iPad 5 release date may show off an iPad case that doubles as a keyboard just like the one Surface tablet has, according to a former Apple employee.

Former Apple Developer Relations employee Jamie Ryan wrote a blog post last weekend about the new iPad accessory that will be unveiled alongside iPad 5. On Saturday, Mr. Ryan wrote how two former colleagues still working at Apple revealed that the company is working on "a case for the full size iPad that mimics Microsoft's touch cover" and is testing "a few different styles."

Surface tablets pack Microsoft's Touch Cover that offers users both protection as well as a portable, low-profile, tactile keyboard for typing.

It is still unconfirmed if Apple will reveal such an accessory. Apple's official keyboard accessory is a bulkier option and is connected through Bluetooth. There are other options from third party manufacturers offering keyboards for full-sized iPad and iPad Mini.

"This is the primary motivation behind the development... [and] other cover like accessories are also being looked at," Ryan said.

Apple sent out the invites for an event on Oct 22 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in California. According to reports, Apple will unveil the new iPad line, Mac Pro and MacBook Pro with Haswell processor at the said event. This is because the press invite bears the tagline "We still have a lot to cover" that seemed to hint that Apple will reveal different devices on the said date. However, Apple has not disclosed the specific details of the event.

Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities claimed that the upcoming iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2 may not pack Touch ID fingerprint sensor and gold casing unlike the iPhone 5S.

Moreover, according to Mr Kuo, the iPad 5 will be 20 percent lighter and thinner with slimmer bezel. The full-fledged tablet will be powered by 64-bit A7X processor and will most likely have a 128 GB internal storage.

Meanwhile, the iPad Mini 2 will retain its 7.9 inches screen size but will receive a retina display with 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution. The iPad Mini 2 will pack a slightly lower A7 chip processor.

In addition, consumers can now take photos with 8-megapixel rear cameras found on both iPads.