gdgt

I was recently thinking about this same issue in terms of the iPhone as well. What is the ideal iteration cycle for a flagship phone on a platform? Is a year too long (iPhone)? Is a two months too short (Android)?

I tend to think a year is about right. That way, those who bought the older don't feel *quite* so ripped off when the new phone is announced. The problem with Android is that you have Motorola, HTC (by themselves) and HTC (with Google) all releasing at any time they see fit. While it's good for consumer choice, it's bad for those looking to upgrade. I bought a Nexus One on T-Mobile unlocked the minute it came out 'cause of how slow my G1 was. Then it seemed like a minute later that the Desire with Sense UI was being tossed around. Now, a few weeks later still, the EVO is being showed off. I'm switching to Verizon this weekend (due to my office moving to a place with no T-Mo coverage) and I'm picking up a Pre Plus. I figure whether I come back to Android or switch to Windows Phone in the future, I'd be an idiot to pick up a new Android handset until I see what's coming down the pike next.

You can't hold something like Android to the same merits as something like the iPhone. Since Android can run on multiple platforms people are going to constantly be pushing out new iterations of hardware. The way the mobile platform is changing so rapidly, you can't have the mindset of "Well I'll wait for the next one" because you'll be doing that every time a new handset comes out. Mobile phones are like computers from 5 years ago, the hardware is developing at an alarming rate and sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and get something.

I agree with Frankspin, the issue is that things are advancing so quickly and the market is competitive that no one has an incentive to make their product cycles any longer than they need to be. Even though it's frustrating to see a new product eclipse something you've just purchased a few months earlier it's important to keep in mind that all these manufacturers competing against each other to come out with newer and better phones all the time is ultimately a good thing for consumers. I also think you'll start to see companies competing on price a bit more (and not just on subsidized prices).

Well - I'd agree with whoever's agreeing, but the danger - such as it is - is still that Android phones will end up going the Sony-tech way, with just more bells & whistles on top of an underdeveloped firmware base: The danger that the headlong rush to develop the phone with the mostest, the lessons quite painfully taught by Apple to the rest of the PMP / Phone market may be unlearned. Android, despite it's merits, still has a boatload of very rough edges.

I think that a year for upgrading hardware makes sense (obviously on android this would be for each seperate company). But I also think that a year for each software update is too long. This is why I just ordered a nexus one to replace my iPhone.

Something you guys forgot to mention in "rapid succession". Nothing released since the DROID has a higher screen res or a hardware keyboard, and the Android software keyboard is a real PITA to use anyway

I have just bought a HTC Legend 2 weeks ago and two weeks from now the HTC Desire will come out. It has better spec's in almost every way but I do not feel the need to switch nor do I feel stupid I hadn't wait a little longer. The Desire is a great phone but I find it too big and I have the feeling I will drop it and/or break it in some other way. But my point is that although it might have better specs it doesnt make the Legend useless, it's just made for other users.
Same goes for the Nexus One compared to the Evo 4G. Yes it has beter specs but it is, in my opinion, way to big for a phone where the N1 is still big but a size I can live with. And it might have beter specs but it doesn't have a feature, aside from HDMI-out, that the N1 misses. I wouldn't buy a phone because it misses GPS or a decent internetbrowser, but 5~15% bigger screen/resolution or 10~20% faster processor i wouldn't care too much about. It's alway's 'evolving'. Be happy that it doesn't have the same release frequency as Apple does, you would still be limited to a 600Mhz processor. This will mean you can't be the fastest for long but you will be fast no mather when you will buy a phone. If i needed a iPhone(can't think of a reason) now I had to buy the 3GS and that will probably be considerd slow and out-date'd when the 4G will come out in a few months. I really don't see the N1 become obsolete just because of Evo came out, it will slowly be replaced but not by one single phone nor at one single point in time.