Especially since these users were promised continuous upgrades for years to come! Right? They were, weren't they? Oh, never mind....

As with any OS, it is up to the phone manufacturer to provide an upgrade. The only reason you have an iPhone upgrade is because Apple decides to deliver one. They could, just as easily, stop providing OS updates (or free OS updates) as they see fit. They also don't have any promises that your iPhone 4 will be able to run iOS 5.0.

Anyone know if I'm right in thinking that you can always choose to run a newer version of Android *without* the custom UI? Of course, the Desire without the SenseUI is kind of a kludge, but if it came down to 'stick with 2.1' and 'run 3.0' then I'd probably take the risk...

The good news is that both of those handsets have been rooted, so you can just install a cooked firmware release of 2.2, one that's likely to be better than the custom versions by HTC and Samsung in any case.

Will there be online petitions? Will there be a class action lawsuit? Will YouTube videos of outraged Android users crop up? Will the forums be lit up with furious posts in ALL CAPS? Will the threads grow to thousands of views and replies? Will stressed out users use terms like "I'm scared" and "I can't take this anymore!"?

Nope. That only happens when Apple is involved.

"They could, just as easily, stop providing OS"

True. But let fact speak louder than could bes and should bes. Apple has updated every phone for free until this latest update when the original phone will be left behind. Android is mostly NOT upgrading its phones, even though it could possibly do so.

Fact......... wishes..... I do so love my iPhone 3Gs on iOS4. :-)

Just a thought,
en

Apple's never going to release an OS update that won't work on a phone that's just a year or two old. Gimme a break. It's probably going to always be as aggressive as it is now: fully compatible with the latest phone, 90%+ compatible with the previous gen, and "mostly works but you're going to notice where it doesn't" for two gens back. (And iOS4 works great and has even made my 3GS faster.)

With this Android set up, this isn't gonna happen unless they make some changes and demands with their partners. With Apple, the iPhone is their only phone so they have more to lose if they play too much with upgrades; with carriers, they have a ton of other phones and have already made you the sale so updates are not their biggest priority.

And remember, Google's own Dan Morrill said fragmentation is a "bogeyman, a red herring, a story you tell to frighten junior developers."

that just figured they'd have it to lord over iPhone users because they knew that "Android" would support Flash. No 2.2 upgrade, no Flash. Not being able to upgrade your smartphone within a year of purchase isn't a good policy at all. I guess I just assumed that any smartphone should be completely upgradeable within the two-year contract time. I'm not sure if that's possible since it could hinge on hardware leaps. If a new smartphone is introduced that has some advanced processor or graphics chip and the only way to take advantage of it would be an OS upgrade. Then the upgrade wouldn't even benefit the older model even if it was only a year old. With Android, new smartphones are out every other month, so older models could easily be orphaned within a year. Well, you choose your platform and take your chances.

No disagreement...but how many users are actually capable of doing this?

Android FTL!!

For reminding us of the dangers of stepping outside of Apple's gates and then wrapping up your article by patting those of use, that stayed inside, on the head.