Apple will hold a media event in San Francisco on Oct. 22, where a refresh of the iPad line is likely to be announced, possibly along with "a lot" of other stuff.
The invite says "We still have a lot to cover." Critics have said Apple didn't roll out enough products so far in 2013, so maybe this is Apple's rebuttal. After all, in addition to iPads, there's a MacBook Pro refresh due, and the official debut of the shiny black jet-engine-shaped Mac Pro, too. It wouldn't be weird to see upgraded iPods and Apple TV set-top devices, too — all in all, "a lot."
Maybe the word "cover" is a play on an upcoming iPad accessory. Microsoft made some hay (if not many sales) with its keyboard-equipped Touch Cover — maybe Apple is stepping up with some newfangled cover of its own.
The real question is this: Will we see an Apple iTV set or an Apple smartwatch? Probably not, but then again, maybe Apple is getting back into the surprise game.
Wilson Rothman is the Technology & Science editor at NBC News Digital. Catch up with him on Twitter at @wjrothman, and join our conversation on Facebook.