E-mails are easy to set up, with most requiring only address and password, plus there's support for Push Gmail and Push Exchange, so you're always up to date. The on-screen Qwerty keyboard proved fine for messaging and the suggested words, as you type, are generally relevant and useful for speed. You can pull in your Facebook contacts and pics to your phone book and call quality was generally fine.
Sample Shots
Using xenon flash
Click for a full-resolution crop
No zoom
Click for a full-resolution crop
With 10x digital zoom
Click for a full-resolution image
Click for a full-resolution crop
Click for a full-resolution crop
Click for a full-resolution crop
Click for a full-resolution crop
Click for a full-resolution crop
Click for a full-resolution crop
Panoramic mode leaves room for improvement
Click for a full-resolution image
So far so good, but then we get to that enticing 8Mp camera. It comes with a proper xenon (as opposed to LED) flash, the first Android phone to have one. The camera offers an extremely wide panorama mode that automatically stitches together six shots but not very well, alas. Other features include a six-pic multi-shot function and macro setting, face detection and image stabilisation, as well as a claimed 10x digital zoom.
COMMENTS
It's probably worth mentioning:
You make no mention of whether or not this variant of the Milestone sports the same signed bootchain as the regular Milestone, preventing users from using custom ROMs.
What you should have mentioned is Motorola's absolutely abysmal track record for getting Android updates to phones in a timely manner. Their flagship, the Verizon branded Droid still doesn't have 2.2, and they're deliberately dragging their feet over confirming if the nigh-identical Milestone will get it at all.
regarding battery life
It would have been a more useful review if you'd also had a go at installing Juicedefender and running it. Android power management is hopelessly tentative by default- every Android user that I know uses Juicedefender or something like it to tighten up the power management.
I know you shouldn't have to- but being pragmatic, this is one of the few major downsides of the otherwise splendid Android platform. Without it, my HTC Desire is out of steam before I am heading home, with it, I'm on 40% battery when it's time for sleep.
Neat toy...
...so we'll see them in Canada just after the US or the EU gets their first Android 3 phones.
*sigh*
