After scoring a decisive win over competitor Samsung in the high-profile patent trial Friday, August 24, Apple has now shifted focus towards Microsoft, and is planning to unveil a smaller iPad, popularly referred to as "iPad Mini" to take on the Redmond software giant's tablet, Surface.

Microsoft unveiled its Surface tablet in June this year that is widely touted as Apple's iPad competitor. Though unveiled in June, Microsoft plans to launch the tablet on October 26.

The Cupertino technology giant that maintained a dignified silence for long seems to have unleashed new missiles against competitors, as news of its iPad release has just been confirmed for October, slightly ahead of competition.

Initially, it was rumored that "iPad Mini" will be unveiled along with the next-generation iPhone at the September 12 event. However, experts including Daring Fireball's John Gruber averred that "iPad Mini," may not share spotlight with the new iPhone.

"I'm thinking it makes more sense for Apple to hold two events. 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. 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."

Now AllThingsD seems to have word from an anonymous source that is in line with John Gruber's posting.

Though Apple has declined to comment on its plans, AllThingsD stated that new iPhone and smaller iPad present Apple with two opportunities to steer the tech news cycle ahead of the annual holiday shopping binge and it will take them both.

Another report that appeared in AppleInsider stated that the 7.85 inch smaller iPad will indeed be known as iPad Mini though only the "iPad" name will appear on back of the device, similar to various iPod models carrying "iPod."

The news of iPad Mini name confirmation was first reported in Japanese blog Macotakara, which claimed that Apple is also planning to introduce a new iPod nano and iPod touch later this year.

Apparently, the new iPod nano may be equipped with a Wi-Fi antenna to create content from iTunes, through wireless access, Macotakara added.

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