The last we heard, the iPad Mini would be announced at an event on or around 17 October, with the invitations being sent out on 10 October. Now it’s 12 October, it seems that this report wasn’t quite accurate, however, those who’re keenly awaiting Apple’s much-rumoured little tablet now have a new date to get excited about.

This time it’s AllThingsD with the inside gossip, with sources telling them that the event will take place on 23 October, meaning invitations may go out early next week.

In-between the previous date and this new rumour, Apple has supposedly ordered 10 million iPad Mini units, in anticipated of a busy Christmas sales period. But it’s not the proximity to Christmas that really makes this date standout, as should the event go ahead, it’s just two days before Microsoft launches Windows 8 and its Surface tablets.

Nothing ruins a non-Apple event like a new Apple product, and given the amount of attention on the iPad Mini before it’s even confirmed as being real, shows how much attention will be lavished if it does become a reality. Not what Microsoft needs, especially if its own tablets are on the expensive side.

AllThingsD‘s report concludes with the news that Apple probably won’t hold an iPhone 5-style event in its usual Yerba Buena Center location, but could use its own Town Hall auditorium instead. A small event for a small device? Most likely, as larger scale events tend to include talk of new software or multiple products.

Is this date the real thing this time? Only Apple knows at the moment, but we’ll know more next week, and for sure on 23 October.