The very core of the Apple universe has been shattered.

In an exclusive interview with App Advice, iFixit co-founder 'Kyle' (who's no doubt witholding his last name for the sake of his loved-ones' well-being,) admitted to having recieved their pre-release iPad two days earlier than they should have. Kyle told App Advice that he could only imagine that the tablet came two days earlier than it should have to iFixit's top-secret underwater teardown facility through a shipping error.

Two days early or not, what's a website known for its teardowns to do when faced with a lustworthy new device presented to them in one piece? Why, make it into a number of smaller pieces, of course.

“It went like any other standard teardown," Kyle told App Advice. "I started pulling each of the pieces out of the box while Luke photographed and wrote notes on everything.” Nothing could have prepared the iFixit founders for what they found next. levering the tablets screen up with a spooger, Kyle's found much to his surprise/wonder/horror that inside of the iPad, the current centre of the Apple universe, was a second generation iPod Touch.

“The LCD touchscreen was just a big magnifying glass and there was a an iPod touch glued to the back of it," Kyle said. “Wires led from the touch’s button to the buttons on the iPad’s case. A tiny PC speaker was located in the upper right corner of the iPad case and another in the lower left to give the illusion of stereo sound.”

The horror.

Kyle, Luke - before you disapear, we'd like to take this opportunity to salute you. In the face of the threat of Apple's legal department and their feared Flying Monkey Kidnap Army, you've served the world's Mac-loving denizens well. God's speed men.

God's speed.