The Android browser – with high-speed Internet access courtesy of HSDPA or 802.11b/g Wi-Fi – is efficient, if unspectacular. The screen's multi-touch capability offers the benefit of pinch to zoom, but there's no Flash support – although this may happen later with an update to Android 2.2. Still, the YouTube player worked fine. Battery life was noticeably poor. Despite the processor being clocked back to 550MHz – it's actually capable of 720MHz – I never managed to get a full day's use out of it.
A lot to like, but the battery life is a drawback
Verdict
There are certainly things to like about the Motorola Milestone XT720, including the large multi-touch screen, endlessly configurable interface and the 8GB of memory it comes with. But while the 8Mp camera is far from rubbish, it never quite lived up to its promise, offering so-so pictures rather than really impressive ones, and though I had high hopes for the HD video recording, in use its tendency to be jerky was disappointing. I'd have liked to have seen Motoblur on there but perhaps the poor battery life would have meant I'd have to disable it to make it through the day in any case. ®
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Motorola Milestone XT720
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*
