Originally Posted by Capt'n Corrupt

The update cycle for apple devices seems to be around 2 years before the device becomes more or less obsolete (I could be wrong about this). It's not that you can't use the device, but it becomes too old to receive OS updates, and thus becomes less supported by newer apps (I've experienced this with my touch, though I'm not sure to what extent this is true).

This is the only reason why the update cycle for iOS devices is somewhat a turn off -- for me anyhow. Though they release new devices yearly, which is nice for new buyers.

Even the *oldest* android phone, the G1, has had the benefit of having Froyo installed on it via cyanogen, and it's likely to get Gingerbread as well.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/11/c...g1-mytouch-3g/