When you get a new phone, you're excited to get it out of the box. You take it out, put the battery in (if necessary) and then you power it up. You may have a set-up process to get through, but as soon as you finish that you're up and running. A notification may pop up, telling you that you've got a software update waiting in the wings. So you start it, an you eagerly await the changes coming to your phone. It's the same thing for an "old" phone, too. We can wait to get updates, because more than anything else it breathes a breath of fresh air into our device, all without having to buy a new device to do it.

But what if you're someone who has managed to get their hands on the scheduled update long before its official release? For Android users who have rooted their device, this is nothing new. After all, one of the reasons to root the device is to get your hands on an update, or particular features of an update before it launches. But what about those who have gained access to the iOS betas over time? If you're using one of Apple's latest devices, like the iPhone 4 or iPad 2, then you're getting everything that iPS 5 has to offer, rolled out in stages. The updates are from Apple and official in every capacity, so you aren't missing anything.

Doesn't that ruin the fun for some of you? Part of the excitement to owning a smartphone is the possibility of an update. Waiting the weeks or months to get it, finally downloading it, and then investigating it thoroughly. Getting the update early through the Developer's program means that by the time the official update is released, you will have seen an used everything. Probably pretty thoroughly, too, considering the speed the new beta builds are launching.

I can wholeheartedly understand why you'd want to get your hands on the new features right after their unveiling. After all, let's face it: waiting sucks. Especially if there are features in the new build you know you need now. If you can, why wait, right? And on the flip-side, with each new beta bringing new features to the table, you still get the surprise of a new software update an features, just in a staggered roll out.

There is something about being an early adopter. And if you're using the iOS 5 beta, then you're actually helping Apple build the latest version of their mobile OS, and that's pretty cool in of itself. Having the new features before all, or some of your friends is also probably pretty cool to some people. Having the ability to show off what they can't or don't have, especially knowing that they will have to wait to get their own. Satisfying, to say the least.

But where do you stand when it comes to updates? Are you someone who wants to wait until the final, official build is released? Or are you someone who needs everything new, right now? Let me know in the comments below.