"X" is the future is a common figure of speech. It's not necessarily implying what you describe as "paints of a picture of the future where Apple has replaced

"X" is the future is a common figure of speech. It's not necessarily implying what you describe as "paints of a picture of the future where Apple has replaced Microsoft as the 800lb. gorilla of the software industry" -- it simply means that "X" has some quality that signifies a particular future.