Apple set to reveal mini iPad

Apple Inc was set to reveal its latest blockbuster product - a mini tablet - in San Jose, US.

With iPad mini, Apple hopes to fend off competition from Amazon's Kindle Fire and a raft of relatively cheap smaller tablet computers.

The product is rumoured to have a screen that is 7.8 inches across the diagonal - which compares to 9.7 on the original version.

Tech watchers suggest the device - like the latest incarnation of the iPhone - will work on the superfast 4G mobile network that will launch next week in Britain.

Interest in the new gadget has been huge - with monitoring firm Experian Hitwise saying one in every 6,000 British internet searches last week were for the iPad mini.

Apple is said to be planning to charge 200 pounds for the smaller version, which is around half the price of the cheapest iPad 3, the Mail added.