The Retina iPad Mini's "secretive" launch was driven by severe shortages, which have not improved since Apple started selling the smaller tablet a week ago, a financial analyst said today.The surprisingly quiet launch of the new 7.9-in. iPad Mini -- Apple simply stuck the tablet on its online store, and hours later deigned only to announce availability via a press release -- was the company's attempt to deal with short supplies, said Brian White of Cantor Fitzgerald."Apple has historically announced pre-order periods well in advance," noted White in a note to clients last week. "We believe limited availability may have driven the company into a more secretive launch this time around."In another note today, White reiterated that, and said the supply situation was still "very constrained."White said that a survey of about 50% o U.S.-based Apple stores showed that only 27% o the
