In today’s mobile news roundup: Apple to offer 16 iPad Mini versions and new Mac Mini; Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to arrive in the US by October 25; Apple hires Amazon’s search and advertising head; Samsung unveils Windows 8 hybrids and Ultrabooks; and Microsoft shows off new ad for Surface tablet.

Apple to offer 16 iPad Mini versions and new Mac Mini

Sounds like Apple’s been busy diversifying its iDevice lineup just before the holiday shopping season kicks off.

According to the latest reports, Apple will offer a whopping 16 versions of the iPad Mini, ranging from an 8GB WiFi only version to a 64GB WiFi+cellular version, presumably with 4G and 3G.  The price would start at a moderate $250 for the lowest model, and could cost up to $650 for the highest version.

But aside from the iPad Mini, Apple is rumored to be also launching a new version of their Mac Mini that will come in two standard configurations with different storage and processor options, and a third version which will run OS X Server.  Some reports are also suggesting that a new 13” Macbook with Retina Display will also be launched alongside the iPad Mini and Mac Mini.

In other Apple news, the fruity company nabbed Amazon’s search technologist William Stasior to run their Siri unit.  Stasior ran A9, Amazon’s search and advertising unit, which provides search for Amazon sites worldwide, as well as other online retail sites.  This now begs the question, will Apple enter the search sector?  It’s not that hard to fathom, since Apple aims to compete with Google in every way.

For more analysis on Stassior’s new position is Senior Editor Kristen Nicole, who dropped in on the morning News Desk segment.  See video below:

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to arrive in the US on October 25

Samsung’s phablet, the Galaxy Note 2, is set to arrive in the US on October 25 and will cost $299 with a two-year contract on Sprint.  The network carrier will release the phablet running on Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, available in two colors: Marble White and Titanium Gray.  No news yet if other carriers will be offering the device, too.  The Galaxy Note 2 features a 5.55″ HD Super AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass, available in 16/32/64GB User memory + 2GB (RAM), microSD slot (up to 64GB), NFC, 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, WiFi, Bluetooth and more.

The South Korean giant also unveiled their new line of hybrids dubbed as Smart PCs, laptops called Mobile PCs and All-in-One PCs.  According to Samsung America consumer electronics head Tim Baxter, “The Smart PC is a new category driven by innovation and U.I., with Windows 8 as the lynch pin,”

The Smart PCs range from $650-$1,200 depending on the specs and if it has a keyboard while the Mobile PCs range from $450-$1,400, and the All-in-One PCs starts at $800 and could go up to $1,700.

Microsoft shows off new ad for Surface tablet

Microsoft is getting ready to officially launch the Windows 8 platform on October 26 and with the launch also comes the Microsoft ARM-based Surface RT and the Intel-based Surface Pro tablets.

Though some consider the Surface tablet as a business tool, Microsoft’s newest ad shows that even school kids, college kids, hipsters, yuppies, members of the family and even people who like to pop-and-lock it enjoy using the tablet.  Yeah, it seems as if I took the ad literally, but that’s what Microsoft wants – everyone to use the Surface tablet.  Here’s Microsoft’s new ad, The Surface Movement.

Microsoft also revealed the pricing of the Surface tablet, which starts at $499 for the 32GB version, $599 with the addition of a black TouchCover keyboard case, and $699 for a 64GB version with a black TouchCover keyboard.  Additional TouchCovers in various colors is available at $100 each, with the more traditional TypeCover keyboard for $129.