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"Just over a month after Apple announced its new iPhone 5 smartphone and refreshed iPod product range, the US technology giant is expected to introduce another new product to its family, the so-called iPad Mini. Apple has remained tight-lipped on its plans, but previous reports have indicated that Steve Jobs - the late Apple co-founder who was famously opposed to tablets with a smaller screen size than the iPad&amp;#039;s 9.7 inches - warmed to the change in strategy almost two years ago.    It has been reported today that &amp;quot;mass production&amp;quot; of the new Apple iPad Mini device is now underway, ahead of the expected unveiling of the product on October 17. So, we delved into the whirlwind of rumour and speculation to see what to expect when, or rather if, Apple launches a smaller iPad.  iPad Mini or iPod Maxi? Taking into account the previous leaks and statements from &amp;#039;industry sources&amp;#039;, it appears that the new iPad Mini will have a 7.85-inch screen. This would be larger than the screens of its biggest competitors, Amazon&amp;#039;s Kindle Fire and Google&amp;#039;s Nexus 7, which both have 7-inch displays.  It is unclear whether the device will be like a smaller iPad or a larger iPod Touch, as previous reports have indicated that just like the iPod, it will have thinner side bezels than the bigger iPad, to make it easier to hold in the hand.  The iPad Mini is not expected to come with the &amp;quot;resolutionary&amp;quot; 2084x1536 screen that was introduced with the new iPad in March, but it will need to have a decent high definition display to match the competition.  Barnes &amp;amp; Noble&amp;#039;s new NOOK HD tablet has a full-colour, 7-inch screen boasting a resolution of 1440x900, while the Nexus 7 and the new Kindle Fire HD 7-inch both have 1280x800 displays.  Realistically, Apple will need to beat these screen resolutions to keep its tablet line ahead of the pack in terms of HD displays. But it will also need to ensure that the device has got a fast processor and strong battery life for video playback, gaming and multimedia.  This could mean that it is fitted with the A6 processor that powers the iPhone 5 and fifth-generation iPod Touch. The chip offers faster performance but crucially with more efficient power consumption to improve battery life.  It is also likely that the new iPad model will come with Apple&amp;#039;s smaller Lightning dock connector that was introduced in the iPhone 5, and be packaged with Apple&amp;#039;s EarPod headphones.  A range of images leaked online supposedly of a complete iPad Mini prototype (see above) earlier in the year. They were published by French blog Nowherelse, which also leaked Apple&amp;#039;s Lightning dock before it was officially announced.    All in the name? Most media outlets have taken to calling the new small-screen tablet the iPad Mini, although it is not guaranteed that Apple will pick this branding.  The name iPad Nano seems unlikely considering that the device would not be that small, while the iPad Touch name would be misleading as the bigger iPad also has a touchscreen display.  Other options could include iPad Slim, iPad Air and the iPad-in-Your-Pocket. Competition and cost Whilst the original iPad really kicked off the tablet computer market when it launched in 2010, the iPad Mini would arrive with lots of competitors already well established.  Amazon introduced its Kindle Fire tablet in the US a year ago and has confirmed a new generation of the product will roll out this autumn, including the debut in international markets.  Google introduced its Nexus 7 product in July and it has proved popular with customers. Meanwhile, Barnes &amp;amp; Noble&amp;#039;s NOOK HD range will expand internationally this year, creating a highly competitive market for the iPad Mini (or whatever it is called).  Alongside technical specs, the key battleground for smaller tablets is price. Amazon&amp;#039;s Kindle Fire HD and Google&amp;#039;s Nexus 7 cost just \u00A3159 for the base 16GB version, while Barnes &amp;amp; Noble intends to offer an 8GB version for the same price.  Sources have suggested that Apple will price the iPad Mini at around \u00A3200, which would put it at the more expensive end of the market.  However, Apple tends to attract customers more on the quality of its production process, allure of its brand and pull of software features in iTunes and the iOS mobile operating system, rather than through the price of its products.    3G connectivity, but what about 4G? One area in which Apple could really differentiate its small iPad from rival products is by offering a 3G version. Despite various rumours, Amazon and Google still only offer WiFi tablets, meaning users are limited in their connectivity options while on the go.  Apple could attract consumers with a WiFi and 3G iPad Mini, but it could go even further by offering a Long Term Evolution, or 4G, version. LTE is already available in the new iPad and iPhone 5, enabling customers to access mobile data speeds up to ten times faster than 3G.  There is a cost issue involved in including 3G or even LTE connectivity in mobile devices, but Apple has recently made improvements in its wireless technology and may see this as a key area of differentiation.    Theoretically, when could you buy the iPad Mini? Forbes reported this week that Apple will issue invites to the iPad Mini launch on October 10 and then hold the event on Wednesday, October 17, most likely in San Francisco.  Apple has not responded to the report, but as the September 12 launch of the iPhone 5 was so widely reported in advance, it is worth considering as a strong rumour. If Apple follows previous launch schedules, pre-orders for the iPad Mini could start on Friday, October 19. The tablet would then most likely go on sale a week later, as Apple prefers to introduce new products on Fridays to give a full weekend of sales.  What do you think about the possibility of a small-screen iPad? is it a good move from Apple, and would you buy one? Let us know below: "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/apple/news/a409911/apple-ipad-mini-rumours-roundup/>