Apple is gearing up to send out invitations and press events on Oct. 10 as it is set to announce the smaller iPad, dubbed the iPad Mini or iPad Air.
The news is based on a report in CNN Money's Fortune blog that cited an anonymous inside source. iPad Mini rumors have been doing the rounds for quite some time now.
The iPad Mini is supposed to have a 7.85-inch screen. It's expected to have the aspect ratio of 4:3 aspect, with 1024 x 768 resolution. The iPad 2 is priced at $399 and the new iPod Touch costs $299, so the iPad Mini might cost between these two price ranges. The lightening port comes at the bottom, while the headphone jack is at the top of the tablet. The speakers are on the bottom edge. The screen might have a non-retina display.
Seth Weintraub of 9to5 Mac and Apple watcher John Gruber believe that this small tablet might be like a large iPod Touch. The production for Apple's smaller iPad tablet has already begun at the Foxconn factory in Brazil, the iPad Guide reported.
It has long been rumored that Apple is gearing up to take on Amazon's Kindle Fire, Google's Nexus 7, Barnes & Nobles' Nook and Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7.
Amazon has already begun shipping its new versions of the Kindle Fire. Japanese site Macotakara, via MacRumors, gives a leaked photo and a video of the iPad Mini mock up. The iPad Mini might reportedly unveil its product on Oct. 27 and may go on sale on Nov. 2.
As is the custom with Apple, it has not bothered to comment on the rumor nor did it say anything during the iPhone 5 release.
