It's as simple as: Power down device, remove battery, remove SIM, do not re-connect to wifi hotspots. All of which can be done by anybody in less than 45 seconds. If the battery is non-removable? Power down, remove SIM, don't use wifi. Find my phone and remote wipe are pretty much a big hilarous joke if the theif know how to handle phones.

Android already features full device encryption, you've just got to turn it on. Keep in mind that not all OEMs support the feature, CyanogenMod and most AOSP derivitaves do. There's currently no self-destruct option should the pattern/pin lock be entered wrong X number of times, though I'm surprised Google hasn't implimented one as of yet.

I'm not one of those people. There are more reasons than spyware to reflash to CM.. Like running TouchWiz. My personal case is owning a GS3, I reflashed to CM and installed GApps because I prefer Google's Services and the ease of use that an AOSP-based ROM provides.

This still doesn't prevent the individual user from re-flashing their phone to a version deviod of Google's software. Remember that custom ROMs by default are legally prohibited from including GApps by Google. It still means that if an end-user wanted to take it upon themselves, they can do it. It's just a whole lot more convienient to use GApps.

Android IS an open platform. It's entirely up to you if you want to be locked into Google's ecosystem or not. Install Cyanogenmod or another third-party ROM, then look as there's no GApps or Google all over your phone. But remember it's now up to you to sideload a new app store and get the APKs to what non-Google services you use.

And leave yourself with an increasingly insecure browser thanks to discovered bugs the updates you've blocked fix? No thanks. I'd swap browsers before leaving myself with an out-of-date browser.

I'd rather have the global menu. It's a lot cleaner than having menu bars in every damn window.

That's 4 years while frozen. Almost anything intended for refridgeration can handle being stored for long-term so long as the temperature holds. This however is 3 years on the shelf with no temperature controls at all. There are very few things that can make that particular claim. Just ask anyone that works in your local Target/Wal-mart/regional groccery about product rotation. Only candy manages to hit the 3 year mark, and that's pushing it.

Sounds like you've just got shitty delivery services in your area. I've never had a cold delivery pizza, ever.

Not every phone that's out there has an AOSP or CM ROM available for it. So for some people, they really are stuck with whatever the OEM and carrier chose to cram on there. If you don't already have a phone and are willing to look for your ROM before buying, this is great. Those with existing handsets though have good odds of being stuck unless they're lucky enough to have a flagship device.

Give it up, MS. You've lost mobile all over again. This is just another repeat of WinMo 6/6.5 and not many people are going to put up with it. So instead of bowing out when you knew you were beaten, you've proceeded to beat the dead horse and wasting more money on failed products. The fact that both you and Blackberry have been trying to get Android apps to run on your platforms is telling of a serious lack of confidense on your software. Just give up.

Dropbox will also do videos by default along with WiFi only sync. I wouldn't recommend video backup with Cellular data, takes far too long and clogs up your 3G/4G connection with ease. It's perfect for photos though.

Yeah, a lot of people are moving to personal vaporizers as cigarette replacements. A a nic-free vaper myself, it's something I actively encourage agreeable smokers that I see to do. It's a lot healthier and far cheaper in the long run.

He's already at the point where he can't walk distances. So this diagnosis is really really late in the game for him.

I wish I had mod points for this.