I am a Sprint Hero user looking for a phone for my dad who is on Cellular South. He needs a device with a hardware keyboard and these are the ones listed that fit his needs:
LG Axis
Motorola Milestone
BlackBerry Bold
https://www.cellularsouth.com/holidays_2010/#tab6
I suggested he get a android. He will not be rooting it etc. Just a regular user. In regards to the Androids, would you suggest the LG Axis or the Motorola Milestone? I am guessing the Milestone is exactly the same as the Motorola Droid? I can't find the LG Axis on phonescoop.com so was just wondering what others would suggest would be a better device? He knows how to use a BlackBerry but I'd rather him get a android device just because of how much more it can do in regards to apps etc.
Thoughts?
Related
Hi all,
I am not an owner of the phone yet, but I have two questions.
Has the bootloader been unlocked, or not? That's one reason why I am hessitating of buying this phone.
Also, how is the sound quality?
No the bootloader as of right now is still locked. Though root is possible, custom roms are not. We are at this point stuck with 2.1 with no word yet as to if and when froyo is coming. I'd suggest looking at phones from HTC for an alternative unless you wish to join the many dissatisfied milestone owners in the wait to see what Motorola decides to do. And judging by the release of Droid X with eFuse and it's bootloader lock down, things don't look favorable...
Vic
Sent from my Milestone
OK, well, the thing is that I need a phone with a physical keyboard, and there are not many choices. So well, we'll see what I will end up with. I don't like that the bootloader is locked.
I also went with this phone for its physical keyboard not knowing about the bootloader situation until I had time to learn more about it online. I made the mistake of assuming it would be just as hackable as the droid. If it wasn't way too late to return it I would have. I still might try to sell it and get a Nexus One before they are no longer for sale. It's a shame really, cause the phone itself is great, just the company support for latest software and for openness of the device in general just sucks.
Vic
Sent from my Milestone
OK, well then I will have to think twice before I purchase it.
The Nexus is just available in the US, not Europe right?
It does not feature a physical keyboard?
Not sure about it's availability in Europe but I do know it's available online in Canada where I am. And no there is no physical keyboard. Which, I might add, is just a luxury not a necessity with all the wonderful touch screen keyboard options for android.
Sent from my Milestone
wileyvic said:
Not sure about it's availability in Europe but I do know it's available online in Canada where I am. And no there is no physical keyboard. Which, I might add, is just a luxury not a necessity with all the wonderful touch screen keyboard options for android.
Sent from my Milestone
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well, the touch keyboards may be great, but I need to have a physical keyboard since I am visually impaired and have difficulties using on screen keyboards.
So that's the main reason why I am searching for an Android phone with a physical keyboard.
I am using Windows Mobile at the moment, but if I purchase a Milestone it may just be a starting point for me so I at least get a feeling of the Android OS and may upgrade t something else if let's sy HTC releases a phone with a physical keyboard. What do you think?
I would personally wait for something different to come along with a physical keyboard. But again if you are okay with a locked down phone that is slow to receive updates the Milestone is a decent android device, it's just crippled by Motorola...
In the USA the Galaxy S by Samsung just released a keyboarded version, that may be an option for you.
Sent from my Milestone
I just found this: http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f27/htc-vision-marries-the-htc-desire-with-physical-qwerty-keyboard-35204/
Vic
Sent from my Milestone
OK, looks great. But the question is when it will become available here in Europe and I need a new phone quite soon. So it's therefor I can't wait. The Galaxy S by the way looks really interesting to me.
But how is the sound quality of the phone?
Does the earpiece sound ok?
My vision sucks too. The physical keyboard doesn't help as much as some of the on-screen alternatives such as Swype.
As far as bootloader goes, it's only necessary for roms. Milestone has root, so apps that require root will run. Milestone has bluetooth voice dial already, so the BIG difference in froyo is already met. So long as you can find it subsidized, milestone is a solid purchase.
Sent from my droid using XDA App
Hi,
Just a question, root what's that?
I am not able to flash any ROMS right?
Many thanks for any info.
Root is when you gain super user rights on the OS, in this case Android. It's a unix term. What it means in terms of your phone is the ability to run programs which need special permissions to execute. For example rooted users can overclock the phones CPU, wifi tether their carrier internet connection, etc...
Vic
by any ways tv out can be performed on motorola milestone
Nope not that I'm aware, luv my Milestone but had to buy a Galaxy S to get decent TV out and graphics, real missed opportunity really, the later versions of the Droid do tv out but no the bulk standard Moto Droid Milestone, although I would be happy to be corrected if anyone is the wiser.
ATB
Hey guys quick quetion here, i got an offer to sell my milestone for 400$ or Trade it for a blackberry 9700 + blackberry 9000, should i sell it? and with the 400$ i can buy a Galaxy S or some other device? whats your input?
I would sell the Milestone and get the Milestone 2. Try using the Galaxy S for awhile (not just a store demo), and if you can stand its pentile matrix arrangement, then go for it. It's very fast and has an extremely accurate and responsive touchscreen. However, its display isn't for everyone. The real test is how your eyes handle reading small/medium sized text on it at length.
With the Milestone 2, you wouldn't have any of these issues, though I can't imagine that you could get one for anywhere near $400 when it is released.
One other phone to consider is the Desire (the S-LCD version).
whats the S-LCD?? i think ill try the bell Vibrant looks cool with the front facing camera
Older Desires used AMOLED, a terrible version.
Since you're in Canada, then the Telus version uses Sony's S-LCD, a display comparable to the iP4 (lower res, of course) and the Milestone.
I suggest that you buy the Bell Vibrant from Best Buy or Futureshop, so that you have the option to return it if you find small text unbearable, particularly since you're coming from a great LCD with very high DPI and sharp text.
Sell it and wait for the Motorola Milestone Pro
nathanpc said:
Sell it and wait for the Motorola Milestone Pro
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lol got the The Galaxy S, almost bricked it and by luck restored it back to normal,very happy with it though, no lag nicer screen, will miss they keyboard though : D but swype is reallyyy nice
Bit late but I wouldn't have bought a SGS. Samsung have shown such disregard for the users with such appalling support and buggy software. I'll never buy a Samsung product again.
What I want to ask about here is the possibility of a 'Milestone Pro'. Motorola have refused to confirm its existence and given that we didn't see a GSM version of the Droid X I'm wondering if we'll definitely see a GSM Droid Pro.
(I know it's CDMA/GSM but with Verizon controlling things it'll be relatively hard to get one only for unlocked GSM use and I _think_ that using GSM the phone will always think it is roaming)
This is my personal opinions, so keep that in mind. I think what they need to do to kickstart Honeycomb is have a DROID tablet. I know what you're thinking, "They already have that, it's the Xoom". I'm saying a DROID branded tablet. The DROID TAB? The DROID SLATE? It basically has to be a current day OG DROID on a tablet. Open bootloader, up to date specs, etc etc. There's currently a strong brand recognition with the DROID name, so a DROID branded tablet would be a major boost. You all know what the OG DROID did for Android on phones. Now we need that for tablets! Just think about it....
I recently bought an HTC Desire Z but was given the T-mobile model which doesn't suppport 850Mhz 3G, which is what my local network runs. The eBay seller has a Droid 3 XT883 that he can exchange my HTC for, would you recommend your Droid?
I really like the QWERTY keyboard on the HTC but there seems to be less in the way of ROMs for the Droid. Any other models you can suggest?
ashok_fernandez said:
I recently bought an HTC Desire Z but was given the T-mobile model which doesn't suppport 850Mhz 3G, which is what my local network runs. The eBay seller has a Droid 3 XT883 that he can exchange my HTC for, would you recommend your Droid?
I really like the QWERTY keyboard on the HTC but there seems to be less in the way of ROMs for the Droid. Any other models you can suggest?
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Its not a bad device, its got a solid cpu and ram which is still pretty speedy, the keyboard is one of the best available ( besides the droid 4's ), but in terms of roms and dev support its almost dead. They devs still around are still working very hard but sometimes a lot of things are outdated , and if you get brick it can be hard with limited support.
It is quite durable and reliable, easy to root as well, once hash develops the JB ROM it'll be a solid phone. I use mine day to day, on an ICS ROM, and it works well. However, doesn't mean I won't buy the fighter once is out, due to the fact that its a bit old. But I would recommend it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers
Never even approach to this phone. It is the worst smartphone I have ever not only owned, but even held in my hand. This phone has managed to disappoint me not even in Motorola, but in whole Android. I'm pulling the thread to get brand new flagship on WP8 - thankfully we will never see WP8 on Motos. F..k Moto, damn droid!
the biggest pro to this phone, the keyboard, sucks for me. i've had 2 now and both have had problems with double pressing keys and some keys (particularly the question mark) not wanting to register. plus there's very little support. stay away
edit: on the pro side i can use it to open my beer bottles because of the metal bezel
DROID 3 - good specs, terrible support/updates. biggest drawback at the moment is the locked bootloader. i'm currently trying to decide whether to keep it (hoping we can actually get an OS update) or sell it.
if you're looking for the QWERTY keyboard and full 3G band support, have a look at the Xperia Pro mk16a. It's a good piece of equipment already running Jelly Bean.
Droid 3 could be good for you
If the following apply to you, the Droid 3 is a great phone:
1. You are OK with not having the latest and greatest version of Android
2. You don't mind rooting
3. 3G rather than 4G is OK for your purposes
Number two kind of applies to all Verizon Android phones in my book. They are so incredibly full of crapware as they come from Verizon that the hardware seems basically crippled by it. However rooting it and installing Titanium backup and then freezing all the crapware so it can't run transforms the phone. Personally I don't much care if I ever get ICS or JB on it. Once de-crapified the version it has is fine in my book. Then again my needs are probably less demanding than others. For me my phone is just a glorified PDA for getting my email, providing appointment notifications and storing my contacts. I use Touchdown for those things and that is going to be pretty much the same no matter what phone I use it on.
The speakerphone is the best I've had so far, very clear sound. The camera is above par as well, crisp and little grain, certainly better than my Atrix.
Absolutely