So I flashed the UK version of the GOT update to my UK Milestone yesterday after deleting all user data and clearing the cache partition.
Here are my first impressions:
- Ability to move apps to SD is a godsend.
- Adobe Flash 10.1 now allows me to use the BBC iPlayer site. Video is sharp and runs smooth and fast.
- Web pages now display with flash elements. Scrolling pages is very jerky and not very responsive even once they are fully loaded. Double tapping to zoom is also not as fast as with 2.1
- Facebook app will install and sign in, but I can't add it to the sync list so that it will update automatically. It's also impossible to see Facebook contacts or to join FB and Google contacts. No problem with official twitter app.
- 3G Mobile Hotspot app fails to set up a connection, saying that I should contact my telco. Perhaps it's because I don't live in a 3G area, but a third-party app (Android Tether) worked flawlessly, albeit slowly on 2.1 via GPRS.
- Power Control widget now allows for automatic screen brightness rather than just low, medium or high.
- App drawer scrolling is very jerky, and new Froyo Phone and Browser access buttons on app drawer tab are absent - I only have the old default Motorola one, while GOT video shows Froyo layout. Thiswas one of my most wanted features, so I'm really disappointed that it's not working for me.
- Voice Commands app no longer works at all. it launches and quits automatically whether triggered by finger or by a Bluetooth device.
- Motonav is gone - I found it a much more rounded and feature-packed navigation app than Google Navigation, but I wasn't willing to pay to use it since I have integrated navigation in my car in any case.
- New Clock app with integrated weather display is much nicer than what's offered in 2.1
- Media Gallery app seems unchanged, unlike in the GOT video
- Market app is improved, with support for updating multiple apps at once.
- Totally unscientific, but I seem to get a much better GSM signal now. Or at least that's how it seems. I get three to four bars reported now where as with 2.1 I got two to three. Perhaps Motorola has been doing a reverse Applejob on the signal strength calculation formula? I haven't tested it with voice calls to see if the audio ACTUALLY breaks up less.
- News & Weather app is new. Not sure if that's a Google app of something GOT included.
- GMail app FINALLY(!) allows copy & paste, the lack of which has at times made me want to toss my Milestone into the nearest lake and go back to my BlackBerry.
- Phone occasionally makes a quiet screeching noise from the speaker. I haven't figured out what is causing it, because it's intermittent. It happened twice last night, and not at all today. If it happens any more, I will consider reflashing back to Android 2.1
- Angry Birds runs slightly less smoothly than it does on 2.1. The animation freezes for maybe 250ms or so on occasion. It's still playable though.
I have reverted to 2.1 by flashing the 2.1 SBF, and then re-updated to 2.2 in an attempt to fix the problems I am having with lack of smoothness and the missing Froyo app drawer. Perhaps I'm missing some essential steps...
Overall, there are some great new features in 2.2, but it's not ready for primetime for the Milestone at least. I'm sure I've done something wrong since I'm not getting the same experience as seen in the GOT video. If anyone knows how to get the Froyo app drawer, or to get Facebook to sync, I'd really appreciate the help!
Thanks,
SF
This is slightly more stable, but a Cyanogen with this 2.2.1 kernel is being released soon, so it will be just as stable as this with more modification / tweaking adjustments available.
