Milestone gets Android 2.1 update in UK, available to download now
By Vlad Savov 
posted May 6th 2010 5:09AM
posted May 6th 2010 5:09AM
posted May 6th 2010 5:09AM
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Bug list needed before flashing ;p
still waiting for evo 4G...
@thisisit
In the UK? We don't have anything indicating 4G adoption is anywhere near.
@Tes And it will probably be LTE instead of Wimax like in the other countries of Europe.
@Schmich
sry, n00b question. What the difference between LTE and WiMax?
@thisisit
Don't; just buy yourself a Desire as I did some week ago and be amazed at how much better it is compared to the Hero (which I used to own and love before buying the Desire).
However , beside the Desire, I also own an HTC HD2 which I had since last october, and once you have downloaded all the constant stream of hotfixes and firmwares that HTC keeps releasing for this little jewel and specially after you have installed a few cab files from XDA devs. (like the excellent voice dialing app modified for the HD2) , you will have TEH absolute best and most reliable smartphone/PMP/tablet/sat nav/ whatnot combo money can buy.
I love my new Desire (even more than I loved my old Hero,) but my old HD2 (after the latest updates) is still my fav phone by a long , long shot.
Yes Android's apps are far more, far better and far cheaper (mostly free actually) but The HD2 still manage the important thing much better than any other device I've ever tried (and I did try quite a few).
Win 7 series (or whatever it will be called) surely looks exciting but The HD2 with its Sense UI surely does not miss it and it's actually difficult to imagine what kind of improvements can bring to the HD2 near perfect package beside some questionable eye candy.
Conclusion: if you want a top notch Android device you do not need to wait for anything: just get yourself a Desire.
Or if you want the best smartphone money can buy just get yourself an HD2 and be the happiest geek in the'hood.
people complain that android doesn't regularly get updates like the iphone does. android has done everything iphone OS4 is going to do since android 1.5, there is no need for the updates with android.
It's not about just doing it, it's about doing it and having it actually function correctly... There
@MattsZ
maybe its just me, but I used to have an iphone and now have a droid. I don't think I could ever go back to the iphone now that I know all the things a few should do. Although I would never recommend android over iphone for someone who is not a very techy person. Not because it doesn't function or work correctly, simply because there are so many more options that could fluster some people.
@unf8605 so your basically saying that iphones are for idiots? hahaha!
@bigshape
i wouldn't call them idiots, i would just say they are not tech savey. Android 1.5 is in many ways more powerful and customizable than Iphone OS 4.0, but many people don't want to be bothered with figuring out how to optimally configure something, and apple does that for a certain demographic. Like I said, after using android there is no way I could go back to the iphone now that i know what a phone is capable of doing.
@unf8605 You two guys are idiots. I have a EE, CS degree from MIT and have a fucking iphone. Stupid android fanboys are worse than any iphone fanboy could ever be.
@vqro what's it like having all those fancy pieces of paper and still not get what he's saying? You may just be the fanboy you claim to hate so much.
Does this fix the Milestone's inability to play MP3s without skipping? That was the nail in the coffin for my milestone..
@siksik6
really, i have a droid and it plays MP3's fine. Did you try restoring? I don't know the proper terminology, but some headphones have threee black circles on the plug whereas others have two. With the droid I noticed the "three-circle" headphone plugs cause apps to start and stop on their own for some reason.
@unf8605 as I recall, it was a Milestone specific problem, so wouldn't affect your Droid. There's a massive list of complaints about it on the Motorola forum. A £450 phone that can't play MP3s has no place in my house, so I sold it and bought a Nexus one!
@unf8605 DROID fw =/= MILESTONE fw
How many times do people have to reiterate this statement?
@siksik6 If you're talking out stuttering in eg. Spotify when on 3g that was solved in this update.
mp3s are fine.
FINALLY! :D!
Then keep waiting and stop trolling.!
Still strikes me as odd that none of the networks in the UK are selling the Milestone....
@Karnak
You can buy it on contract with 3 carriers with 3rd party sellers.
@dansus I know there are a few third parties who'll sell it with a contract and pass on some of the subsidy but I'm still surprised that none of the networks are offering/marketing it themselves given how big a deal it was in the states.
@Karnak Don't get the idea in your head that the Droid and Milestone are on and the same thing. They are different in some very fundamental ways...
I'm still holding out for my Hero.
@Elijah2104 Dare I quote Bonnie Tyler here? Haha, well I am too waiting for the 2.1 firmware for my Hero on the Three network in the UK. What I hate is when they set a date and then the day before they push it back another 2 months. Fed up with this, I mean I know they have to get it right but then why is it already on so many other phones? Bleeeargh!
@Elijah2104 I havent updated my hero at all, what with my uni work being so busy and all
it should be on 2.0 by now right
im still on 1.5 :(
Just flashed the phone. Keeps force closing the multimedia dock app, which is a bit stupid since it's a genuine Motorola accessory.
Other than that, everything seems present and correct.
@Avex How is the alarm,music and is telus,2.1 root working?
@tpbftw Alarm seems to work, although the proof will be tomorrow morning! Music playback is OK and it hasn't randomly started playing anything yet. Haven't tried jailbreaking.
The dock thing is really stupid though - driving me nuts.
@Avex re the dock issue - if you go into Settings > Applications > Manage Applications... then select Filter > All, choose 'Multimedia Station' and then 'clear data' - that should fix you.
Happened me too!
@Avex
using 2.1 on a german milestone for almost 1 month now. (kinda weird that the uk version comes 1 month later)
alarm is still buggy (works 80% of the time)
music is fine, but starts randomly, when i just start the music app (even the play button says "play" not, "pause".
docking station problems were only in 2.0.1 (in my case)
problems aside, the phone seems to run more stable and speedier than before (2.0 and 2.0.1), even without using any taskkiller.
the already good camera app is now much faster and better-looking.
don't know if the uk version had speech recognition before, but the german version has it since 2.1; it's really nice (and not from google - no internet connection needed)
still questions? ask me ;)
Does it come with the cool nexus one andorid 2.1 app launcher dock the little square of apps and all ? if not i will not be buying a milestone anytime soon
@Doml Nope. The 2.1 update for the Milestone is completely gimped when it comes to those features. Fucking Motorola.
@Zappy It's also missing the NX1's awesome media gallery. I can't begin to fathom the logic behind that.
Yaaaay!
Thanks for the heads up Engadget, I've been attempting updates on my Milestone on and off for the last three weeks now, with disappointments abound!
This firmware has been available since March, I flashed mine then -- I don't know why anybody would have waited til HP sorted out their FOTA, when the Motorola Software Update utility is easy and quick...
Oh and BTW, since HP are doing such a *bang-up job* on rolling out firmware for Moto (any other handset makers using them?), it doesn't instil great confidence for their other planned efforts in the mobile space...
@grellanl
What has this got to do with HP again?!
@Tes Oh, the FOTA services are supplied for Motorola by a company now owned by HP... the firmware's been available for ages, it's just the over-the-air servers have been *very* slow to get setup.
Its nice to see that finally the UK users will be able to get the Éclair Android 2.1 firmware update.
It's a pisstake.
Data is data and these releases should be worldwide. Funny to see the iPhone haters making comments. You don't get that in iPhone communities, only Android ones.
Weird.
@Trick202
There's nothing weird about it when you're locked in and controlled by one company like you are with Apple. When will you iFans wrap your little heads around that fact?
Android central is reporting this update brings nine home screens and blue tooth voice dialing. Can anyone confirm?
@NYC_ROCK 9 home screens - check.
Dont know about bluetooth voice dialing though
Motorola is Planning To Release a phone with this Specifications!
12 Mega Pixel Camera With Xenon Flash And Led Flash (For Night Time Video Recoring)
FULL HD 1080P Video Recording
HDMI Port
3.5 MM Jack
On Board 32-GB Memory
Hardware Keyboard Like Droid/Milestone
OS Android 2.2 (Froyo)
4.3 inch Screen.
Possible that's Motorola MT920.
That's phone will release end of year 2010.
That's phone will release after Motorola Droid 2 and Motorola Nexus Two release.
@MotoZine
I think is 8mpx not 12, but anyway this phone is goin to be the coolest around
@JAG
Nope, 12 Mega Pixel Camera.
Who Can Use This Release
All Motorola MILESTONE users.
After downloading and installing Android 2.1 software release, you will notice:
Animated Wallpapers and multiple home screens.
This additional wallpaper option enables you to select from a number of wallpapers that can move on your home screen. A selection of animated wallpapers are bundled with the software upgrade – further wallpapers are available on the Android Market.
The number of home screens you can have now also just got bigger – you can choose to have 3, 5, 7, or even 9 home screens – plenty of space for all your widgets and icons.
Facebook App and Widget.
A Free Facebook App and Widget is included in this upgrade. The Application enables contact importation including Names, Profile Pics and Status into your phones’ contacts. The Widget can be place on one of your home screens to stream live updates from your Facebook account.
Google Maps Updates.
Personalized suggestions: Google Maps on your Android device suggests (autocompletes) locations based on your personal search history on maps.google.com.
Sync with desktop: synchronizes starred items between Google Maps on your Android device and maps.google.com. Sync and personalized features require a user to be logged in to myGoogle account while on maps.google.com
Multi touch is now also enabled within Google Maps.
Other Enhancements.
Help : A new Help Center app is included that provides mobile access to your user guide, video tours of key features, tips and tricks, and FAQs to help you get the most from your device.
Bluetooth support : support for Bluetooth headset multi function for initiating voice calls
Security: Prevents unauthorized pattern lock bypass, allows for PIN security and local device wipe following PIN error input
Music Player : Album art 3D gallery view supported in landscape orientation
Battery life: ongoing battery life optimization
Email account removal: Improvements to manual removal of email accounts.
remember when Engadget said there was little difference in the software btwn 2.0 and 2.1?
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/nexus-one-review
Should have just rooted. . .