Apple launch: new iPad Mini 3 and the iPad Air 2 revealed early

APPLE has accidentally given the world a sneak peek of its new iPads a day early, with pictures of the latest devices appearing in the iTunes store oveight.

The new iPads were expected to be revealed at the tech giant's Cupertino campus tomorrow, but screen shots of the what the new technology will look like appeareded in the iPad User Guide for iOS 8 within iBooks in the iTunes store 24 hours early,

According to tech website TechCrunch, the iPad User Guide for iOS 8 iBook revealed the two new tablet devices will be called the iPad Mini 3 and the iPad Air 2.

Despite the inadvertent leak, there are still a lot of questions about what else will actually be revealed at the launch tomorrow moing, including the possibility of a TV.

Below is a summary of what we might see, and what might be left on the drawing board.

Rumor: Fresh iPads

Prediction: You bet

Between September and October, a young Apple fan's fancy lightly tus to thoughts of iPhones. Shortly after that, it swaps to iPads.

You can almost bank on seeing new Apple tablets in CEO Tim Cook's hands on Friday moing, with most pundits tipping an iPad Air 2.

Expect it to feature the TouchID fingerprint scanner seen in the past three iPhones, a faster processor called A8X, and perhaps double the RAM of current models at 2GB.

Not as certain are rumours around it's colour — iPad buyers could upgrade to a gold model, a chip for use with the upcoming Apple Pay technology, the potential removal of its mute switch, and a redesign to make the tablet closer in appearance to the new iPhones.

Flashback ... Steve Jobs launched a new iPad at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts San Francisco, Califoia in 2010. Pic: AFP PHOTO/RYAN ANSON Source: News Limited

Rumor: A large iPad

Prediction: Maybe later

Apple has been tipped to launch a 12.9-inch iPad for some time, following a similar move by Microsoft and Samsung.

The Wall Street Joual predicts that will not happen until next year, however, with suppliers saying the company would delay its big-screen tablet due to the demands of another big device: the iPhone 6 Plus.

Producing both at once could be 'challenging for display makers,” a source said.

Rumor: MacBook Air with Retina screen

Prediction: Maybe later

Apple's lightest laptop has dealt with a lot of rumours in its short life — A touchscreen! A Retina screen! A convertible form! An Intel Broadwell chip! — but the latest talk is that the laptop has been delayed.

Re/code's John Paczkowski, who correctly predicted the date of this Apple launch, reports that the Retina Air will not launch until next year, giving Apple Mac fans plenty of time to save.

#Apple leaks latest #iPad ahead of launch pic.twitter.com/3o5FPlUL8x — Apple_news updates (@Apple_news5) October 15, 2014

Rumor: iMac with better screen

Prediction: Likely

Apple's big Mac last received a redesign in 2012. The iMac could therefore quality for a 'way too long” overhaul.

9to5Mac predicts this will include a higher resolution screen — perhaps a 5K resolution screen geared towards editing and screening 4K video — as well as a faster chip and more wi-fi antennas for greater, more reliable inteet speeds.

Rumour: New Mac software

Prediction: You bet

Apple's new computer software is called OS X Yosemite and Mac users should sit by their machines, expecting its release shortly after this event.

Announced at Apple's WWDC event in June, the new software will offer a different, 'flatter” appearance inspired by iOS software, and new features including Continuity that lets users send and receive SMS messages on their computer, and a new Today view in the Notifications Centre.

Rumour: Apple TV

Prediction: Possible

In Steve Jobs' authorised biography, Walter Isaacson quoted Apple's co-founder as saying 'I finally cracked it” in relation to television, but we have yet to see any evidence of it.

The simple black box known as Apple TV hasn't had a meaningful update since 2010, making it a prime candidate for an update that has been 'way too long” in the making.

Leaks about what a new Apple TV could look like are far from detailed — it could include Siri, could be integrated with its home automation software HomeKit, could be controlled using the Apple Watch — but the timing is right.

Could Apple pull off a surprise? Possibly.