iPad mini Will Apple skip this year for new iPad?

[recoil80]

Totally agreed, but the people who bought 2-3 years ago that feel that they're due for a new one will want to buy something this holiday season, and a refreshed Air2 or rMini2 would attract them just a little bit more. It's time to replace my wife's iPad2, so the Air2 would be perfect for her. I bought the rMini last year, and yeah, when it gets around to the rMini3 or 4 will be when I'll upgrade.

We'll see something this year for both, even if it's just a slight bump in performance, or small things like TouchID added.

The October keynote also gives them a chance to crow about the great iPhone sales. I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just a great PR opportunity.

Yeah, that's a good point.
Even if you stick with your iPad for 3 years you expect to buy the latest and greatest model when you chose to replace yours, and buying a 2013 model wouldn't be so cool.

I think is enough to include touchID and A8, keeping the same form factor for both tablets.