“Apple Inc.’s Asian component suppliers have started mass production of a new tablet computer smaller than the current iPad, people with knowledge of the situation said, as the Silicon Valley company tries to stay competitive against rivals such as Google Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. that are offering smaller, less-expensive alternatives to the iPad.
Two of the people said the smaller tablet will have a 7.85-inch liquid-crystal display with a lower resolution compared with the latest iPad model that came out in March.”
The alleged iPad mini is expected to be announced on the 10th of October and Apple is rumored to be getting ready to send out invites to the event. If that is indeed the case, it would certainly make sense that the tablet is currently in mass production as Apple typically makes their products available for purchase shortly after the official announcement.