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So at least part of the current batch Apple-related rumours is confirmed-- Apple sends out invites for a 23 October 2012 press event at the California Theatre, San Jose.

"We've got a little more to show you" the invite says below a colourful take on the familiar Apple logo.

What will Apple reveal at this event? Predictably all talk points towards the now mythical smaller (as in 7.85-inch) iPad. Meanwhile 9to5mac.com has what perhaps is a less interesting suggestion from an unnamed "high-profile US retailer"-- a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina Display.

Either way, "little" is surely the key word here...

Little over 2 weeks ago Fortune reported Apple was to send out launch invitations on October 10 2012. Looks like the anonymous "major Apple investor" spilling the beans got his date wrong, if only by 7 days.

Go Apple

Go iPad Mini: Already in Trouble?

Even in the current laptop-tablet hybrid era, the PadFone remains unique as a smartphone with a tablet accessory. Now Asus presents a bigger (and better?) sequel at a Milan launch event.

The PadFone 2 is certainly bigger-- the smartphone display gets an upgrade, being a 4.7-inch 720p Super IPS+ panel with IGZO technology. Powering the device is a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 chip (with 2GB RAM), a boost from the dual-core chip in the previous model.

The OS of choice is Android 4.0.4, but Asus promises a Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) upgrade will be available "shortly."

Lenovo beats HP as top global PC vendor (by shipments) according to Gartner, taking over 15.7% of the Q3 2012 market with 9.8% Y-o-Y growth while HP shipments contract by -16.4% to 13.5 million units.

HP global PC market share for Q3 2012 totals 15.5%, down from 17% in Q3 2011.

However not all analysts agree on the Q3 2012 vendor rankings-- as HP points out, IDC Q3 2012 market analysis has HP on top with 15.9% share (Lenovo follows with 15.7%). However one has to keep in mind IDC adds the "very important" workstation segment to its PC market analysis, while Gartner does not.

Intel beats internal forecasts even if Q3 2012 revenues drop by -5% Y-o-Y to $13.5 billion, a decline CEO Paul Otellini attributes to "a continuing tough economic environment."

Operating income for Q3 2012 totals $3.8bn.

The PC Client Group is the worst performing Intel business unit, with revenues reaching $8.6bn with an -8% Y-o-Y decline. On the other hand the Data Centre Group is more positive as revenues grow by 6% Y-o-Y to $2.7bn.

Other Architecture group revenue drops by 14% Y-o-Y to $1.2bn.

When it comes to the future, Intel has one market in mind-- mobile. "The world of computing is in the midst of a period of breakthrough innovation and creativity," Otellini remarks. "We're pleased with the continued progress in ultrabooks and phones and excited about the range of Intel-based tablets coming to market."

The company claims 140 Core-based ultrabooks will hit the market once Windows 8 launches, with 40 touch-capable models together with a few laptop-tablet hybrids. No word is available on Intel-powered smartphones, though.

Go Intel Q3 2012 Results