If there were no Android, what OS would you use for mobile devices?

Posted Dec 18, 2012 at 1:34 pm in Threads > Opinions

Here’s our thinker topic for today!

Assume that Android OS suddenly disappeared, and with it all the devices it runs on. You need a replacement. What would you choose?

Nevermind why – We don’t need another THIS versus THAT thread. This is meant more as an indicator as to what GENERAL tendencies we Android users would trend to if Android wasn’t around.

For me – Honestly, without Android around, I’d be really interested in the Blackberry 10 OS.

Mark

50 Comments Join the discussion!

11 jcommaroto 12/18/12 1:37 PM

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iOS

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93 WlfHart 12/18/12 1:41 PM

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Probably iOS… I’d give in and just get home devices that were directly compatible with my work devices.
I might be willing to give the new Windows phone OS a chance. Though after buying the HTC HD2 and less than a month after it came out Windows 6.5 was dropped like a hot potato and never supported again, I’m still a bit bitter. However, can’t complain too much, as it was that very experience that lead me to Android!

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83 mikesuds 12/18/12 1:42 PM

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WebOS

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68 nicotinemind 12/18/12 1:44 PM

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Being a Finn, Id probably go Nokia Lumia wp8. I’d miss the apps though…

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46 LucenNox 12/18/12 1:46 PM

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Currently, jailbroken iOS. Not much point of getting a smartphone if there’s no apps for it, even if it is more work to customize.

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97 Thomas Biard 12/18/12 1:52 PM

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I’d be a Windows phone person most likely. I started with 2 Windows Mobile phones. I can’t see myself as an iOS user, unless I jailbroke it.

Tough Decision

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57 mydnightsorrow 12/18/12 1:54 PM

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I have a windows phone. I will never own a iPhone. So the choice is simple for me

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71 A.Woodbury 12/18/12 2:01 PM

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Very tough decision. I think I would still choose Android and have no phone! Haha kidding. Honestly I would probably go with Windows 8, just to be different. It’s a sleek OS, but I know I would get bored with it sadly. Number of apps doesn’t matter; there’s not much to do with them as far as customization

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58 Ryan Gails 12/18/12 2:10 PM

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Probably iOS simply because of the availability of apps and ability to jailbreak. WinPhone just doesn’t compare in those areas. If apple had a crappy app store, I would go with WinPhone though because it’s aesthetically pleasing and pretty simple

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98 redraider133 12/18/12 3:07 PM

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I would prob switch between ios, wp8 and maybe bb10. I constantly switch so don’t see this being any different

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70 orangestrat 12/18/12 3:18 PM

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My Gnex got run over by a taxi and while I was waiting to get it fixed, I used an iPhone for a few months. It was jail broken, but still pretty rough. That said, windows phone is somehow even worse at the things iOS is worst at. If there wasn’t android, I’d use an iPhone and weep quietly.

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91 dino13 12/18/12 3:18 PM

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webOS all the way, the most intuitive OS out there :)

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88 sandy105 12/18/12 3:21 PM

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blackberry probably.they are good phones if not smartphones truly..

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4 aryin 12/18/12 7:03 PM

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anything but iOS

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49 JonJJon 12/18/12 7:16 PM

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I’d like to see what Firefox OS can be, looks interesting.

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34 yurma415 12/18/12 7:18 PM

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sailfish looks interesting, although i’ve never had the opportunity to play with it. anyone had hands on with it?

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84 lou2cool88 12/18/12 7:33 PM

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I’d probably go with Windows Phone 8 on a Nokia Lumia 920. I love the look of the live tiles and the hardware just looks great. Microsoft would really have to accelerate its eco-system and bring more must-have apps to the Windows Phone Store, though.

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38 Monsunami 12/18/12 8:21 PM

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I would probably go to Windows 8 since I can’t use that restrictive Apple products.

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76 gh0st665 12/18/12 8:32 PM

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Since, I cannot stand CrApple or their products I would be sporting a Windows Mobile or a BlackBerry. Yeah, I said it, a BlackBerry. BRICK BREAKER FTW!!!

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51 theha9 12/18/12 9:04 PM

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i’d probably want to try out the windows phone

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34 VerticalCobra 12/18/12 9:31 PM

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I’d go with the Windows OS. It’ll be the closest to what I like in Android. Unlikely I’d use iOS ever.

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84 tanman888 12/18/12 10:35 PM

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Probably iOS.
Then again, who knows if iOS would be at its currently level of usability & innovation if major competition like Android wasn’t around.

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87 Charlong666 12/18/12 10:59 PM

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Being Canadian I guess I’d support the local little guy RIM with BlackBerry, it helps that most people have them still haha.

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41 KingCrow02 12/18/12 11:00 PM

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iOS most likely

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58 ldouglas64 12/18/12 11:39 PM

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I would probably go with windows.

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55 cliffy223 12/19/12 12:05 AM

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Seeing that we are talking about the present then that would mean WebOS is gone, windows 8 still lacked apps, blackberry 10 is still on hold, and apple is still apple.

With that in mind then I would bet that many Android users with myself included would go to windows 8.After that I am sure many developers would create apps for windows 8.

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64 jaysond 12/19/12 12:17 AM

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windows is my first choice just cause I’ve used it for over 15 years but I like ios for phones actually not tablets tho,phones are for making calls tablets are for net and being able to do stuff ect

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93 Steve Heinrich 12/19/12 10:05 AM

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Meego on a Nokia N9. I’m sticking with a Linux based OS :)

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56 MisterLee 12/19/12 10:14 AM

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Lets not kid ourselves… iOS

I havent tried W8 but i dont really want to try it. I love APPS and i just dont think windows can keep up with IOS. So if i had to choose… iOS because of the apps

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77 kelltrash14 12/19/12 10:43 AM

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I’d want to try Windows Phone….I cannot see myself having any self esteem left if I grabbed an iPhone.

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51 klcow92 12/19/12 10:50 AM

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Windows Phone 8 is good, just lack of apps, using a lumia 920 now but finding some apps are missing. BB10 should be interesting but its like still so far off in the future …….

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98 jamal adam 12/19/12 11:02 AM

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I would probably go with either iOS or Windows Phone 8. Maybe leaning towards iOS because it’s more mature but then again I would prefer having a phone with a bigger screen than 4″. I think it would be an interesting environment it Android didn’t exist. Perhaps, Nokia would have continued with Meego which would have been cool. Would Blackberry still be doing well? What about Nokia? It’s quite interesting.

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50 mattplaybass 12/19/12 11:10 AM

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I think I’d try out WP8. iOS frustrates me too much.

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42 gavinb 12/19/12 11:52 AM

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I would probably go with WP8. I love the design but I don’t think it’s as adaptable or as well supported as Android. I would be interested in the Mozilla OS if/when it appears.

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68 HumbertoH 12/19/12 11:57 AM

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Windows Phone…

I was actually looking for a WP, and then a wild Motorola Milestone appeared… then (i cant belive i did this) Googled “how to install Windows Phone 7 in android”, damn…

Long story shor, i bought the Android, and, now a days im still and Android.

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37 zippyioa 12/19/12 12:25 PM

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I’m not a fan of Apple so I’d probably go back to the Windows platform

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60 smwinn7 12/19/12 12:28 PM

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WebOS all the way, I wish Palm still existed though they were great.

Although if there were no Android Palm would have probably been bought by the Google instead of grumpy old HP

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- 91 dino13 12/19/12 6:09 PM
  
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  From time to time I catch myself wishing I could swipe through my open apps
  
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99 jaxidian 12/19/12 12:31 PM

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Given the current options, I’d be a WP8 user. I have a Lumia 920 and it’s a really nice device! The OS is still a little too immature for me but if they fixed a few deal-breakers, I could (not would) actually happily use it even with Android around.

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66 Teebor 12/19/12 1:04 PM

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I’d go back to windows , but obviously the Windows Phone 8 not 6.5 which I think was the last version I used??

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- 54 BrotherBloat 12/19/12 1:09 PM
  
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  ha! and the worst, too, it was! WinP8 looks nice… :)
  
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54 BrotherBloat 12/19/12 1:09 PM

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iOS or I would get some nerds to write me an open source one… o wait!!! :D

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39 chestont 12/19/12 1:15 PM

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Windows Phone if the Apps ecosystem were more robust. iOS if I had to I suppose.

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34 GuyWithDogs 12/19/12 3:37 PM

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Probably Windows Phone. I do Windows development during the day, so it would be sort of compelling to use the same skills for mobile development. If I felt like doing more coding at night.

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11 pliu.2014 12/19/12 4:56 PM

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webos before it shut down

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49 dharr18 12/19/12 5:01 PM

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I probably would not have a smartphone. I don’t care for WP8. iOS is not something I have ever found to be usable. I would probably wait for a Linux based phone or pray Google came up with an OS. Yes! That is it. I would be sporting a ChromePhone running ChromeOS. :D

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77 LadyDi 12/19/12 5:02 PM

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Blackberry as I used to think they were cool devices.

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80 heynomi4u 12/19/12 5:55 PM

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Windows Phone OS. I never liked anything from Apple.

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- 80 heynomi4u 12/19/12 5:57 PM
  
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  Nothing against them, it just never appealed to me. I tried iPad, iPhone, iMac and a MacBook. The only thing from them that I used regularly was the first generation iPod shuffle.
  
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19 mckeed 12/19/12 6:03 PM

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I think the Windows 8 Phones really have some serious potential. Anything to not use iOS.

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