Android

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Replaced the iPhone 3 GS I've had for 3 years with a Samsung Galaxy S3 late last week.  I'm liking it a ton, though I'm still getting used to the GUI.

I liked the iPhone, but didn't like being locked into the bolt down Apple ecosystem where I simply couldn't transfer consumables (esp books and DRM'ed video) off the Apple system to my other devices.

I'll likely invest in one of the fairly high end Android tablets in the future since my  ipad 2 is getting a little long in the tooth.

While the Android interface is not rocket science, it's a fair bit different than the Apple experience and takes a bit of getting used to.  But all in all, I'd wholeheartedly recommend Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) devices to people without any hesitation.

The non replaceable battery and lack of a memcard slot in the iphones, as well as the whole ecosystem simply got to be too much for me with the Apple device.  Put a 64 GB memory card in this new S3 and very happy with it so far, nice and responsive and heaps of free space (96 GB total, got the 32 GB S3 model).

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You will likely be unhappy with BB devices unless you have enterprise needs that warrant owning one.

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I'm more concerned if RIM will actually be in business as a handset maker in 2-3 years, tbh.  They are absolutely hemorrhaging cash atm.

I smell a buyout coming.

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Flash is going the way of the dodo.

I for one couldn't be happier.  IMHO, the vast majority of browser crashes in this day and age are caused by Flash issues, and that's not even getting started on the hideous security issues it has.

Good riddance, I say.  There is a very valid reason Apple shunned it entirely on their mobile devices other than the deep dislike for Adobe Jobs had.

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Jobs was widely known to have disliked Flash, and for very valid reasons.  It's crap, and one of the biggest security nightmares that exists.

http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/

You want to call a dead man a "scumbag" because the company he ran charges a % on sales for coders using the ecosystem to sell their programs (as the other app store vendors do as well), that's on you, lol.  The world doesn't run on charity and puppy kisses - it costs a company like Apple big money to run the itunes and app stores, and they take their base cut on all sales like every other app store does.  MS does the same thing with their marketplace and media offerings.  So does Google (Play), and the Amazon app market.  RIM even does on it's appstore for BB.  Jobs can be considered a "scumbag" for many things he did business wise, but Apple isn't doing anything different than the next guy in regards to the store.

Apple isn't forcing app developers to charge one thin dime for the programs they put on the app store.  Saying that "if you want to play on an ipad you have to pay apple" is just silly, sorry.  Make the best game in the world, Apple (or any other equivalent ecosystem/store) won't prevent you from giving it away for free.  When a developer chooses to sell said program, you cannot very well chide a company that provides the soup to nuts buying experience for taking their cut, can you?  Or do you go into a RL retail store and expect to buy items at wholesale rates, the operator of the storefront not taking a cut for their troubles?

A developer chooses whether or not to charge for their program, if you choose to buy it Apple (or Google/MS/RIM/Amazon) get their cut, just as any other curated store experience would.  There's a lot to be said against the closed nature of the devices, and if one objects to that, don't use them.  Jailbreaking is a 5 minute process otherwise, allowing you to sideload apps with 0 problems just as Android is able to do.  Use what you like - choice is a wonderful thing.

There is very little need for Flash anymore with HTML 5 coming on strong, IMHO - agree on that fully.