iPad mini is official

In addition to the new regular size iPad, Apple revealed the anticipated iPad mini, designed to serve the just-now-invented market for a device smaller than an iPad, but bigger than an iPhone.

The new iPad mini is 7.2mm thick, and weighs .68 pounds, "as light as a pad of paper," said Apple marketing VP Phil Schiller. The screen is 7.9" diagonally, versus the existing iPad line's 9.7" screen. The 1024 x 768 resolution is identical to that of the iPad 2 screen – but not the Retina Display of later iPads.

The 16GB iPad Mini is $329. Wi-fi models begin shipping November 2, with the cellular versions going out two weeks later.