Apple's 'iPad Mini' Media Event Reportedly Scheduled for October 23

AllThingsD reports that Apple appears to be planning to hold a media event on Tuesday, October 23 to introduce the "iPad mini", Apple's smaller tablet device said to be carrying a display measuring 7.85 inches diagonally.

As AllThingsD reported in August, 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.

That’s a Tuesday, not a Wednesday, so this is a bit of a break with recent tradition. It also happens to be just three days prior to the street date for Microsoft’s new Surface tablet.

Physical mockup of rumored iPad mini design
The location of the event is unconfirmed, but the report suggests that it is likely to be held at the company's Town Hall auditorium at its corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California.

AllThingsD has an excellent track record regarding Apple media event rumors, giving this claim a high probability of proving true. Given past history, Apple would be expected to send out invitations early next week if the event is to be held on October 23.

Update: The Loop's Jim Dalrymple weighs in, confirming the date with a "Yep."

iPad Mini Event Said to Focus on iBooks

The Next Web is reporting that the rumored iPad Mini event scheduled for October 23rd will have a heavy focus on iBooks. The iPad Mini will be aimed at smaller tablets like the Kindle Fire, that are generally used to consume content including books and movies.

In what will likely be completely unsurprising news to many, we’ve now heard from multiple sources that Apple’s as-yet-unannounced iPad mini event will have a strong focus on iBooks. Since an iPad mini would likely be squarely aimed at those who wish to partake of media on their tablets, that would make a lot of sense.

Apple executive Eddy Cue said in an email released during the Apple v. Samsung trial that he "found email, books, Facebook and video very compelling" on a 7-inch Samsung Galaxy tablet. It seems likely that Apple will focus on similar uses for the iPad Mini.

Apple To Finally Unveil The iPad Mini On October 23 [Report]

This isn’t the real thing, but it’s likely to be identical.

Apple was expected to send out invitations to an upcoming iPad mini announcement on October 10, but that date has now come and gone, and we’re still left wondering when the tiny tablet is going to get its grand unveiling. Recent reports have suggested that the device has been postponed due to production delays, but according to AllThingsD, that’s not the case.

Instead, Apple will be holding its event on October 23, sources claim — just three days before Microsoft’s new Surface tablet begins shipping in the United States.

“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,” reports AllThingsD’s John Paczkowski.

October 23 falls on a Tuesday, marking a break from Apple’s recent tradition of holding events on a Wednesday. It’s unclear where the event will be held, but it’s “likely” to be at Apple’s Town Hall Auditorium, AllThingsD reports, where the Cupertino company unveiled OS X Lion and the iPhone 4S.

Following the recent iPhone 5 event at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center, which also saw new iPods and a performance from the Foo Fighters, the iPad mini’s debut is expected to be a more “intimate affair held close to home.”

The device itself is expected to feature a 7.85-inch display, and — as you might expect — Apple’s new Lightning connector. It’s also likely to be thinner than previous iPads, and priced to compete with 7-inch devices from the likes of Amazon and Google.