty phone =)
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Is the OS on this phone a Generic Android 2.01 or is “TELUSIZED” with a bunch of crap apps and their evil logo all over the place?
I am seriously thinking of buying on and getting it unlocked for use on Rogers. If I want to get apps from the market would I have to use the Market Enabler? Would the free apps work either way and just need the Marked Enabler for the paid apps?
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Thanks for the eBay tip guys. Somehow I never think of eBay when it comes to these things.
Like you John, I’m keeping fingers crossed for a rootable 1.14 build so Market Enabler works plus all the other benefits of having root access… like the 2.1 apps ported to the Milestone without having to wait for a Moto update.
Labrat,
Did they have actual working demo phones yet or just dummy units?
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If I buy a AT&T sim off ebay, and pop it into my unlocked Milestone, I will be able to get paid apps? How does that work if I have no plan with AT&T?
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Marko,
You use WIFI, not the wireless network. The SIM is only there so the Android Market will think your phone is from the US.
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Ok thanks, I just ordered one from ebay. Hope it works
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It would be wicked if I could win this sweet device.
Fingers crossed!
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hope i win
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I need to win!
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mighty nice review, thanks for sharing it.
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thanks
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Walked into a Telus store in Montreal yesterday and was told the Milestone was on recall??? From the sounds of it there were was alot of bricking on 2.1 by home users and Telus is sending them back to Motorola for upgrading.
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I just recently upgraded to android 2.1 worked out fine
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If I bought a milestone when it upgrades do I have to root it through my computer?
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