As I watched the Apple announcement today on my Retina iPad — aka The New iPad — I thought about how "meta" the situation one. Here I was watching a potential iPad mini announcement on my iPad that was actually being broadcasted live.

Revolutionary.

Then came the 13" Retina MacBook Pro — tempting.

Then came the Mac Mini — more power.

Then came the iMac — sexy.

As soon as Tim Cook brought up the iPad and called Phil Schiller back to the stage, it was the moment we were all waiting for.

Except it wasn't.

What many were expecting to be the iPad mini announcement, Apple threw a curveball and announced The New-er iPad — the 4th generation iPad.

Rumor sites speculated on an "updated" iPad with a Lightning port — but not one with a new processor. This new processor, the A6X, was enough of an upgrade to call label this iteration under a new "generation".

This processor, as Marco Arment tweeted, made me say 'shit'.

As I sat there looking at my iPad, I thought about the simpler times.

The times when iPods were rampant. The times when I was satisfied about my 30GB White iPod Video¹ and not stressing out on the refreshes and new versions that Apple released.

What happened to those times?

As I came back to reality, my co-workers came into my office — teasing me about the iPad. Jokingly, I put my iPad in the trash can.

So what to make of all this? I don't know.

But what I do know is my birthday is coming, and I'm going to treat myself to a gift.

Not sure what though.

✦