Milestone multitouch browser ported to the Droid by a user-made patch (video)
By Vlad Savov 
posted January 4th 2010 5:05AM
posted January 4th 2010 5:05AM
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posted January 4th 2010 5:05AM
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@elavazhaganv Contrary to a lot of opinions, it's still good that at least finally moto-droid unveiled their droid version 'milestone' to UK. Europeans had been waiting this for 2 months now. Having this one on a multitouch is an icebreaker although its sans-out camera-focus is still something that yields a lot of questions. Milestone UK details: http://bit.ly/motorola-milestone-best
The browser may have multitouch, but that camera doesn't seem to have focus.
@JS: hehe good point.
Sadly most consumer cams and mobile phone cams only autofocus on the beginning of the recording. If you approach something after starting to record you will be out of focus immediately.
I don't understand the browser on my sprint hero already does that?
@One Love That is because HTC is a lot better at making sure the UI and Phone have a seamless and all-around great experience. Unlike Motorola.
@JS
we don't see you with a droid or a camera.
@hq Which is why I love my old Apple iSight. Autofocus FTW!
Droid development seems to be expanding rapidly....as I G1 owner, I'm very jealous of 2.1 :(
@B3astofthe3ast Cyanogenmod ported the 2.0 browser with multi-touch to the G1 and MyTouch. Most 2.0 features have been ported already and the kernel is in development.
@devoinregress I want those live wallpapers, even tho my G1 probably cannot handle such awesomeness...
@B3astofthe3ast I being a Droid Eris owner am not jealous of that piece of junk. I would much rather have 1.5 with sense than 2.0 without. But that is just my opinion.
Or, if you don't want to hack your phone, you can just go to the market and DL the Dolphin browser. It's been multitouch / pinch to zoom capable for a few months. It also has gestures.
@JakeMG Hmmm I was going to rip on the Dolphin browser, but with a 2 point better acid test and seemingly faster load time I might have to actually look into it.
Still would be nice to not have to play the Apple/Google war over multi touch.
@PhaseDMA So you were going to rip on it without looking into it?
@JakeMG - I'm with you on that. I actually prefer the Dolphin browser it is way faster in load times, and has done the pinch to zoom for a while. It also seems to handle some sites that the default browser will not.
@Kesey Of course not. I'm the type of person who uses something once, and when it stinks up the joint I forget about it. Until I have a reason to look at it again.
I have no way of knowing something is a fluke. Especially when I have never seen a single review about it. Be it from some random stranger on the street or some esteemed well respected magazine and/or site.
@JakeMG
Too bad Dolphin Browser looks awful. It is one seriously ugly interface. I couldn't stand it - even if it is slightly faster and has multitouch.
I love how AllDroid is getting more and more recognition now. XDA Developers isn't the only place that does Android Development/Hacking, you know :P
@thebolster It is if you own an HTC device. Which is the reason they've been dominating in Android development, HTCs the only one releasing phones...
Can anyone explain why the Milestone has multi-touch enabled apps, but the Droid doesn't?
/unintended advert reference
@r3loaded Nobody knows quite why this is the case. It's a shame for all you Droid users, I know.
@r3loaded
It has probably something to do with the fact that in Europe don´t have software patents. (A stupid concept that only slows innovation)
@r3loaded
Patents... likewise Europe version of the Droid (Milestone) doesn't have Google Map Navigation (software licensing) as well...
Is there anything more overrated than pinch to zoom?
@Floejen
Agreed,
My milestone has it but y hardly use it, most websites are readable (in landscape) without zooming thanks to the high resolution display and when i need to zoom (to be able to select the correct link in a tight list) I prefer to double tab
@Unverified User I've used both droid and iPhone. The problem with the zoom on droid is sometimes a doubletap zooms on the wrong thing, or it only happens in "steps." it feels a little like a crapshoot. With a pinch/zoom you get more fine-grain control.
That said, the hi-res screen definitely aids in that you don't always have to zoom in, but not all of us have such good eyes!
Is it a necessary feature? No. Is it nice to have?Yes.
Multitouch: computing boondoggle of the decade.
Wow
Sorry. This just isn't a big deal. I've had features like this on my phone for more than a year. Welcome to 2009.
@robisConnected
Shoosh troll, the Droid hasn't even been out that long.
/j
Finally. Dolphin is butt ugly and overcomplicated. Such a basic feature, too. Who was the cheap*** who decided not to ship it in the US?
Here in euro land all the Android phones I've laid my hands on have had pinch to zoom enabled browsers, including the Hero I'm writing this on. Never use it though.
What is this obsession with the pinch zoom feature when you can tap one time on the screen and having zoom in right away? I think we start to be so spoiled than sooner or later if we don't have "rolling your feet on the screen" feature, we will start to cry.
Why can't these people learn to use the FOCUS on the camera.... Great you can hack multitouch into the phone, but too bad you can't use the focus.... #fail
I hate Apple, but I gotta admit: I am yet to see a smoother browser pinch-zoom in and out than the one on the iPhone and iPod.
Why does it lag at the beginning of the zoom (in or out), then suddenly compensate the lag with a leap in zooming? (sigh...)
@TareG
With the exception of the HD2 pinch zoom, of course.
@TareG Perhaps because its hacked on?
I don't get it. If you want your phone to act like an iPhone, get an iPhone.
Somebody had to say it.
@Jasonbisdead What you mean the ability to install any function on your phone without your daddy holding your hand?
I don't miss multitouch at all on my Droid, I hardly ever have to zoom anyway with the screen being so insanely high resolution I can read even the smallest text on every webpage in landscape mode. Sometimes I zoom in to make it easier to tap links but one quick double tap no problem, I don't really see the big deal about multitouch. I have Dolphin browser which I use sometimes though I don't like the interface as much as the main browser so I only use it occasionally.
Multitasking > multitouch
@briandroid515 Good thing I have a Palm Pre since it does both.
Quite elegantly I might add.
For what it's worth, There is a more complete "ROM" out with all 2.1 apps ported to 2.0.1. Including a multi-touch browser.
THIS DOES NOT OVERWRITE DATA. You can "flash" it and it only replaces applications.
http://www.sholes.info/2010/01/04/install-all-2-1-apps-on-your-2-0-1-phone-includes-multi-touch-browser/
Pinch Zoom on a browser is only for those with crappy low res screens (you know who you are).
I can read full web pages just fine on my beautiful 480 x 854 screen without zooming in at all.
@ECH One would imagine the font would be tiny on a font heavy website however.
I don't know if this is the case (Don't own the Droid) but thats how it works on computers.
this thing is really amazing, cheers
Well most new Android phones including the Droid and Nexus One are fully capable hardware-wise of Multi-touch, developers just need to enable it in the software.
That's it! I wish they would. Although much like two way mobile video calling once we have it, I don't really think we'll all use that feature very much after a couple weeks.
Its much easier to just double tap to zoom and use that one handed unlike Multi-touch. All I would like is Multi for the Virtual Keyboard.
Never thought Pinch-Zoom was that great. Its ok though and a fun option to have.
Good think Android is an open platform and there are 3rd party apps all over the place that allow you to "pinch-zoom" not just for browser but photos etc
does the rom for 2.1 have flash on the browser?