http://theunderstatement.com/post/11982112928/android-orphans-visualizing-a-sad-history-of-support

Tl;dr: see chart below.

Out of 17 android phones released between 2008 and Q2 2010, three out of 18 (17%) of them are able to be updated to the current major version.

56% of these phones are two or more major versions behind.

89% of these phones will not be getting ICS, which comes out later this year (based on what has been announced so far, and hardware requirement statistics).

Compared to the iPhone:

ALL iPhones released have been able to be updated to the current major version three years after their release. This is an entire year longer than the standard length of a cell phone contract (2 years).

Why is this bad?

Obviously, security. Bugfixes and vulnerabilities are major components of major updates.

Developers are forced to create code that uses older standards, in order to reach a broad market.

YOU, the CONSUMER are getting SCREWED. Features in new versions? You can't have them! Still under warranty or service contract from your cell provider? Too bad, you signed away your rights. That brand-new android phone you have in your hand? Guess what, in a matter of weeks it will be outdated, and will never see new features for months, if EVER.


Now, people don't like being told something they committed money to is outdated, old, or a scam. I foresee people trying to attack the cold, hard facts to try to justify their purchase in their own mind. Whatever makes you feel better 

Remember - this is not Google's fault. It's phone manufacturer's fault.

Yeah, this is pretty bad. Luckily my phone runs CyanogenMod now.

Apple offer the updates? Of course, they dont have that many phones on the market in comparison to other phone makers who have hundreds to support, why bother spending time and money to update an old phone which you can no longer make money off of? Its just not viable. If Google were to manage all the OS versions centrally (like Apple) or if every phone had stock android  then sure, updating would be much easier but thats not the case

my 2 ¢ is buy plain =<100+- cell and buy something with a little more power like a dual core atom netbook for 200+- bucks?

You can't fit a netbook in your pocket.

Yeah, my phone sits in my pocket. Besides, I would not want a netbook-in-a-holster.

TBH I am actually using the Netbook method myself currently.... having to have it in a pocket is not so much of an issue, just throw it in the car, or briefcase and well no hassle.... got Ubuntu 10.04 running on it with Skype so..... heck

Being able to SSH/VNC/SFTP into it  not to mention hooking a fullsize keyboard and monitor up to it for stationary use makes it a winner! Also the larger screen makes it good for watching a few podcasts/movies on too!

Then this is a stupid argument - if you want data everywhere, you have to get an aircard and a plan. You'll also be buying a 300-500 dollar netbook too.

Or you can buy an Android / iPhone for $200 with your plan. Herp derp derp, that's cheaper.

ok first off i dont want data everywhere thats idiotic imo esp at the prices they charge... only 3 types of people who would buy data for a phone for every day use. 1 business people (in which case the plans and phones are a corp write off), 2 those who travel alot in a local area (real estate or a entrepreneur then again that can be classed as number one, only way its not is if its a individual who checks email fb etc every 5 minutes... i call them social freaks) 3 tech freaks who usually blow their money on the most advanced tech possible... i remember some idiot out west in canada buying a iPhone and paid roaming charges every day of his contract just because he had to have it when it first came out in the USA...


secondly, your some sort of idiot where i live if you sign a contract now and days... with the unlimited companies out there at decent prices (like the same with the contract) and not needing a locked phone always...

heres what i mean...

link 1 Virgin Mobile iPhone 4S $160 super tab
link 2 Telus same phone and price 3 year contract
link 3 Telus same phone just for 50 bucks a sale ending monday... however unlike best buy they tell you the catch on site not in store...

Virgin mobile on site is the same...

Now both require you to buy $50 month plan min. at 50 a month  by 3 years that brings you to $1800 min plus the 160 for the phone which with taxes here will push it past well over 2200...

now if i was to go with pre paid...

i currently own a virgin phone but their pre paid unlimited suck a**...
but still... i gave my self what 100 bucks? ok so ill get the rumor plus which is stupidly 30 bucks less on pre paid then on the tab... (odd it seems virgin is also giving out 416's...)
Any how i go and choose the 10 dollar pre paid option plus i got the choice of either unlimited canada or north america which basically means i only ever pay 10 cents a minute for 40 a month (like i said their pre paid sucks...)

so lets just say i say no thanks to any add ons and stick with the 10 dollars at 10 cents... say i go threw 20 a month that gives me what 100 minutes? im automatically saving 15 dollars a month based on .35 a min and 5 dollars on the 3 yr contract...
Total costs for 3 years: 820+taxes if i was to do 200 minutes 1180+taxes

for Chatr a phone and plan would cost me 60 for a phone (less but i like a $60 one) plus either 25 35 or 45 (45 includes 100 mb...) id prob go with 35 as its true unlimited. which means 1320+taxes

Wind is also available up here
i like the lg dlite but its too expensive for the 100 cap so id go with Samsung C414 which is $95
now something is wrong with these guys head as genious is over priced... should be 40 not 45... but who cares i would not go with that lol...
id go with 29 dollars (super smart) plan which includes data what data it dont say so assuming its unlimited (who cares tho?)
reason for the 29 instead of 25 is accessing the voice messages is stupidly 5 more a month so i save 12 bucks for the year.
now lets say after 1 year price goes up, which i wont do id spend the extra buck a month which is 30

Wind means i spend 1163 plus taxes


Final: id prob go with Chatr till Mobolicity comes up lol... as they offer unlimited canada for 5 bucks more then wind.


Now if you want to be nit-picky i now technically have 900 to spend on a laptop + internet i can pick up a referb laptop/net for 200 bucks with no issues and prob could push for less esp if its the last one (like i did with the hp 2 years ago almost)

now that leaves me 700 or 17 a month for data how ever no data plans exist here for that price right now... and as i said i wont use cell data. if i was it would be someone with unlimited... a few months ago wind had a deal going on (or someone else) that you got a nice price for 1 year on a phone/data prices...

So since i wont use data i save 700 dollars, OH DAMN THE PRICE OF THE PHONE! so no its not cheaper... plus a laptop gets out dated as fast but updates only go based on what software your running not the hardware lol...


Oh if i really wanted too i could just hang around a open hotspot like starbucks or even go in and buy something sit down and surf properly lol... now tell me how many hotspots are there? TONS plus when i go out i dont require the net as im either buying or meeting up with someone... when i go out i have a life other then the net.

Its not my fault you dont.

Can't lug a briefcase when you do alot of things. Would you ski, bike, or that sort of thing with a lump to lug? Nope.

about lugging about a briefcase who would be dumb enough to bring a briefcase to ski with? personally i would not bring a phone... as logic points out cellphones DONT work usually there... biking... have you ever heard of a backpack its this neat invention that has 2 straps the hang around your arms and does not effect your movement unless you put bricks in it...

most spots in decent sized cities have enough speed for 6 users as long as they are not all dling porn lol

oh good idea on secure connections something these companies lack using cell tower tech hell even if its satilite tho unlikely its still not secure if someone gets your carrier and mac kiss your bandwidth goodbye lol

lol true but lets stop for one second... out of the past 5 years howmany bikers have you seen using a phone in motion now take that number and think how many of those were texting?

tho now pinako is making me wonder is i could use a speed stick and surf the net on a net while driving with out getting a ticket...

oh if you use a cell and ride a bike here you can get a ticket like any other motor vehicle law

i remember doing this once walking... wont do it again not because of the skipping potential but the battery life and recharge time/cost... just cheaper to buy a mp3/4 player