I get the vibe that Google leads in technology, Apple in design, and Microsoft in always being behind the two. It seems like features from the Google-verse end up in Apple-land after a few years, and Google gently copies Apple's design at the same pace. Microsoft, just feels like an out of touch, but well-to-do business dude always realizing his attempts to stay relevant are 15 minutes too late.
There was a time when these companies essentially targeted different audiences (or markets). Perhaps they are merely converging to the same markets, which would make them seem much more alike now than in the olden days. As a company becomes more diverse, there is an increasingly greater chance of overlap with any given other company. Although not a solid rule, less focus tends to result in less unique innovation since the R&D is spread too thin. There are, of course, areas where each company is still unique.
Every now an then we see this happening. One or other major companies plays a catch-up game. It's the matter who does it first and then who keep up with it. In early days for input device mouse introduction both Apple and Microsoft were trying to get their hands on the technology and were trying to make it to market before the rival.
apple is just trying to catch up the others
That's a rather surprising statement given the technical sophistication of Apple's products. In what way is Apple trying to play catch up with the others?
Trying to lock you down into their ecosystem? Oh, wait. They're already there.
They're behind in the mobile OS, browser, and desktop OS markets.