iPad Mini may suffer from shortages at launch

Apple are planning a new iPad Mini, a smaller 7.85 inch version of their hugely successful tablet. Rumors of this device would indicate that it may actually launch as early as next week.

The smaller, cheaper tablet is designed to target a different audience, and to ensure that competitors can't get a foothold in another market. With Amazon and Google also releasing tablets in this sector the challenges are rising.

So far we would expect the device to have a camera, and the same screen resolution as the iPad 2. Adhering to the 1,024×768 pixel resolution would ensure that the iPad mini could support current applications without a problem. The iPad 3 resolution is 2,048 x 1,536 pixels.

The iPad Mini should be priced around $299, competing directly against the Google Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD. Other industry insiders have indicated that the highest configured iPad Mini will fall just short of the entry level iPad 3.

Some analysts are expecting Apple to launch the iPad Mini close to the same time as Windows 8, to steal some of the thunder in the press.

Kitguru says: Production of the iPad Mini is said to be limited by component suppliers, and likely to fail the 9 to 10 million estimated unit demand initially.

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