New tablet goes on sale after an internal note to technicians and resellers tips Apple's hand on its launch date. November 12, 2013 12:20 AM PST Apple iPad Mini Retina at the Apple Store. (Credit: Apple) The Apple Store began accepting orders for the iPad Mini Retina at midnight Monday after word of the tablet's impending launch leaked out in an internal notification. Wi-Fi-only versions sporting 16GB and 32GB are expected to ship to buyers in one to three business days, while the 64GB and 128GB version have shipping expectations of five to 10 business days. Versions with cellular connectivity also ship in five to 10 days. Except for an internal note aimed at support technicians and resellers, the new tablet's launch was a bit of surprise. Previously the most Apple had said about a release date was that the entry-level $399 tablet would not be available until "later in November." But a note posted to Apple's Global Service Exchange (GSX) -- an internal online tool used to process repairs -- said the new tablet would come available in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States local time on Tuesday. The new tablet has been expected to be in short supply at its release. Apple CEO Tim Cook alluded to possible shortages of the tablet during Apple's earnings conference call last month. The next day, it was reported that Sharp may be responsible for the expected shortage. The Apple supplier is having problems with production yields of the 7.9-inch display for the Mini Retina, according to a Digitimes report.
New tablet goes on sale after an internal note to technicians and resellers tips Apple's hand on its launch date.
Apple iPad Mini Retina at the Apple Store.
(Credit: Apple)
The Apple Store began accepting orders for the iPad Mini Retina at midnight Monday after word of the tablet's impending launch leaked out in an internal notification.
Wi-Fi-only versions sporting 16GB and 32GB are expected to ship to buyers in one to three business days, while the 64GB and 128GB version have shipping expectations of five to 10 business days. Versions with cellular connectivity also ship in five to 10 days.
Except for an internal note aimed at support technicians and resellers, the new tablet's launch was a bit of surprise. Previously the most Apple had said about a release date was that the entry-level $399 tablet would not be available until "later in November."
But a note posted to Apple's Global Service Exchange (GSX) -- an internal online tool used to process repairs -- said the new tablet would come available in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States local time on Tuesday.
The new tablet has been expected to be in short supply at its release. Apple CEO Tim Cook alluded to possible shortages of the tablet during Apple's earnings conference call last month. The next day, it was reported that Sharp may be responsible for the expected shortage. The Apple supplier is having problems with production yields of the 7.9-inch display for the Mini Retina, according to a Digitimes report.
