Apple is in the news a lot these days, and the new iPhone will be unveiled in just.  But what is the company’s future? Will it continue its meteoric climb as a consumer products leader? Has Apple reached its apex and now destined to slip away to competitors like Google and Amazon?

Here’s a piece in Financial Times suggesting that Apple is here to stay – citing the fact that the company is now worth more than long-time adversary Microsoft. Apple has been declared the largest tech company, and the coming days of new products and innovation might well continue that domination. Yesterday’s news that MS had re-organized its gadgets division didn’t do anything to make one think otherwise.

Still…how can Sir Steve keep it up? Over in the Wall Street Journal, an observation was made that Apple could be sealing its own fate by remaining committed to the “closed system” of tightly managing all software and hardware integration. This obsession with defining the user experience could well mean that Google’s Andriod phone OS, for instance, will one day rule the smart-pone seas. That licensed Android system means a multitude of manufacturers – resulting in a multitude of hardware options. And that is reminiscent of what happened when Steve Jobs decided to keep Apple’s OS to itself…allowing the competing MS operating system,

And I recently read a columnist who said Apple stock, in his opinion, is a “strong buy.”

I don’t own Apple stock. I DO own many Apple gadgets. And I like them all very much. But I’ll admit that the coming days seem a bit troubling to me. A friend with an Android phone showed it off, and I was impressed. With the release of MS Vista, it seems Microsoft is finally getting the hang of making their OS markedly better.

Something tells me that “the jury is still out,” that Apple will be around for quite some time, and that the coming days of technology and electronics will only bring improved products at lower prices.

Sure as the sun shines.

Er, as I type that last sentence, I notice it is raining, even though the sun is still shining.

Hmmm.