Apple and Samsung are the definition of a "complicated" relationship. The two might be fierce mobile device rivals, but Apple depends on Samsung for most iPhone components. But is the relationship about to... shatter?

According to the Korea Times Samsung plans to break the years-long business relationship, as insider sources claim Apple is "no longer a cash-generator."

“[Samsung is] unable to supply flat-screens to Apple with huge price discounts. Samsung has already cut our portion of shipments to Apple and next year we will stop shipping displays,” one unnamed "senior industry official" claims. Instead, Samsung panels will go to Amazon... and Samsung itself.

Reports of reduced Apple display shipments from Samsung have been around for a while. Back in August 2012 DigiTimes said Apple is reducing Samsung iPad panel shipments in favour of Sharp and LG Display. The DigiTimes report was further confirmed by DisplaySearch.

The late Steve Jobs used to mock 7-inch tablets, describing them as "tweeners." Is he spinning in his grave now that Apple just revealed the 8-inch iPad mini?

It has a 1024 x 768 display (not Retina, but same resolution as the iPad 2), is 7.2mm thick and, thanks to curving metal back, looks just like an overgrown iPod Touch. Construction remains in aluminium, unlike the majority of other 7-inch tablets.

The insides include a dual-core A5 processor, dual-band wifi/LTE wireless radios, 5MP rear-facing iSight camera and (of course) Lightning connector.

"It is every bit an iPad" Apple senior VP Phil Schiller remarks.

Still, we wonder-- is the iPad mini "too big to compete with a smartphone and too small to compete with the iPad”? Or is the 7-inch segment, as represented by Amazon's Kindle Fire and Google's Nexus 7, taking over too much of a chunk from the lower end tablet market for Apple's comfort?

So at least part of the current batch Apple-related rumours is confirmed-- Apple sends out invites for a 23 October 2012 press event at the California Theatre, San Jose.

"We've got a little more to show you" the invite says below a colourful take on the familiar Apple logo.

What will Apple reveal at this event? Predictably all talk points towards the now mythical smaller (as in 7.85-inch) iPad. Meanwhile 9to5mac.com has what perhaps is a less interesting suggestion from an unnamed "high-profile US retailer"-- a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina Display.

Either way, "little" is surely the key word here...

Little over 2 weeks ago Fortune reported Apple was to send out launch invitations on October 10 2012. Looks like the anonymous "major Apple investor" spilling the beans got his date wrong, if only by 7 days.

Go Apple

Go iPad Mini: Already in Trouble?

If one is to believe Israeli financial newspaper Calcalist, Amazon is in "advanced negotiations" to acquire the mobile chip division of Texas Instruments in a billion dollar deal.

Such an acquisition could turn Amazon into direct rival to Amazon and Samsung-- both companies who design their own chips.

TI makes the OMAP product line and, amongst others, the processors inside the Kindle Fire tablets. It recently exited the mobile device processor market, shifting development away from smartphones towards the "broader market" (as in more stable, higher margin segments like the auto industry).

No comments from either Amazon or TI are available on the Calcalist story yet, while Gartner (in a comment to Reuters) doubts Amazon wants to "become that intimately involved with hardware."

Go Amazon Wants to Buy Operations to Compete with Apple Chips (Calcalist)

Go Amazon in Talks to Buy Texas Instruments Mobile Chip Arm: Paper (Reuters)