Apple Inc. (AAPL) vs. Google Inc. (GOOG) Rivalry Heats Up

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) have at least been competitors in the tech world for a number of years, but is there a rivalry brewing? That question comes to mind with the latest move that actually shuts out Google from a collaboration with Apple.  There is a story out that Apple has removed YouTube, which is owned by Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) from is new iOS, the iOS 6 for iPads and iPhones. This battle might just lead some hedge-fund managers to pick a side, as both of these stocks are among the 10 favorite tech stocks of hedge funds (see the list of 10 most popular tech stocks).

In addition, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced that it would have its own mapping service on the new operating system, instead of Google Maps.

The YouTube exclusion is noteworthy, because Apple had included YouTube on its smarphone systems from the first iPhone introduction in 2007. Could this exclusion be because Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has the world’s most popular smartphone operation system, Android, controlling the market that Apple wants to control? It is a question to consider, though it’s hard to say whether the rivalry goes both ways, since Google upgraded its Google Chrome web browser for the express purpose of being able to be used on Apple computers that feature the ultra-high-resolution Retina Display.

The companies had been seeing their relationship fray over the years, and things got heightened when Google introduced Android and sales of smartphones with that OS were outpacing everyone – including Apple’s iOS. And now with Google unveiling its Nexus 7 to get further into the hardware side of tech, along with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and its Surface tablet – an area Apple has previously seen limited competition – the kitchen may be getting a little hot for both companies.

Analysts see this relationship become untenable before long, to where it may come to a point that a customer may have to choose between Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) entirely – that Google products (like Maps, Search, Chrome, etc.) would only be offered and supported on Android phones or Nexus tablets. And of course, vice versa. Then it comes down to, do you like the Apple technolgoy more than the Google applications?

Talk about the customer being between a rock and a hard place.