Tech giant could launch device in run-up to Christmas

Hot on the heels of their release of the iPhone 5, technology giant Apple has ordered more than 10 million iPad minis to be built in the run-up to Christmas, according to sources in the Asian supply chain.

The sources, speaking to the Wall Street Journal, claim that the 10 million figure is double what rivals Amazon have ordered for their Kindle Fire tablets in the same period.

The news comes as Apple remains tight-lipped over orders of the iPad mini, or even if the smaller version of their incredibly popular tablet is about to hit the shelves.

Based on rumours, the iPad mini is expected to have a 7.85in screen with the same resolution of 1024 x 768 as the iPad 2, although with a slim profile and the new Lightning connector first seen on the iPhone 5.

But whilst the 9.7in screen iPad may still be leading the high end tablet market, a smaller, and most likely cheaper version, will face stiff competition from the likes of the Amazon Kindle Fire, Kobo Arc and the Google Nexus 7.

Written and presented by Alfred Joyner