Is it a coincidence that Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone 2.2 update was released on the same day the BlackBerry Storm hit stores with a touchscreen, 3G connectivity, and enterprise-friendly functionality that rivals anything Apple has on the market?

I think not.

Today’s iPhone update is Apple’s first salvo of many in its fight against Research In Motion (RIMM) for dominance over the cellphone industry. Some might say Apple’s decision to update the iPhone is pure coincidence, but I don’t think that the company is that naive.

Apple realizes that RIM is releasing a major offering that could shake Steve Jobs and Co. to its core, and it doesn’t want anyone to think it’s not doing everything it can to continually update its own product.

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I’ve been a pretty big fan of Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld ads. No, it’s not because I’m such a Seinfeld fanboy (I am though) or that I enjoy watching Bill Gates perform the robot on cue.

Instead, I look at the Seinfeld ads as a way for Microsoft to turn the company’s poor public image into a positive image that will help it finally fix its Vista PR woes.

But after buckling under the pressure of “what is this about?” articles, Microsoft has shelved the Seinfeld ads (they may or may not come back) and has instead started attacking Apple by explaining exactly what a PC is. (Editor’s note: Microsoft says the move away from the Seinfeld ads was always planned.)

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Although some people see a reason to buy a device just to read a book, I don’t. Some have said that Amazon’s Kindle is the savior of the e-book market. I don’t believe it. Others say that e-book readers will kill the book-publishing industry and bring it into the 21st century. I think that’s rubbish. The fact of the matter is e-book readers will never have commercial relevance.

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