Report: Apple began iPad mini mass production in September

Preparations for a mid-October product introduction appear to be on schedule

The 9.7-inch iPad with mock-up of a 7.85-inch version

FORTUNE -- If Apple is indeed planning to unveil a purse-size version of the iPad on Oct. 17, as at least one rumor has it, we would expect to be hearing leaks to that effect from Apple's (AAPL) Asian supply chain.

As if on cue, the Wall Street Journal's Lorraine Luk, citing unnamed people "with knowledge of the situation," reported Wednesday that South Korea's LG Display and Taiwan's AU Optronics Corp. began mass production of the LCD screens for the new device in September -- just in time to deliver product in late October or early November.

According to two of Luk's sources, the smaller tablet will have a 7.85-inch liquid-crystal display with a lower resolution than the third-generation iPad that came out in March. That tablet, like its two predecessors, has a 9.7-inch screen.

Posted in: Amazon, Amazon Fire, Android, Apple, iPad Air, iPad mini, Samsung, Tablets

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  That would suggest an Oct. 17 unveiling with sales to begin in early November

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  Philip Elmer-DeWitt - Oct 1, 2012 12:23 PM ET
  Posted in: Apple, iPad Air, iPad mini, Tablets

• Is Apple getting ready to launch an 'iPad Air'?

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  Philip Elmer-DeWitt - Aug 15, 2012 7:20 AM ET
  Posted in: Amazon, Apple, Google, iPad Air, iPad mini, Kindle Fire, Nexus 7, Tablets