Largest smart phone brand, Apple don't actually manufacture anything. Mostly done in the foxconn factories in china. The very same factories where the employees were throwing themselves off the roof, due to the poor working conditions and crap pay.

HTC, LG, Sony, Nokia, & Motorola all manufacture their own handsets. HTC currently holds the record for the fastest idea to actual hardware ready, they managed it in around 8 - 9 months.

Samsung produce all the processors for the current IPADs and Iphones, but Iphone 5 processor will be produced by TSMC.

As the past has shown before closed systems do not tend to do very well in the long term. As no-one wants to be tied down to a single manufacturer. With all the problems that can entail. Hence why Android is trouncing IOS in the phone market in every territory. Apple wil never let IOS be available for other devices, so they will ultimatly lose.

And for those that beleive the I-Phone was the first touch screen smart phone. HTC had one in 1996.

I tried to keep to facts, and they will be anti apple, because as other people have said, I don't like Apple as a company. They are the new Evil Empire, and I don't agree with some of their business practices, as a company or some of the advice they give to their consumers.

 

IBM had a touchscreen smartphone even earlier. I'm not a fan of Apple either, and while they may not be the first to make these and other devices. They are responsible for launching the the trends of things. And while things are popular, it means a lot more development money will be spent by all companies in these areas. So ultimately we will see big improvements from whatever manufacturer you decide to go with. It gives the consumer a wide range of options, choice and features.
Android will be the most popular operating system, but that's because it's free and open. Manufacturers can tweak it and implement it on many devices. iOS is only on Apple devices so it's not really a fair comparison. Apple still sold more smartphones then any other company, so you could say that iOS is found on the most popular smartphone and is therefore beating Android. Samsung are snapping at Apple's heals and the Galaxy S2 is a cracking phone so that may all change. Saying that the iPhone 5 can't be too far away and is bound to break sales records.

I hate iOS though and much prefer Android. HTC haven't got the sales yet to bother the competition, but their profits doubled and I like some of their phones. I had the Hero and loved the design of it, currently I have the desire HD and think it's great. The screen is not the best though, but I didn't notice how bad the screen was until I put it next to a Galaxy S2.

 

I love Google I really do, they changed my computing life. But to say that Apple's evil then sing the praises of an advertising company is barmy.

Trying to use Apples outsourcing as a negative when just about every competitive product outsources their operating system is also barmy.

Anyone who can't see that Apple influenced every competitive smartphone is also barmy.