Finally, it's official. The much rumoured iPad Mini was launched today by Apple at the California Theatre in San Jose, Calif.
The much anticipated Mini with a 7.9-inch multi-touch screen, available in two colours -- black and white -- "23 percent thinner, 53 percent lighter and fits in one hand."
The smaller version of the iPad is 7.2 millimeters (about
one-quarter inch) -- and features an entirely new design, weighing 0.68
pounds, 53 percent lighter than the third-generation iPad.
More than 250,000 iPad-designed apps can be used on the Mini.
As the company's release said:
iPad mini isn’t just a scaled-down iPad. We designed it to be a concentration, rather than a reduction, of the original. A refined unibody consolidates more parts into one. A single-cell battery — the thinnest ever made by Apple — takes up less space, but lasts just as long. The iSight camera is smaller, yet still takes 5-megapixel photos and shoots full 1080p HD video. And while the display is slimmer and lighter, it’s also incredibly vibrant.
The Mini will offer a dual-core A5 chip, Facetime HD camera, 5MP iSight camera on the back, 802.11 a/b/g/n wifi, a Lightning connector and 10 hours of battery life. It will also come with iOS 6, Apple's mobile operating system with more than 200 features.
Starting with 16GB of memory, the Mini will go on sale for $329. It will go on preorder Friday and ship Nov. 2.
Apple also simultaneously introduced several new
Mac computers, including a new version of its 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display and a Mac Mini desktop, as well as a fourth-generation iPad with an 9.7-inch Retina display, a new Apple-designed A6X chip and speedier wireless performance.
The MacBook Pro will be 3.57 pounds, 20 percent thinner than the previous version and the lightest MacBook pro -- it will have no optical drive, but will feature MacSafe 2, Thunderbolt, USB 3.0 and a Retina display.
It will go on sale for $1,699 for the i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128 GB solid state drive. The latest version of the MacBook Pro will ship today.
The Mac Mini, with two different size screens, will be sold for $1,299 for the 21.5 inch and $1,799 for the 27 inch.
Emerging story. Watch this space for updates as more details come in