23 Oct: Apple has sent an official invitation to the presentation of iPad mini

Apple sent out invitations to members of the media with the offer to visit the special event. Event that a long rumored will be held on 23 October in the building of California Theatre in San Jose.

The invitation Apple says: "We've got a little more to show you" - "We still have something for you." The word "little" (literally, "little") in the text - a reference to the fact that the company will present a compact model of the tablet iPad mini.

Previously, the newspaper The Wall Street Journal reported that the iPhone maker will send journalists invited to the presentation iPad mini 11 October, and the event will be held in San Francisco on 17 October. However, this is not confirmed. Perhaps, Apple really going to send out invitations to this day, but at the last minute postponed the presentation.

It is assumed that the iPad mini will have a screen with a diagonal of 7.85 inches with a resolution of 1024 × 768 pixels instead of 9.7-inch displays used in iOS-plates to date. Informed sources say that the new "apple" gadget will be a self-contained product, not a miniature copy of the existing device.

iPad launch compact model is considered as a response to Apple gradual rise in popularity of portable and more affordable tablets with screen 7 inches. Amazon has achieved great success in the launch of Kindle Fire, and now the company has decided to develop it, to submit an updated family of Kindle Fire HD, while selling millions of Google Nexus 7, the cost of which starts at $ 200 with good characteristics.

Along with a mini-tablet, Apple may release a new version of its full-size 9.7-inch iPad with the new screen, connectors and Lightning network support LTE. The company's goal in this case - to reduce weight, improves image quality and increase the battery life of the device by using a fundamentally new display. A new screen will make the third Cupertino iPad is thinner and lighter than previous models.

It is also expected that the official event Apple Unveils 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Retina display and the new line of iMac computers and the Mac Mini.

Presentation of the iPad mini will be three days before the official release on the market of the new Windows 8 platform and "tablets" Microsoft Surface - a new player in the market of tablet computers.

Microsoft officially declared the price of the Surface plates

Among the first wave of devices running Windows RT, without a doubt, is the most anticipated tablet from Microsoft - the company decided to encourage attention to the new platform in such a way that not all evaluated positively (especially negatively responded partners Microsoft). The success of the iPad competitors on the basis of Windows RT depends largely on the success of the Surface, and the latter, in turn - the price.

Today, Microsoft, finally officially announced the cost of new tablet PCs Surface on Windows RT. Younger version with 32 GB of internal memory will cost $ 499. High-end model with 64 GB of internal memory and a keyboard included valued at $ 699. Buy plates with a magnetic cover Touch Cover can pay another $ 99.

Microsoft also called the price of Touch Cover with touch sensitive keys and Type Cover with mechanical, which will be sold separately. The first device can be purchased for $ 119.99, the second - for $ 129.99. Touch Cover will be available in white, red, black, blue and purple colors, while Type Cover only in black.

Journalists on the eve of The Wall Street Journal found that the Redmond company has placed orders for IV quarter in just 3 - 5 million Surface. Sources claim that the mass release tablets began in the first days of this month, and the company in the near future will begin accepting pre-orders for the novelty.

It is expected that Surface will be available after October 26, when is the official release of Windows 8. Note earlier rumors, which are partly corroborated statements Microsoft head Steve Ballmer that Windows RT version of the tablet with 32 GB of memory will cost $ 299.