7.85 inch iPad Mini Media Event Invitations on October 10?

Apple’s next big product event, which is said to unveil a new “iPad Mini” will allegedly occur on Wednesday, October 17th. Citing an unnamed “major Apple investor,” Fortune today says that Apple could be sending out invitations to the launch event for the iPad mini on October 10. If company history repeats itself, it’s possible that Apple will release the press invitations eight or nine days prior to the event’s date, either (Tuesday) or Wednesday.

According to our source, who asked not be named, there appears to be some truth to the widespread rumors that Apple is preparing to launch a smaller and cheaper version of the iPad — often called the iPad mini or iPad air and usually described as having a 7.85-inch screen.

What our source adds is the specificity of a date: The press, he says, can expect invitations to go out on Oct. 10.

If we look at the trend of release dates, Apple typically sends invitation about seven or eight days apart. For example, for last year’s iPhone launch, Apple issued invitations for its “Let’s Talk iPhone Event” on Tuesday, Sept. 27. The event itself was held on Tuesday, Oct. 4, seven days after the invites went out. In March, Apple released invitations to its new iPad event on Tuesday Feb. 28. The event itself occurred eight days later on Wednesday, March 7. iPhone 5 media event ‘It’s almost here’ invitation was sent eight days before.

Apple critic Jim Dalrymple, John Gruber and AllThingsD have already reported that Apple is planning an iPad mini introduction for October.

Now, it seems that we have the intended iPad Mini unveiling date (Wednesday, Oct. 17), but all we need are the official invitations from Apple. Until Apple sends out invitations, any rumour is just supposition.