So is this a good time to buy a new Smartphone

In my opinion the market is not about phones right now, it is about what eco-system will you choose and what devices and network options come with that. Google's eco-system is quickly becoming the best there is and Microsoft is coming on strong with it's new big bet. Apple's however seems in decline but Apple has one thing going for it, the app developers have created their own platforms and their apps are still the best on iPhone and iPad. So what device should you get?

So after sleeping and reading some more on the subject, here is my updated view on the current flagships. Chris Ziegler on The Verge has written "This is not my Next" about the HTC 8x and the Google / LG nexus 4. He claims his personal phones (why in the hell more than one, but ok) will likely be the Galaxy SIII and the iPhone 5 since they complement each other. Besides that I would want that complementing in one device instead of two or even 4, since all the new flagships have a lot going for them and some downsides, he does have a point.

So here's the question: Is it actually a good time to buy a new smartphone?

Let's get in some facts starting with Google:

The Nexus 4 is probably the best Android phone around, but it has a glass back and no LTE, so when providers start upgrading and you want to go on a newer network or if you bump your phone you will end up buying a new one, likely this will happen very soon so this will be obsolete in a year.

Samsung's SGSIII is currently the best Android device out there and it has proven it's succes. However Samsung doesn't deliver the best Android software, Google does. They do make an LTE device though, so if you want LTE and Android on really serious hardware there is the solution, root the SGSIII and install a AO(S/K)P rom. Ok so you don't get that out of the box and it will void your warranty on a 600 Euro phone but it looks like a solution. Too bad not for me because my job use of the phone requires a stock rom, not rooted.

So we get to HTC, they make a great Android, the One X, but since the launch of the J Butterfly in Japan, it's not the time to buy the One X(+), if you buy the HTC flagship you wait for the next one with the hardware that will currently go as "ULTIMATE AWESOMENESS!!!" sorry about that.

Furthermore HTC is working on the campaign and launch for the 8X with Microsoft. That means that it would be a weird move to launch an Android of the Butterfly calibre worldwide now. Maybe in a month or so but still you will get Sense and not the Google experience (or maybe they will Nexus it too).

Looking beyond Android we can make a move to other ecosystems. Microsoft is putting it out there with Windows 8. Editions for all types of hardware and in time a seemless integration between the devices. But what I do agree on with Chris, the devices 8X too, are hideous. They all look like toys. The only goodlooking one is the render in the comments of this Verge article.

So the Microsoft eco-system doesn't really offer what I would like to own, though the ecosystem and its cloud-based device inter-linkage sounds great.

Finally we get to Apple, yes the iPhone 5 is undoubtedly the most beautiful device around but 4" is small, that is seriously small and the width is still the same as the old one, so basically reading an article is just as bad as it was on a 4S. And next to that you get the aged iTunes ecosystem with it. I even use Google on the Mac just to avoid iCloud, I use Spotify because I never got used to the illogical way of transferring music between devices. The only really good Apple things are design and the photostream (combined with aperture) but the last is something I can easily do without, get Dropbox, Google Plus or Instagram and you are done.

So here's my message on the subject:

Google, please let HTC launch a decent future proof awesome phone (based on J Butterfly ofc) under your Nexus Program. HTC apply for that program with your device. Samsung apply for Nexus as well with an SIII+. Microsoft, go build your best looking product ever. And Apple, start rethinking the eco-system, Steve was a genius, but the world caught up with his ideas and now you need to step up the game again like he would.

Anyway, in my opinion the market is not about phones right now, it is about what eco-system will you choose and what devices and network options come with that. Google's eco-system is quickly becoming the best there is and Microsoft is coming on strong with it's new big bet. Apple's however seems in decline but Apple has one thing going for it, the app developers have created their own platforms and their apps are still the best on iPhone and iPad. So I will buy the iPhone I can easily be independent from Apple's own aged platform with some other great apps and own a beautiful phone, if a great Nexus Android comes along I'll see what to get then.