Just in case we needed yet more strong indications that the iPad Mini – or whatever Apple ends up calling its new smaller iPad –  is on the way quite soon, now The Wall Street Journal has reported that mass production has started and is in line with a release timeframe of late October to early November.

As 9to5Mac reported yesterday, the WSJ had this to say on the subject:

Apple Inc.’s Asian component suppliers have started mass production of a new tablet computer smaller than the current iPad, people with knowledge of the situation said, as the Silicon Valley company tries to stay competitive against rivals such as Google Inc. and Amazon.com Inc.that are offering smaller, less-expensive alternatives to the iPad.

All we need now is to see an invitation go out for an Apple unveiling event. Hopefully that’s coming any day now. As Tom Petty once said, the waiting is the hardest part.