I’m still shocked at how fast Android has gone from the red headed step-child in the corner to such a viable product.  A year ago I early adopted and got the G1.  I sat back and watched as noone offered any other Android phones and tech personalities like Leo Laporte and Kevin Rose didn’t say Android wouldn’t be successful, they just didn’t talk about it.

A year later and the Nexus One was so nice, I got it a month after buying my second Android phone.  I bought the Cliq because I do a lot of social networking and then the Nexus One rumors started.  Next thing I knew I was buying the Nexus One and planning to get my Cliq unlocked so I could sell it on Ebay.

Now we’re at the point where Android has hardware and software to compete with Apple thanks to Apple’s shortsightedness.  Apple had the market under control and instead of innovating they stood steadfast in their shortcomings in order to keep total control of the iPhone experience.  They stuck with AT&T and refused to run multiple apps.  I still laugh at my iPhone toting friends who have to use third party apps to text because they pay more for service than I do, but don’t have unlimited texting and MMS.  With any luck next year at this time the iPhone will be slowly going away like the Motorola Razr did before it.  Motorola was dominating the market before Apple came into play.  Who’s next.

Even more interesting is the way Google is throwing features at Android.  Voice dictation as an option when inputing text, free navigation, native multi-touch support, and coming soon, full flash support so that games and videos from the web are finally playable on the smartphone.

The change has come so fast I can’t really believe it.  This time last year I was experiencing buyers remorse with my G1 and wondering if T-Mobile would ever let HTC produce hardware that could handle the operating system.  Now the other carriers are grabbing Android as are other manufacturers.  Even Motorola has seen resurgence thanks to it’s Droid and Motoblur technology.  Even the Apple iPad announcement comes as a slew of Android based tablets are on the way to the market.

The difference is noticeable in the real world now too.  I went to a basketball game and everytime you looked at a scoreboard or ribbon board there were “Droid does” ads.  I work in the technology business where you could say most of us are geeks and gadget hounds.  Last year at this time people’s phones were a combination of Blackberries, iPhones and normal phones, with my boss and I owning G1′s.  This year, there are a few iPhones, a few Blackberries, a few Mytouches, a few G1s, and my Nexus.  Things seem to have evened out and now even people like Leo Laporte, pure mac fanboys, are talking about the Droid and the Nexus one like they actually want Google to succeed.

Google may never push the iPhone out of the market, but in the end, Android will make smartphones better for everyone.  Google will be forced to keep trying to outdo Apple, Apple will be forced to try to adopt features Android phones have and the customer wins out.  That said, I own a Nexus one, but it’s not quite and iPod.  If Apple ever brings the phone in uncrippled form to T-mobile I may have to switch.  Unfortunately until then I don’t do rooting or jail-breaking.  I can’t afford to buy a $500 device and then not have warranty protection because I’ve voided my warranty.