The rumor mill continues to be on an overdrive and new reports indicate that the fabled iPad Mini will launch not on Oct. 17, as speculated earlier, but on Oct. 23.

The new report is courtesy Web site AllThingsD, which cited sources familiar with Apple.

"As AllThingsD reported in August, Apple will hold a special event this month, at which it will showcase a new, smaller iPad. People familiar with Apple's plans tell us that the company will unveil the so-called "iPad mini" on Oct. 23 at an invitation-only event," reported John Paczkowski of AllThingD.

The Web site goes on to aver that it does not know the location or other details of the "invitation-only event" Apple will likely host.

"Sources declined to specify where the event is to be held, and I've not been able to confirm a location. But it's likely to be at Apple's Town Hall Auditorium. The company has debuted a number of important products there in the past - OS X Lion, a next-generation MacBook Air and the iPhone 4S - so there's plenty of precedent," stated Paczkowski.

AllThingsD also noted that the date would be breaking with Apple's tradition of hosting events on Wednesday as the said date falls on a Tuesday.  With rival Microsoft slated to debut its Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 OS on Oct. 26, a strong possibility exists that Apple, the most valuable tech company in the world, could be choosing the launch date strategically. The move could be a clever ploy on Apple's part to steal the limelight. Additionally, the Oct. 23 date is just two days before Apple will report its latest quarter earnings.

It was previously rumored that Apple would be sending out invitations on Oct. 10 for its press event, where it would be announcing the purported iPad Mini tablet. The date passed without any invites being sent out from Apple. The lack of announcement led tech pundits and iFans to wonder if Apple would release a smaller version of the iPad, or if it would be resigned to being a rumor. Experts and analysts also opined that the delays in production may have acted as the catalyst for the postponement of the iPad Mini's unveiling.

If the AllThingsD report holds true, then iFans can look forward to another tablet offering from the iconic company soon. According to the site's sources, the iPad Mini will sport a 7.85-inch liquid-crystal display, will likely be thinner, and feature a Lightning connector.

Come Oct. 23, all eyes will be on Apple as it readies to take the wraps off its 7-inch tablet wonder, or not!