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Apple event Thursday: Leak teases iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3

Ahead of Apple's Oct. 16 event, Apple accidentally leaks info about new iPads, answering some of the rumors surrounding their new features. But questions remain about what else they will debut. 

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Apple
Apple is holding an event Oct. 16 at 10 am PDT. It's rumored that new iPads will be unveiled, along with upgraded iMacs, OS X Yosemite, and an update for Apple TV.

More than a month ago, we were writing about one of Apple's biggest unveilings ever, which included two new iPhones and the Apple Watch. But Apple isn't stopping there. On Oct. 16, Apple will hold another live event, whose slogan is, "It's been way too long." 

Unlike the Sept. 9 event, for which it was well known that new iPhones would be unveiled, there is a lot of ambiguity surrounding Thursday's announcements. Rumors about products and software are swirling. So let's try to cut through all the chatter.

Apple fans can expect at least two new gadgets, thanks to an accidental leak on Apple's website Wednesday. According to tech news outlet Ars Technica, Apple posted user guides for the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. Apple has since taken down the documents. The leak only verified that the new iPads will have Touch ID, which was introduced with the iPhone 5S. Touch ID unlocks a device through a fingerprint reader, but more important, the feature is a necessary component for the upcoming Apple Pay. 

But there are still rumors surrounding the new iPads that this leak did not verify. It's believed that the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 will have an A8X processor, a variation of the recent A8 processor that's in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The new devices are also rumored to have 2GB of RAM, according to 9to5Mac. If the iPads do indeed have 2GB of RAM, then that would be double the current 1GB standard. The new iPads could also have an anti-reflective, high-resolution screen, which would make the screens easier to read.

iMacs

Anticipation for a Retina version of the iMac is building. Retina Display is an ultra-high resolution screen with a reported 5,120 x 2,880 pixels (14 times more pixels than an HD TV). There are reports that the 27.5-inch iMac and maybe the 21.5-inch model will get the Retina Display. Additional features for the iMac could include a Haswell processor and AMD graphics, which better support ultra high-definition video, games, and editing.

The much-anticipated Retina MacBook Air probably won't be happening, according to Wired. The Air was just updated in April, so it would seem odd for Apple to update it again so soon. 

OS X Yosemite

The new operating system was unveiled at Apple's World Wide Developers Conference back in June and its beta version is already available for free. At WWDC, it was announced that Yosemite would be officially released this fall, and Thursday's event could be the day. But even if the operating system isn't released Thursday, Apple could announced when it will be publicly released.

“Yosemite is the future of OS X with its incredible new design and amazing new apps, all engineered to work beautifully with iOS,” said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, during the Yosemite reveal event. “We engineer our platforms, services and devices together, so we are able to create a seamless experience for our users across all our products that is unparalleled in the industry. It’s something only Apple can deliver.”

Apple TV

Apple TV hasn't gotten a major update since 2012. It's rumored that an improved Apple TV will be released. The new version is believed to include HomeKit integration, which would allow it to be controlled using the new iOS 8. 

The Oct. 16 event kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific. You can watch it live on Apple's website.

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