Apple’s long-fabled iPad Mini is expected to be announced on October 23, according to a report from John Paczkowski of AllThingsD. The event will take place at Apple’s Town Hall auditorium, and will likely play host to the release of iTunes 11 and new Macs, as well as the iPad Mini itself.
Apple will hold a special event this month at which it will showcase a new, smaller iPad. People familiar with Apple’s plans tell us that the company will unveil the so-called “iPad mini” on October 23 at an invitation-only event… Sources declined to specify where the event is to be held, and I’ve not been able to confirm a location.
AllThingsD has an exceptional track record when it comes to Apple-related reports. Rene Ritchie of iMore reports that the date falls in line with what they have been hearing as well, and Jim Dalrymple of The Loop has confirmed the date with his famous monosyllabic “Yep.” Dalrymple has never been wrong, to my knowledge, and his confirmation is considered by many to be the definitive word on goings on at Apple.
The iPad mini is expected to be as thin as an iPod touch, and feature a narrow bezel. The device is expected to sell for between $200 and $300 (1, 2), and will likely resemble a smaller version of the iPad 2. Apple has reportedly already ordered 10 million iPad Minis tor the first few months of sales.
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Update: Reuters now backs this report with their own independent sources:
“Apple Inc will host an event on October 23 where it is expected to unveil a smaller iPad that will take on the less expensive devices offered by Amazon.com Inc and Google Inc, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday…
…The consumer device company is gearing up to unveil a new product at a major October 23 event, said the source, who declined to be named, only days before Microsoft Corp unveils Windows 8 and its new Surface tableton October 26.”
Update (10/16/2012): Apple has now officially announced their media event on October 23rd, and has sent invitations out to certain members of the media.