Big week ahead in the world of tech announcements and launches

It seems that the end of October is the hot time to be making big tech announcements this year. With just two months left until the holidays, it's clear that companies are vying for those gift-buying dollars with some product debuts. Since this upcoming week is going to be filled with one product announcement after another, here's a rundown of what you should be expecting to see:

iPad Mini (and possibly a MacBook)

Oct. 23

When the invites telling people that Apple had "a little more to show you" were sent out earlier this week, it confirmed what we'd all been assuming was coming: the announcement of the iPad Mini. While there are plenty of things we don't yet know about the iPad Mini, the rumour mill has done plenty to try and fill in those gaps: from what we've heard, it will be a 7.85-inch tablet, will likely use Apple's new Lightning connection, and will hit stores shortly after the announcement — November 2, if Mac Rumors has it right.

On October 23, join us here at Yahoo! Canada to follow along with a liveblog of the event. Stay tuned for more information on when and where.

Samsung Galaxy Note II

Oct. 24

While it won't be coming to Canada on the 24^th, the big launch for Samsung's "phablet" will be taking place in New York City that day. If rumours are correct, though, we can look forward to seeing the Samsung Galaxy Note II on Telus, Bell, Rogers, Mobilicity, WIND, Videotron and SaskTel just one week later on October 30. This week, we also found out the pricing of the new device in Canada, at least on some of the major providers: $249.99 from Rogers or $199.99 on Bell and Telus with a three-year contract, or $729.99 from any of the big three carriers without a term contract.

The Galaxy Note II will be available in Titanium Gray or Marble White, and features a massive (for a phone) 5.5-inch screen, making it a bridge between 4-inch phones and 7-inch tablets (which would explain why Samsung has chosen to launch it just one day after the expected iPad Mini announcement. Some would argue that it's too big for a phone, yet too small for a tablet, but you'll have to make that choice for yourself when the Galaxy Note II launches here.

Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface

Oct. 25 and 26

After a big push over the last two weeks to make sure everyone knows about their new operating system, Microsoft is finally launching Windows 8 on October 25. And to build on the momentum of the new touch-focused OS, the Microsoft Surface will be available online starting Oct. 26. If you're in Canada, you'll only be able to pick up the new Surface at one of the Microsoft pop-up stores or online, and even then, reports on Thursday indicated that the 32GB version of the Surface without the cover was "temporarily sold out," Mobile Syrup reports.

Luckily, it should be much easier to pick up a copy of Windows 8, either installed in a new computer, as an upgrade to a recently purchased computer for $14.99, or as a new purchase for $39.99. The Microsoft Surface starts at $519 in Canada.

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