[codex]

Android is the new Nokia: the lowest common demonimator phone; the default. Or, to cross realms, it's the new Windows. While Apple costs carriers a pretty penny, carriers get a share of the advertising revenue from Android based web searches, and they can preinstall whatever carrier apps they want on their Android devices, unlike on the iPhone.

[bad_user]

Don't get me wrong, but this argument sounds like sour grapes. Another way to look at it is that Android is an open platform that people install on anything they want. And if it's open for users, then it's also open for carriers, which goes without saying.

Also, if low common denominator phones are anything like my Galaxy S, then Apple is screwed ;)

[jorgecastillo]

"open for users" this is not true, for all intents and purposes, Android is as open for users as iOS, but unlike Android iOS is not full of bloatware from the carriers. If you want to get the most out of your Android phone, you have to install community mods no different from an iPhone. My phone costed $3000 MXN and it was paid in cash, and I feel it was no worth it. I just hope one day (when my warranty expires) my phone gets a mod, because right now my phone is not supported. My next phone is certainly not going to an Android one. If you have the cash go for an iPhone, if you don't maybe Windows Phone is better?

P.S. Android is definitely the Windows of the smartphone world, but unlike on PC you can't replace it with the OS of your choice.

[bad_user]

With iOS:

* there are no phone models available that allow to root your device without jailbreaking, a process that voids your warranty

* you cannot install software from third-party sources, unless you jailbreak it

* as a developer you cannot distribute software from your website, unless you want to limit yourself to nerds that have jailbroken their device

* you cannot build your own device with iOS on it

* certain classes of software, like phone number blacklists, are banned from the iTunes store, but are allowed on the Android Marketplace

* the source code for iOS is not available. This means no forks are possible (e.g. the Kindle Fire)

PS: don't confuse openness with convenience. Unlike Windows, if Google is doing such a poor job, you can always fork it, which is why Google has to play nice. Also, I love my Galaxy S and I only paid $100 for it. And I also own an iPhone 3GS which is gathering dust.

[tobylane]

Android is full of possibilities, but the carriers are often the ones doing something with this, making it worse for the majority of users. If every Android user got the next version as quickly as iOS users get their next version, and it was as clean as Google wanted, their phones would be massively improved.

[nmridul]

Do you really have to depend on your carrier ? Most of the phones are available in the open market, with a higher price tag.

[damptrousers]

Nonsense. We've been hearing apple is screwed for 10 years now. That's idiotic. Apple doesn't have to own the market, and if you believe the Galaxy S is going to convert iPhone fans, you're nuts.

[bad_user]

I was an iPhone fan until I got my Galaxy S. Don't I count? Do you want pictures of me holding both phones?

    Apple doesn't have to own the market

Are you sure you're replying to the right comment? Are you talking to me? What I find truly idiotic is the myopia (some) Apple fans are capable of.

[sipefree]

I'm a dev. I carry an iPhone 4 and a Galaxy S.

I hate the Galaxy S.

Disproven by counterexample.

[nmridul]

Comparing iphone 4 to Galaxy S is like comparing apples and oranges. Care to compare your iphone to Galaxy S2 ?