Apple "iPad Mini" event today! Streamed Live to Apple TVs

Apple TV owners, it looks like Cupertino has decided to draw you into the inner circle. Today's Apple event, largely rumored to feature the "iPad Mini" will be streamed live. However you must have Apple's $99 streamer to view it. So while most people will be watching a cracked rear view from the various live blogs, you as an Apple TV owner will be getting a front row seat.

This is by no means unprecedented. But Apple typically doesn't stream events live, not to end users, nor the press, nor anyone else for that matter. Except when they want to show off some new streaming related technology. The last time they streamed an event, they unveiled HTTP Live Streaming, or HLS. At that time only Apple devices including macs, iPhones and iPod touches were capable of viewing the live stream.

So what could this mean? The rumor mill seems to be pretty convinced that a new, smaller iPad could be unveiled, along with some new macs. But I think that Apple could announce a new TV related product, such as an update to the Apple TV, a new streaming service of similar. Or it could come out and announce its long rumored Apple TV set - not the hockey puck - but an actual flat screen TV. Or it could just be that Apple wants to hype Apple TV, which hasn't been a runaway hit compared to the iPhone and iPad.


What's rumored
The iPad mini seems to be practically a certainty. With the screen size rumored to be half that of the current iPad, the "iPad mini" will compete directly with the Kindle fire and other 7 inch tablets. Naturally, it should also feature Apple's new Lightning connector, but it is uncertain whether the device will be Wi-Fi only or include cellular connectivity. If it does feature cellular data, it will most likely feature 4G LTE like the new iPad and iPhone 5. There have also been rumors of a minor refresh to the full sized iPad to feature the lightning connector, better international 4G LTE support and maybe even a faster processor and more memory.

A few new updates to the mac line are rumored as well. Firstly, a 13 inch retina MacBook Pro. Like its 15 inch sibling it will likely be thinner and lighter, feature the retina display, SSD, thunderbolt and no optical drive. There is also rumored to be a new, redesigned 21.5 inch iMac with a retina display. To top it off, there are also rumors of a new mac mini, priced lower than the current model.

Finally, Apple is almost certain to release iTunes 11, which was unveiled with the iPhone 5 at the September 12 event.

Will you be watching the event today on your Apple TV, or via a liveblog? Let us know.

UPDATE: According to Apple, it looks like mac users running Snow leopard and above, as well as iOS devices running 4.2 and above can stream it as well.

(Image Credit: 9to5Mac)