These electronic platforms are useless without controlling the Apps and data that run on them. This is corporate warfare -- survival of the fitest. Who has the better hardware or software is often beside the point (though it is a factor).
Not true. The hardware/software discussion is the largest part of the equation.
Apple locks their users into specific hardware for use with their software. Their software works exceptionally well, because it is designed to function flawlessly on the hardware on which it ships. For instance, you can’t install iOS on an ASUS motherboard with nVIDIA graphics cards and expect the same performance or stability as with what they ship it now.
On the other side of the coin, Microsoft tries to be everything to everyone, and as a result, you have a security-hole-ridden, bloated set of software that’s expected to run on a dishwasher if you have enough disk space. Then when you want support for a fault, failure, or operating SNAFU, you spend hours or even days finding answers on the web, installing software, scanning, snooping, monitoring, and even if you find the problem, you often create new ones down the line.
Then you’ve got the middle ground with Linux. Linux can be installed on almost anything from a LiveCD (or USB disk), and generally only the necessary drivers, firmware, and software are installed based on the preferences of the user. There is, however, much less professional, paid support, and unless you’re doing the basic web, email, videos, pictures, and music thing, you’re likely going to spend a lot of time in a bash CLI.
I understand controlling interests for corporations, and I don’t fault Apple for their decision to do what they did. I do not believe, however, that they’re going to overtake Google in something that they’ve already perfected over the course of the last 10 years. Just like with YouTube, people are going to flock back to what they know if it’s taken away from them but still left out there as an option.