iPad 5

The team at iFixit today has released their teardown on Apple's newest iPad, or the "iPad 5" as they are calling it. The report reveals what we already knew -- the 9.7-inch tablet is built from recycled hardware. Some Apple fans had hoped that the new iPad might ship with 3 gigabytes of RAM, like the iPhone 7, but iFixit has discovered its A9 chip is instead outfitted with 2 gigabytes, just like the iPhone 6s models.

iOS fans will be able to watch a live stream of Apple's press event being held today at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, CA. The event will be broadcast via the Apple Events channel on Apple TV, or on iOS devices and Macs through Apple's online Events Page.

You will need Safari on iOS 4.2 or later, or Safari 4 on OS X v10.6 to stream the event on your iOS device or computer. Apple TV users will need a second or third-generation box with 5.0.2 or later to watch the event live. You can also read many of the live blogs during the event if your device does not meet the requirements.

Here's one last next-generation iPad rumor to mull over before Apple's official announcement tomorrow. Ex-Apple developer Jamie Ryan published a blog post (via Gizmodo UK) claiming Apple is working on an iPad 5 case that "mimics Microsoft's touch cover." The new cover would be an improvement over Apple's current Bluetooth keyboard, and allow the company to "differentiate the larger iPad" from the iPad mini, according to Ryan.

"Apple already sells a Bluetooth keyboard that functions perfectly with the iPad but it’s not quite as integrated as Microsofts offering, requiring a lot more bag space. This is the primary motivation behind the development, as all of the current solutions are fairly inelegant. Apple realises the market for the large iPad is mainly professionals looking to work on it whereas the iPad mini is mainly content consumption.

Back in August, T-Mobile CEO John Legere told AllThingsD that the carrier was looking forward to carrying a "whole array of Apple products" in the future. At the time most people thought Legere was just referring to the unreleased iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, but some speculated that the CEO was also talking about the iPad, and it looks like those people were right.

Legere recently tweeted a link to an article about Apple's upcoming iPad event being held on October 22. Apple is expected to announce the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco on Tuesday, and Legere's tweet seems to suggest that T-Mobile will carry the next-generation tablets.

Apple has sent out invites for an upcoming press event being held on Tuesday, October 22. The event will take place at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT. The invitation reads, "We still have a lot to cover," underneath a colorful iOS 7 inspired graphic.

Apple is expected to announce the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 at the press conference. Previous leaks and rumors have suggested that the next-generation 9.7-inch iPad will be available in space grey and feature Apple's new Touch ID system, like the recently released iPhone 5s. The iPad 5 should also be thinner and lighter than its predecessor, and include an improved 64-bit A7X chip.

Everyone seems to be looking ahead to the iPad 6, instead of getting excited for the iPad 5, which is expected to be announced by Apple in a few weeks. The well trusted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo sent out a research note over the weekend regarding the future of Apple's iPad, iMac and MacBook lines. Unlike analyst David Hsieh, who believes Apple is working on a 12-inch iPad, Kuo thinks the iPad 6 "will not change from the current 9.7-inch format." Instead Kuo says the iPad 6 will get a bump in pixels per inch instead of an increase in screen size.

"In light [of] advancing Oxide and a-Si technologies, the PPI of iPad 6, which we expect to come out at end-2014, will exceed that of 2013’s iPad 5 by 30-40%, which will offer more competent visuals.”

Kuo also noted that he expects the iPad mini 2 to feature a Retina display, and added "that there will be no further changes to resolution for the third-generation iPad mini next year," according to MacRumors.

The reliable Sonny Dickson published a detailed image gallery of the fifth-generation iPad. Dickson is the Australian writer who gave us an accurate early look at the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s. The new images depict the upcoming 9.7-inch slate's casing and front panel in space grey.

This is just one of many leaks showing off the new iPad in parts, but it also the most thorough. The gallery features over 70 alleged high-res images of the upcoming tablet.

We now have two rumored dates for Apple's next-generation iPad event. John Paczkowski of AllThingsD claims Apple will unveil its new iPad lineup on October 22, 2013, not on October 15 like a previous rumor had suggested. Apple will announce its fifth-generation iPad, iPad mini with Retina display, its new Mac Pro and OS X Mavericks at the event, according to people familiar with the company's plans.

The fifth-generation iPad is expected to receive a new iPad-mini like redesign, an improved camera and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor like seen on the iPhone 5s. The iPad mini 2 will be upgraded with an A7 chip and Retina display. However, Reuters previously reported that the iPad mini 2 will be available in limited quantities during the holiday season.

For those who aren't already convinced, Unbox Therapy did some legwork to prove once and for all the next generation iPad will include Apple's Touch ID system. Leaked photos have shown the iPhone 5s-style home button on an upcoming iPad mini, however this is the first time someone has used iPad 5 parts to confirm the new hardware design.

In the video below, an iPhone 5s is disassembled to extract the fingerprint sensor. While an older iPhone home button will not fit into the iPad 5 front bezel, the iPhone 5s home button meshes perfectly with the new part. Considering that Apple is launching two new iPad models, it seems logical that they would both carry the upgraded home button.

Apple fans can expect a lot of upcoming next-generation iPad rumors now that the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s have been officially announced. The first rumor comes from the French blog MacGeneration, who claims Apple will announce the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 on October 15th.

The 5th-generation iPad is rumored to be lighter and smaller than its predecessor, and it will feature a thinner bezel like the iPad mini, if any of the previously leaked images can be trusted.

The iPad mini 2 should also get a bump in specs and receive its first Retina display. Apple fans who are still hoping for a more affordable iPad mini model should prepare themselves to be disappointed. Apple proved its disinterest in producing "low-cost" devices with the launch of the iPhone 5c.