Apple's rumoured smaller iPad could be getting an airing in just over a fortnight, with the mystery tablet potentially going on sale as soon as late October, fresh reports suggest.
Fortune says it's spoken to a major Apple investor, who, while asking to remain anonymous, believes from 'multiple sources' than invites to an iPad mini launch event will be sent out on 10 October -- that's next Wednesday.
Apple tends to send out invites to events mere days before the bash itself (don't you hate those short-notice shindigs?), so if that's true, we'd be looking at an unveiling the following week.
The iPhone 5 was flaunted on a Wednesday and went on sale the following Friday, as was the new iPad, so a lid-lifting ceremony on 17 October followed by a 26 October launch would make sense.
Needless to say, this is all guesswork, but a number of tips and hints from shadowy sources have pointed to October as the month we'll finally see Apple unwrapping a miniature iPad.
Nothing on this rumoured device is known for sure, but one thing I do know is that cheap, smaller tablets from major manufacturers are springing up everywhere. Google's got the quad-core Nexus 7, Amazon is launching the Kindle Fire HD, and US bookseller Barnes and Noble is poised to bring its Nook HD tablet to the UK too.
Apple isn't generally a company to follow industry trends, but those three tablets all cost about £160, and could easily persuade potential iPad buyers to go for the cheaper option. If Apple thinks it could lose ground to rival tablet-makers, that may persuade it to make a smaller, cheaper iPad.
Is the iPad mini real, or is it just fantasy? Tell me in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
Update: That didn't happen after all, as Fortune was brave enough to point out. Carry on, nothing to see here.
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Meleagru 2 October, 2012 11:21
I really doubt they can beat Google and Amazon on price, which is the biggest selling point for any 7 in her. Unless they bring something really new, and not retina and Siri, those are old news, I don't see how Apple can even begin to compete, other than through their brand, which, to say the least, has polarized consumers everywhere.
??? 2 October, 2012 11:41
Jobs: 7? tablets should come with sandpaper, so users can file down their fingers.
anonymous 2 October, 2012 11:43
Extremely handsome, knowledgeable young men, holding forth on matters of great importance. Sensational viewing. Thank you CNET. Thanks a bunch.
anonymous 2 October, 2012 13:10
I am a self-confessed Apple detractor. But a 7-inch iPad at the right price would certainly get serious consideration from me.
anonymous 2 October, 2012 14:42
They will never beat google and amazon on price because apple knows even if over priced people will still buy it.
A smaller iPad would get my attention and hopefully retina and new chips would be awesome :)
anonymous 4 October, 2012 13:42
I have both a Nexus7 and a iPad(3), and use them both a lot but for different things. Nexus is great for travelling with as it is nice and small and fits into my pocket, something can't be said for the iPad. I love ebing able to twek the scren to show what I need to see, and have much more information to immediately to hand. But for watching movies or playing certain games then iPad is much better due to screen size.
I can't think of any reason I would buy a iPad mini, unless you are someone who hasn't got a tablet of any kind, and if they hadn't then my choice would be the Nexus.
It will be the same argument about iPhone 5 or the S3, it depoends on what you want out of it, if you like simple, then i somthing, but if you want flexibility then Android.
anonymous 4 October, 2012 15:34
If we are lucky , siri will be included, but I doubt it.
anonymous 5 October, 2012 04:00
The prospect is not unlikely now that Steve Jobs is gone. But I feel that such device could hurt current iPad sales.
anonymous 11 October, 2012 17:33
This is the opportunity Tim Cook has been waiting for, Since Steve Job did not like the idea of a 7" ipad , calling it meaningless. Tim cook could prove Jobs wrong. Lets face it, so far consumers have not been happy with the latest ipad not including siri and with iphone 5 and its map problems. By adding siri and a $299 price for 16gb and $375 for the 32gb I believe it will be a big seller and will keep consumers happy.