[paperwork]

>Once you go Android, you tend to stay there

Interesting, I've heard the opposite. My brother knows several people who started out on Android, but switched to iphone. He ended up switching from learning to do Android apps to iPhone apps.

[jlgosse]

Going to have to say that I've had a much better experience with iOS than any other platform. In the past three years I have moved in the following sequence:

- Windows Mobile (Motorola Q)

- Various BlackBerry Devices (Curve, Storm, Torch, etc)

- Android (Nexus One)

- Windows Phone 7 (Samsung Focus)

- Android (Nexus One, again) + iPad 2

- iOS (iPhone 4S)

Having dabbled in J2ME, BlackBerry, Android and iPhone development, and having used all devices for a minimum of two months, I can tell you that,] if for some crazy reason, I decide to jump off the iOS boat, I will be going straight to Windows Phone 7 and not Android.

In terms of overall UX/UI and general happiness, I've found that the top three platforms are represented as follows:

1. iOS

2. WP7

3. Android

With regards to overall ease-of-development and awesomeness of API, as well as general happiness from developing for particular platforms:

1. iOS

2. Android

3. BlackBerry

Obviously just my own perspective, but I think this gives me enough authority to recommend a platform to a particular user when asked.

[diminish]

Trying both ios,blackberries etc, I deployed 12 androids in the family. I like its flexibility, and being a programmer, I sometimes download roms. Android gives a lot of freedom. I didnt like ios, mainly no widgets, no context menu standardized and too many buttons and button clicks, no true multitasking. it is for single threaded people, because it puts you in a mode where you have to go one by one.

Android is truly a swiss army knife and talks to all out needs. I have so many options. For example for international travels i have a smaller android, my father insists on a dual sim. Android tablets add to the diversity. Wp7, blackberry and ios lack in diversity and free customization options.

I suggest everyone to try Androids. There is one for your taste.

[jbrennan]

Android is like a supermarket: limitless choices and combinations, but you've got to cook it yourself.

iOS is like a restaurant: most of the choices are made for you, but the meal is effortless.

[epo]

Or reading between the lines, your family are lumbered with third rate devices because of your ideological geeky fanaticism.

This is all reminiscent of the "Linux will take over the desktop" advocacy of 8 or 9 years ago. People with knowledge of "the real world" just roll their eyes heavanwards and find someone interesting to talk to.

[Cadsby]

Genuinely curious, how many other members in your family download and install their own roms? Or do any significant customization at all?

[diminish]

i deployed roms to the 2 older devices and will do so in the future. just my sister is customizing her phone herself a bit, for the others i am customizing it usually. yes i am the one who installed their computers too and i am the one who helped them for some hard to discover settings in their feature phones. i am helping friends with iphones or wp7 or earlier too, when they have problems. aha by the way, i am responsible for the deployment of over 100 linux boxes. and i don't think i am an unique, in every family or friend circle there are people like me, who help and influence their circles. i am sure i am responsible for the purchase of a few dozens of androids. i like it a lot.

[thomasjoulin]

I develop for iOS and WP7, and I have high hopes for Windows Phone, but honestly, it's not quite there yet. And compared to iOS development, it is extremely frustrating.

[masklinn]

Could you expand on the differences you see? Is it API-wise? (I'd expect WP7 tooling to be better than iOS's, though I have not yet had the occasion to try Xcode 4 I kind-of doubt it leapfrogged VS2010, except on the UI side maybe where IB and bundles have always been pretty nice) Is it the communities/help around them? Third-party resources? Something else?

And which ecosystem did you come from before iOS and WP7?

(disclaimer: I'm not a Windows or WP7 dev, and I only dabbled a bit in iOS dev)

[mwidarto]

Can you please elaborate more on that. I am curious. I developed for iOS and android. I am a .net developer and I'm about to port my code to wp7. I was hoping that it will be a lot easier compare to the other 2 since I use visual studio and .net on daily basis. Am I mistaken here?