Apple Combats Google-Microsoft-Facebook Troika In App Race

Apple is releasing a fresh lineup of computers and software tools to woo consumers and keep developers making applications amid accelerating rivalry from Google, Microsoft, and, now, Facebook. Apple will use the Worldwide Developers Conference starting June 10 in San Francisco to debut Mac computers with high- definition screens, as well as features for the software that powers its iPhone and iPad.

Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of product marketing, will probably emcee the keynote. Leadership in the consumer-electronics industry hinges on a company’s ability to get developers to put its products first when building the next big application. With more than 600,000 downloadable games, magazines and productivity tools, Apple is the application leader. Microsoft is playing catch-up before the release of its next operating system, Google will host a developers conference this month and Facebook just opened its own store.