In what is probably the latest entry to the daily rumor mill surrounding the Apple iPad Mini, Jefferies analyst Peter Misek claims that the fabled Apple slate is already being produced by contract manufacturer Hon Hai. So far so good, but Misek decided to add in his two cents about an Apple device that has considerably lesser hype and hoopla surrounding it – the Apple iTV. Hon Hai has apparently started with producing the iTV as well, though the expected release timeline for it is far lengthier than the upcoming iPad.

This latest iPad Mini rumor comes as no surprise really, if the oft quoted September 12 release date has any ounce of truth to it. With a launch date less than a month away, Apple definitely needs to have the production of the 7 point something inch right up and running for good, and the Jefferies analyst seems to have stated the obvious with the first part of this rumor.

The second is more interesting though – the speculation regarding the iTV seemed to have died down somewhat, but if Misek is to be believed, it could be up for a launch before the end of this year.

According to a Forbes report:

“Recent data out of Sharp, Hon Hai and other specialty chemical and TV component suppliers support this,” he writes. Misek also notes that JDSU recently said it has a new non-gaming customer for its gesture control modules, which are also used in Microsoft‘s Kinect system for Xbox 360. JDSU indicated this is a new “living room” based customer. “We believe Apple will leverage AT&T‘s and Verizon’s content deals for the iTV,” he writes.

Misek also went on to put a Buy rating on Apple (AAPL) stock, and put a price target of $900, increasing it a full hundred dollars from its current value.