“Apple is preparing to announce an iPad Mini, as it and rivals get ready for what’s sure to be a busy holiday season for tablets,” Investor’s Business Daily reports.

“Media reports speculate that Apple will hold a press event on Oct. 17 to unveil its smaller tablet,” IBD reports. “It’s likely to send out invitations to reporters on Oct. 10, Fortune and Mashable reported.”

IBD reports, “Apple’s iPad has a 9.7-inch screen. The iPad Mini is thought to have a 7.85-inch screen… Apple is likely to end the year with 66% market share, based on tablet unit shipments of 106 million, Pacific Crest Securities predicted Tuesday. The research firm sees Amazon second with 11%, followed by Samsung with 6%. It predicts Google will claim a 4% share, trailed by Microsoft and Asus with 3% each.”

Read more in the full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Fred Mertz" for the heads up.]