Let me start by saying I use both iOS and Android extensively everyday. I have a lot of mileage built up on both platforms and I'm pretty much OS agnostic. I use what works for me at the given time. I'm going to make this as objective as possible.
I see a lot of discussion about the frequency of non nexus devices getting Android updates and I want to address a few points.
-In iOS, you get a major OS release once per year, it contains most of the new features you're going to see for that year until the next update. During these yearly updates is when the core apps such as mail, maps, app store, calendar etc. get updated as well. Outside of the yearly major releases, the only other time the core apps have a chance of being updates is with the occasional, and infrequent X.1 release.
-Older devices don't get the full update and miss out on many of the features that make upgrading to the new OS worth while.
-Updating is seamless and apple supports their hardware much longer than the typical android device. The 3.5+ year old iPhone 3GS is still running the latest version of iOS. Updates are received the day they come out, mainly due to how apple handles updates and that they have enough clout to not be pushed around by carriers.
Things are VASTLY different on Android.
-On Android, new versions are release every 6-9 months. Each major update, much like iOS contains the bulk of the features to be seen throughout the update cycle. But that's pretty much where the similarities end. The core apps are also updated with the new OS, but unlike iOS, the are updated separately on older versions of android too. For example, say I got a new version of maps with Android 5.0. While many devices won't get the 5.0 update, maps will also get updated on Jellybean, ICS, and GB as well. So while they may be running the older versions of Android, they will all have the latest versions of the core apps. Albeit maybe missing some features and UI themes that require something in the newer OS. This is the main point I wanted to highlight with this thread. While iOS users depend on OS updates to get the latest core apps, Android users don't. They get the latest versions anyway (for the most part) despite the older OS. And even an Android 2.2 phone can still download many of the apps available today.
-Many phones miss out on OS updates thanks to carriers and manufacturers. But the ones that do get updates generally get the full OS.
-Updates are a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to android. You can't really depend on getting an update. Basically, as a general rule, if you're not happy with the OS/features that come pre installed, find a different phone/manufacturer. Getting an update would just be icing on the cake. The exception being Nexus devices. Android phones generally don't get as many updates as iOS devices do, again the exception being Nexus devices. Things are getting better however. The 2011 Galaxy S2 is getting/has gotten Jelly Bean and other manufacturers are slowly starting to follow suit. But like I said, OS updates aren't AS important as getting them on iOS.
Hopefully this thread wasn't a bunch of useless rambling.
I see a lot of discussion about the frequency of non nexus devices getting Android updates and I want to address a few points.
-In iOS, you get a major OS release once per year, it contains most of the new features you're going to see for that year until the next update. During these yearly updates is when the core apps such as mail, maps, app store, calendar etc. get updated as well. Outside of the yearly major releases, the only other time the core apps have a chance of being updates is with the occasional, and infrequent X.1 release.
-Older devices don't get the full update and miss out on many of the features that make upgrading to the new OS worth while.
-Updating is seamless and apple supports their hardware much longer than the typical android device. The 3.5+ year old iPhone 3GS is still running the latest version of iOS. Updates are received the day they come out, mainly due to how apple handles updates and that they have enough clout to not be pushed around by carriers.
Things are VASTLY different on Android.
-On Android, new versions are release every 6-9 months. Each major update, much like iOS contains the bulk of the features to be seen throughout the update cycle. But that's pretty much where the similarities end. The core apps are also updated with the new OS, but unlike iOS, the are updated separately on older versions of android too. For example, say I got a new version of maps with Android 5.0. While many devices won't get the 5.0 update, maps will also get updated on Jellybean, ICS, and GB as well. So while they may be running the older versions of Android, they will all have the latest versions of the core apps. Albeit maybe missing some features and UI themes that require something in the newer OS. This is the main point I wanted to highlight with this thread. While iOS users depend on OS updates to get the latest core apps, Android users don't. They get the latest versions anyway (for the most part) despite the older OS. And even an Android 2.2 phone can still download many of the apps available today.
-Many phones miss out on OS updates thanks to carriers and manufacturers. But the ones that do get updates generally get the full OS.
-Updates are a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to android. You can't really depend on getting an update. Basically, as a general rule, if you're not happy with the OS/features that come pre installed, find a different phone/manufacturer. Getting an update would just be icing on the cake. The exception being Nexus devices. Android phones generally don't get as many updates as iOS devices do, again the exception being Nexus devices. Things are getting better however. The 2011 Galaxy S2 is getting/has gotten Jelly Bean and other manufacturers are slowly starting to follow suit. But like I said, OS updates aren't AS important as getting them on iOS.
Hopefully this thread wasn't a bunch of useless rambling.
Chrome on android is far more than what they offer on the iOS version which is why it's probably offered to such a limited selection of android handsets. Chrome is one app that must take advantage newer APIs available in ICS and beyond. 
