Apple was said to be announcing the new iPad Mini on Sept. 12, the predicted date the new iPhone 5. However, now reports say that October is the golden month.

According to Gizmodo, well-connected and professional Apple dot-connector John Gruber is disputing the previous report about a dual-announcement of the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini and hinting that it makes more sense for Apple to hold two different events and announce the iPhone 5 on Sept. 12th and then wait until October to introduce the iPad Mini.

"First, an iPhone event, focused solely on the new iPhone and iOS 6. Then, the iPhone ships nine days later, and there's another wave of iPhone-focused attention as the reviews come out," Gruber explained. "Then, in the first or second week of October, Apple holds its traditional 'music event,' exactly along the lines of the events at which they've been debuting new iPods for the last decade.

This is only speculation, but Gizmodo reported that Gruber traditionally has been spot on when it comes to Apple things.

In other news, according to CNET, a Chinese blog, Giz-China.com, show a plastic clip on the rear cover of alleged iPad Mini cases. This is a sign that the iPad Mini could provide a rear-facing camera but one without an LED flash. On the front would be a FaceTime camera at the top center of the screen, just like on the 9.7-inch iPad.

CNET also reported that the cases also seemingly reveal a thinner bezel than the one on the larger iPad. The volume control would rest on the right side, while the headphone jack and rotation/mute toggle switch would move to the left. Another tidbit from Giz-China.com says the speaker would be positioned on the bottom of the tablet rather than on the back.

A mockup of one of the cases also reveals a smaller dock connector. Recent reports suggest that Apple will shrink the size of the dock connector for its next-generation devices to a smaller version using as few as eight pins. [SEE PICS HERE]

Some evidence that points to a soon release of the iPad Mini is the display production.

CNET revealed that display production for the upcoming tablet could start as early as August.

Production of the 7.85-inch display slated for use on a smaller version of the iPad should begin in August, an analyst told CNET.

One of Apple's rivals, Amazon, recently hinted at a September announcement for their new Kindle Fire 2.

Reports say that the new little iPad will feature a 7 to 8 inch IGZO display with 330 pixels/inch. It will be more affordable. 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, according to Entrepreneur.com.