by Steven Setser

Welcome to another edition of Spec Tech, where you can read about all of the newest technologies coming out. Let’s get started!

Do you have a small phone? Don’t worry. Samsung has got you covered with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. This phone has not officially been announced yet, but Samsung representatives have said that it will come with a 5.9- inch screen. There is no other information about this, except that it will be unveiled on Wednesday.

For those of you who love QWERTY keyboards on your phone, you are in luck. The BlackBerry Q10 will be coming to Sprint tomorrow for $199. It is already available on T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon.

Microsoft has a new update for the Xbox 360. This update removes Microsoft Points so that everything is bought with regional currency. If you have Microsoft Points stashed in your account, it will be replaced by cash credit to be used for purchases. You have until June 1, 2015 to use this stored credit.

Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, announced that he would retire within the next year. Microsoft is currently looking for a replacement. Ballmer is leaving on his own terms and says that his biggest regret is the way the company transitioned to Windows Vista.

Apple rumors, Apple rumors, Apple rumors! The rumor is that Apple will hold a conference on September 10 and announce not one but two iPhones for the first time: the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C. Because of this, the current iPhone 5 will disappear. The 5S will have better specs in terms of battery, camera and processing power, and it will also come in black, white and champagne.

On the other hand, the iPhone 5C will be a cheaper iPhone than ever before. It might be plastic, like the original iPhone, and sans Siri. It might also have a slower processor, a not-so-great camera and no 4G capability. However, these are just rumors, so keep that in mind. I will update this story as more information becomes available.

Lastly, LG has officially announced a product that wasn’t named or shown. The G Pad 8.3 tablet is supposedly an easily portable, mid-sized tablet with smart-TV connections and a full HD screen. We will be given more information at a later date.

That’s it for this week. Come back next week for a new edition of Spec Tech. My question of the week is “What do you think about a cheaper iPhone?” Send your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu and your answer could be in next week’s issue.