iPad Mini media event invitations expected Wednesday
What will the invitations to Apple’s much-anticipated iPad Mini event look like? If rumors prove true, we’ll find out Wednesday.
Many rumors have pointed to Oct. 10 as the day that Apple will send out invitations to a media event that will unveil its latest gadget: The iPad Mini — a smaller and thinner version of its popular tablet computer.
The iPad Mini will feature a 7.85-inch screen, which is about 2 inches smaller than the current iPad with Retina display. Reports that came out this week say that the new iPad will only come in WiFi, while the larger model will be updated and receive international 4G LTE cellular capability.
The biggest question behind the iPad Mini is how much it will cost. Many rumors initially pointed to the smaller tablet costing between $200 and $250, but then Apple released its fifth-generation iPod Touch for $299 (32 GB model). It would be hard to fathom Apple releasing a tablet, which is significantly larger than an iPod Touch, for anything cheaper than $299.
But some have suggested that Apple could price it as low as $150 now, being that it will be WiFi only.
If Apple does indeed send out invitations on Wednesday, we can expect a media event to be held on Oct. 17. If that proves to be true and Apple follows the same pattern as the iPhone 5, preorders should begin Oct. 19 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time and a release date one week later on Oct. 26. There have been rumors of supply issues, with regards to the iPad Mini, which could force Apple to bump back a release to Nov. 2, but it’s also be reported that Apple has ordered 10 million units of the iPad Mini.
Apple is banking their iPad Mini will be a big hit among children and a common gift found in stockings this holiday season. After a successful — but not as successful-as-planned iPhone 5 release — the iPad Mini could help increase Apple’s stock, which stumbled after the smartphone’s release. It closed at $635 today, down 26 percent.
