[denphone]

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/new...r-in-2012.html

New reports have emerged suggesting that Apple will launch a budget version of the iPad 2 next week, and put a small screen tablet into production later this year, as it seeks to see off the challenge of cheap Android tablets.

Apple has confirmed that it will hold a press event next Wednesday, at which at least one new iPad will be announced, with widespread speculation that it will be the iPad 3.

However, fresh reports suggest that the event will also herald a more affordable 8GB model of the iPad 2 that was released last year.

According to Digitimes, the new product would be priced at $349 to $399 (£219 to £250), and Apple will also lower the price of the 16GB iPad 2 to $449 (£281). This is presumably for the WiFi version, not 3G.

The industry blog also claimed that a source said the iPad Mini - a new smaller screen tablet - will go into production in the third quarter of 2012.

Digitimes believes that the iPad Mini will be a direct rival to the various budget Google Android tablets, particularly the Amazon Kindle Fire