Hottest holiday gift this year: iPad Mini

It's becoming the worst-kept secret of 2012: September's expected rollout of the new iPhone.

But almost lost in the excitement are predictions that Apple will also unveil a new iPad, that some say could become the hottest gift of the holiday season.

Apple has scheduled one of its famous events for Sept. 12, and the Apple blogosphere expects a new, slightly larger iPhone to be launched at that time.

But Apple watchers also expect the company to unveil what many now call the "iPad Mini:"  A slightly smaller and cheaper version of the immensely popular iPad.

For what are believed to be photos of its housing, go to www.itproportal.com/2012/08/08/casing-photos-suggest-ipad-mini-is-in-production/ .

    — The new iPad Mini would be just over 7 inches, compared with 10 inches for the current iPad.

    — It would compete directly with the Kindle, Nook, and Google tablet.

    — And it would be priced very competitively, around $250.

Analysts say the company needs a less expensive iPad to better compete with all the cheaper competition.

If reports are true, sales will start in October, and it could be the top of millions of wish lists this Christmas.

As always, don't waste your money.

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