What To Expect From Apple On October 22 (AAPL)

Very little involving Apple AAPL is a secret, thanks to the well-evolved rumor mill, but this Tuesday, October 22, at 10:00 am Pacific time/1:00 pm Eastern, the company will hold a media event where it will unveil more new products.

As Apple said in its announcement, “We still have a lot to cover.” What the company will cover is becoming pretty clear. Here’s what we think we know.

The iPad

The iPad should steal the show Tuesday. Apple is expected to announce the iPad 5 and the second generation iPad Mini. The mini should get a crisper retina display although recent reports suggest that production issues may delay it until December. Other rumors include a range of colors, like the 5C, a fingerprint sensor, and a thinner and lighter design—but don’t expect drastic changes in weight.

Could the iPad 5 come in a 5S and 5C model? ZDNet seems to think it could happen. Could the “5S” come with many of the features of the iPhone 5S with a “5C” model looking more like the iPhone 5C without all of the bells and whistles? Judging by what appears to be tepid demand for the 5C, it might not be the best idea for Apple, according to some Apple watchers.

The Mac

Apple is feeling the pinch of the declining PC market but that doesn’t mean that it’s throwing in the towel. Apple announced upgrades to its MacBook Air in June but that was nothing more than a processor upgrade. The MacBook Pro is due for a refresh so expect to see it get some attention along with possibly a refreshed Air.

The latest refresh to the Apple operating system, OS X Mavericks is expected to get stage time next week including a release date. Developers have the final version of the OS allowing them to rework their desktop software for the pending launch.

Related: Sensor Issues in Apple’s 5S May be Linked To a New Supplier

Among the features, the OS is expected to have desktop versions of Apple Maps, iBooks, better notifications, and technology that helps conserve power.

We’re also still waiting to hear the Mac pro release date. Speculation is November 17 but Apple has yet to provide further details on this.

Apple TV

Could there be a refreshed Apple TV? AppleInsider ran a story showing how Amazon AMZN’s French and German sites are listing the device as out of stock and available October 23—the day after Apple’s event. Flimsy evidence? Yes, but for people who are eager to see Apple dive deeper into the TV market, an Apple TV refresh would likely be well received.

These are the most notable rumors floating around about the event. The mac and iPad should be the center of attention Tuesday. Other announcements will be at least somewhat of a surprise.

Disclosure: At the time of this writing, Tim Parker had no position in the mentioned companies.