Apple has been predictably tight-lipped about the upcoming launch of its new, smaller iPad - so much so that the arrival of the ‘iPad mini’ has yet to be concretely ascertained.
The arrivals of Apple’s last two products, the iPhone 5 and new iPad, were marred by myriad leaks, and Apple seems to have taken measures to ensure the same doesn’t happen again with its expected new iPad.
The biggest clue to its impending debut is last week’s issuing of invitations to media, with the tagline “we’ve got a little more to show you”. The invitations were sent for an October 23 event (morning of October 24 for Australians), in San Jose, California, just down the road from Apple's Cupertino headquarters.
Details of what is to be unveiled are sparse, but the smaller version of Apple’s flagship tablet is expected to contain a 7.85in display, compared to the current iPad's 9.5in display, and be priced around $US300.
It is expected to look like a large version of Apple’s iPod Touch media player. It is also expected to be a bit thinner than its predecessors, and include the new Lightning connector that debuted with the iPhone 5.
Upon its launch, the iPad mini will compete directly with other, smaller-scale tablets, such as Google's Nexus 7, Amazon's new 7-inch Kindle Fire HD, and the 7-inch version of Samsung's Galaxy Tab.
Smaller iPad cases are reportedly already on sale on Alibaba.com, a major e-commerce site based in China, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Journal also reported last week that Apple component suppliers, including LG Display and AU Optronics, have already started producing LCD screens for the new device.
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