The iPad mini has a new rumoured debut date -- Apple is now tipped to lift the lid on its teeny-tiny tablet at an event on 23 October.
The rumour comes via AllThingsD, citing "people familiar with Apple's plans". 23 October is a Tuesday in a few weeks' time, and is just a few days before Microsoft's Surface tablet, featuring Windows 8, is scheduled to go on sale.
This isn't the first iPad mini launch rumour -- an earlier rumour from Fortune suggested invites to Apple's bash would be sent out on 10 October, which those keeping a close eye on the calendar will realise has already been and gone, with nary an invite to be seen.
As such -- and as with all rumours -- it's best to take this one with a pinch of salt. Nevertheless the timing would make sense, as in addition to stealing Microsoft's Windows 8 thunder, Apple could overshadow the launch of Windows Phone 8 and the rumoured LG Nexus smart phone by putting the iPad mini on sale the following week.
Yes, it's shaping up to be a busy month for tech. The CNET UK offices will be well stocked with energy drink and hummous, and writers suffering from typing cramp will be permitted to hold their injured hands in the company fridge for up to four consecutive minutes.
The iPad mini is reckoned to sport a 7.85-inch display and the new Lightning port connector. Leaked photos of casings (including the one above) suggest a squarish design and a rear-facing camera. Could it be cheap enough to compete with the £160 Nexus 7, though?
We'll be bringing you all the very latest tech news as it happens, so stay tuned. In the meantime tell us -- what would you like to see from a smaller iPad? Stick your sentiments in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters 
Comments 13
Add your comment
anonymous 12 October, 2012 13:35
Does this mean Acer can sue Apple for having a product the same size and being rectangle just like Apple do? :)
damien2501 12 October, 2012 13:38
Original joke there. Yawn
anonymous 12 October, 2012 13:43
Damien, sense of humour, get one!
anonymous 12 October, 2012 13:44
lot's of awesome things are going to happen in the 20s of october.yay!
anonymous 12 October, 2012 14:13
@anonymous damien is part of the apple cult hes not like most peeps
Mark Anderson 12 October, 2012 14:27
A 7" iPad? That's like a Nexus 7 but not as good and with a silly proprietary connector and lots of restrictions, right?
I'll pass.
ArclightJones 12 October, 2012 14:57
Like all rumours, you will have to wait and see, don't expect the ipad mini to be cheap as the rotten fruit (apple) don't believe in eating their own profits to sell their hardware the same way Google does or what Microsoft should do to sell us the Surface with windows 8 OS
anonymous 12 October, 2012 15:19
its not gonna be new!!!! a small iPad WHOOO BIG WHOOP! IT
Will probably be more expensive than a nexus7 as its apple!
Why explain more when mark anderson said it perfectly above!!
But knowing iSheep they will buy thus even though they probably own a "new"iPad
CaptainPicard 12 October, 2012 16:22
There are people gonna buy the iPad Mini no matter what it costs but if Apple wants new customers, it'll have to price it in the same range as the Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle tablet.
Ruffus Stone 12 October, 2012 17:22
The Nexus 7 and the (restricted) Kindle Fire tablets are said to be sold at or below cost, as loss leaders to try and capture people into the respective Google Play and Amazon content ecosystems.
In Google's case, there is no money to be made from Android and they need to grab a slice of the content market to get anything back and make money from their efforts.
Apple don't need to sell an iPad Mini at a loss, as their content channels are doing very nicely.
If they can improve on the hardware specs of those other two 7" tablets, combined with a metal case etc, then they could sell millions of iPad Minis at a higher price, unless the price is way too high.
.
anonymous 12 October, 2012 18:53
Tesco mobile not rowking as well
anonymous 13 October, 2012 01:02
The iPad mini will have half the number of processor cores running at a much slower speed than the Nexus 7. It won't have a USB port that you can plug mice and flash drives into. It won't have NFC. But it will be at least twice the price of the Nexus 7 and be very shiny and have cheepo white earphones bundled with it. And of course the fanboys will flock to buy them in droves and CNET will be gushing for enthusiasm over it.
anonymous 14 October, 2012 12:52
Are Apple getting twitchy at the potential success of windows 8 that they have to do this - I guess so mind you with such a boring UI that's hardly changed for years its not a surprise - iPad mini isn't that an ipod touch?? They're really scraping the barrel now! Windows is defo the future bring on the dominance of Widows Tablets and phones where Apple fanboys will be jealous of the apps we have!!