July is heating up, and we're not just talking about the record-scorching temperatures in chunks of the country.

Let's go over a few of the upcoming days to watch.

July 15
Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) isn't really seen as a hardware company, especially to consumers, but that may change this month.

The dot-com giant unveiled its Nexus 7 tablet and its Nexus Q social streaming device last week. Both gadgets are expected to hit the market in mid-July.

The tablet has generated the most buzz given the low $199 starting price and its surprising specs. The $299 Nexus Q will have a harder time proving itself, but it could be the real game changer for Google given the high-tech orb's simplistic design and the seamless sharing feature with Android devices.

No matter how either launch pans out, the public will probably be seeing Google in a different light by the end of the month.

July 17
There isn't usually anything to worry about when Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) steps up for its quarterly reports. The pop star is the picture of consistency. Fears of childhood diabetes or shifting consumer tastes away from sugary fizz are no match for Coca-Cola's global dominance.

Coke -- true to its marketing mantra -- is it.

However, an interesting development last month found the beverage behemoth sending a cease-and-desist letter to SodaStream (Nasdaq: SODA) -- the Israeli maker of the fast-growing namesake soda-making system -- asking it to stop using Coca-Cola products in an exhibit that illustrates the number of cans and bottles that the average family goes through in a couple of years.

SodaStream has been milking the free publicity. The Coca-Cola letter pertained to one of the cage exhibits in South Africa, but SodaStream has dozens around the world. Taunting Coca-Cola, it even moved one to the Coke and Sprite champ's home turf of Atlanta for a few days.

Coca-Cola is unlikely to address the situation in its report, but it will have to if an analyst brings it up.

July 23
McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) is another global consumer brand that has proven its all-weather ways alongside Coca-Cola, but the world's largest restaurant chain offered up surprisingly uninspiring store-level growth in its latest monthly update.

Where does Mickey D's go from here? The company has been able to expand its menu with premium offerings in recent years. It upgraded its beverage lines with smoothies and fancy coffee drinks. Pricier chicken sandwiches and foodie-approved salads has helped offset the margin crunching behind its dollar menu.

Well, three Mondays from now it will be the burger giant's turn to soothe investors.

July 25
One of the hotter consumer-facing companies lately has been Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFM). The organic grocer has been rattling off quarter after quarter of healthy store-level growth, and healthy comps mean that folks aren't flinching at the chain's prices as they load up on "better for you" groceries.

The stock's price is closing in on triple digits, and the last time that happened -- in late 2005 -- Whole Foods declared a stock split.

Another strong report and a two-for-one stock split are strong possibilities as Whole Foods Market reports this month.

Give me more
If you like to stay on top of what happens next -- and I'm guessing you do because you're reading this article -- how about checking out The Motley Fool's top stock for 2012? It's a free report, but only for a limited time, so check it out now.