Apple finally sends out invitations to iPad mini event

Apple is expected to unveil the iPad mini at the California Theater in San Jose on October 23

It looks like Apple is tacitly confirming reports that it’s going to unveil its iPad mini next week.  It’s about damn time, too.  I don’t have the patience to read one more iPad mini rumor.  I don’t even have the patience to read headlines from news sources that want to cash in on the iPad mini speculation without stooping to iPad mini speculation themselves, so they publish stories that are aggregates of all the iPad mini rumors out there.  We all know what you’re doing!

Apple finally sent out those invitations everyone was expecting last week, and the single line of text—which reads “we’ve got a little more to show you”—seems to hint at the small stature of the product in question.

The event will be held on October 23 (as AllThingsD’s John Paczkowski reported last week) at the California Theater in San Jose.  But reports have it that the event won’t just be limited to the iPad mini, but will also include a smaller, 13-inch version of the MacBook Pro with Retina display.  The mini MacBook Pro is expected to have the same chassis and all-Flash storage as the 15-inch version. 

Apple’s confirmation of next week’s event is welcome news to shareholders.  Apple shares were up 2.37% on Tuesday, closing at $649.79.  That’s after shares reached a record high of $704 last month and then promptly nosedived following the iPhone 5 reveal.  Shares reached a low on Monday of $626.

A report from DigiTimes last Thursday indicated that the postponed event may have been due to the fact that Apple was dealing with a shipment delay due to weak yields of the Retina Display.  Specifically, Foxconn and Pegatron Technology are dealing with low yields for components like the display and chassis.  DigiTimes’ sources pointed out that although the iPad mini’s chassis will utilize a similar material as the 9.7 inch model, the iPad mini will have a different design and tactile feel from the larger model.

Consequently, the suppliers haven’t been able to fulfill Apple’s orders—and Apple is apparently gearing up for a heavy influx of iPad mini orders.  The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Apple has ordered 10 million iPad minis for the fourth quarter.  WSJ’s sources noted that that’s double the number of Kindle Fires that Amazon ordered for the same quarter.

Apple sold 17 million iPads last quarter. 

Image source: AllThingsD