Many Apple fans are waiting for the rumored iPad Mini set out to launch in October.

However, the little new iPad will have some shoes to fill. Its rival, Amazon's new Kindle Fire HD, poses as a huge threat.

Many book lovers adore the new Kindle because of it's advanced features and new book apps.

Let's look at five features that the iPad Mini needs to have to compete with the Kindle Fire HD to have the best book reading experience.

Books Apps

The Kindle Fire HD features Whispersync for Voice, which Amazon syncs all your books across all your gadgets, that syncs your words-book with your audiobook. You can also sync up your progression in games. Another feature will be Immersion Reading. You can listen to the narration of your book while you read it.

Apple will have to take advantage of their iBooks app, which is already featured on the current iPads.

According to Apple, the iBookstore feature "the best of what's new right at the top of the page." There is over 1.5 million books, including new Multi-Touch textbooks. "Since iCloud keeps track of what you've previewed, you can start shopping on your iPad and continue on another device."

There are also reading tools, such as highlight or underline text, make notes, look up a word in the dictionary or on the web, or search inside the book. You can even use VoiceOver to have iPad read to you. With iCloud, the books you buy on your iPad appear on your other devices, ready to read.

Screen Size

Reports say that the iPad Mini will feature a 7.85 inch IGZO display with 330 pixels/inch.

According to Enstarz, in October 2010, the late Steve Jobs commented on mid-sized tablets saying:

"The 10in screen size is the minimum size required to create great tablet apps. 7in tablets are tweeners: too big to compete with a Smartphone, and too small to compete with an iPad."

This could be why Apple is making the iPad Mini 7.85-inches instead of 7-inches like most small tablets. Although, the Kindle Fire HD comes in 8.9-inches and could hinder the mini's chances to compete.

Price

According to Pop Herald, Amazon's press release said that the Kindle Fire HD has 7-inch IPS LCD display with the best hardware, more affordable than other products, and the device is "backed by the world's best content ecosystem, best cross-platform interoperability and best customer service." In short, it is not targeting the Google Nexus 7, but the Apple iPad.

The newest iPad sells for $499 with Retina Display and 4G LTE. The iPad 3 sells for $399. Many rumors say that the iPad Mini might sell for around $250-$300, and may or may not have Retina Display.

Pricing may be an issue for the little Apple tablet. The Kindle Fire HD with 16GB costs $199 while the 16GB Nexus 7 costs $249 with all the Android content. According to Pop Herald, "If Apple will sell the iPad Mini with a $249.99 price tag, then it will be safe to assume that Apple can sell "millions." But what if the iPad Mini will sit within the $300 to $399 mark? Can it still lure customers?"

According to one analyst, Apple might launch the iPad Mini at a $250-$300 price point, cheap enough to convince customers that the iPad Mini is a Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire alternative.

According to Digitimes, a source pointed out pricing for the small iPad, "as for the device's price, comparing to Amazon and Google's US$199 7-inch tablet PC, the sources pointed out that even if Apple prices its 7.85-inch iPad at US$299, it is still expected to create a strong impact on the two devices."

WiFi Only

According to Forbes, citing analyst Allan Yogasingam of the research firm, UBM TechInsights, Light Reading reported today that Apple is likely to make the widely expected 7-inch version of the iPad Wi-Fi only in an effort to keep the price tag of the device below $250.

In comparison to the new Kindle Fire HD, Amazon is only offering a WiFi version of the 7-inch version, which is priced at $199. Amazon is offering an 8.9-inch version for $299; for $499 they double the memory and add 4G LTE capability.

Yogasingam said the device could also be lacking any back-mounted image sensor as a cost-saving move.

The WiFi download speed will also be important. According to Amazon, the Kindle Fire HD WiFi download speed is 41 percent faster than the iPad 3 because of its Dual Band Dual Antenna.

Longer-Lasting Battery

The Kindle Fire HD has over 11 hours of reading, surfing the web on WiFi, watching video or listening to music. Of course, battery life depends on users' personal settings and factors such as downloading content and how much they browse the web.

According to MSNMoney, "Battery drain is typically an issue with Apple products," says Dave Smith at the International Business Times. "Amazingly," most iProducts hold only seven to 10 hours of juice between charges. At the very least, Apple will try to squeeze in a battery big enough to accomplish 10 hours of WiFi surfing. But "it would be an added bonus" if the new, cheaper iPad Mini offered 11 or 12 hours.

These five features will be crucial to compete with the Kindle Fire HD.

The new iPad Mini will come with the Apple's new operating system, iOS6, which will also give the little tablet an edge on Amazon.

Reports say the iPad Mini will be more affordable and come with a powerful processor. It is also assumed that the new tablet will feature Apple's upcoming operating system, iO6, which includes a new, Google-free Maps app, and Passbook, and promises better Facebook integration, better maps, and better video conferences that use cellular data and Siri. It is also said to have a smaller dock connector, two speakers, and thinner bezel. It may also feature a music service similar to Pandora radio, Retina Display, and FaceTime.

Which tablet would you buy: Kindle Fire HD or iPad Mini. VOTE NOW!

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