Microsoft is expected to unveil a major update to Windows 8, version 8.1 (aka Blue), in June at their Build conference. It appears like they have been listening to customer feedback and wants to make things better. According to The Verge, the company has plans to bring back the Start button with 8.1.

Most Windows 8 users wanted the return of the Start button and Start Menu, so they went for tools such as Pokki, which has been downloaded about 1.5 million times. With the arrival of Windows 8.1, the Start button will apparently make a comeback. It will look similar to the Windows flag in the Charm bar.

Don’t get too excited though as this button is not coming with the traditional Start Menu, but it will just allow you access to the Windows 8 Start Screen. So you better make plans for a third-party app if you hold no love for Microsoft’s new Start UI.

This new information follows an earlier hint about a boot to desktop option, which will allow users to boot directly to the traditional desktop in the upcoming OS update. More new features and upgrades are certainly coming and we are digging in to find out what those are. Stay tuned to Mobilemag for updates.

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Qualcomm has been getting more attention in the mobile space of late, but NVIDIA appears to have an answer. Say hello to the NVIDIA Phoenix powered by the Tegra 4i, the chip that combines LTE with quad core.

But the high end 5-inch handset, which boasts a 1080p display and a 13 megapixel cam, you see above, is not for sale. It’s just a reference device meant to end up at the labs of various manufacturers who can develop their own smartphones with NVIDIA’s new tech inside. NVIDIA’s ultimate aim is to build “mainstream superphones”, devices having today’s highest specs with tomorrow’s mid range price tags.

The Phoenix is a reasonably powerful device, even if it is nowhere nearly as powerful as the NVidia Tegra 4 processor, it is still a reasonable step up from the Tegra 3.  According to available info, we can expect devices with the new tech to hit the market in less than a year. We will keep you updated, but in the meantime check out 4i’s graphics performance in the video below:

So what do you think, impressed by the performance of the NVIDIA Tegra 4i or not?

The post NVIDIA Tegra 4i Phoenix Reference Phone (Video) appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

The core here is that you’ll still get all of the usual news, reviews and feature content that you’d get on the regular site, but it has all been optimized for a more mobile-friendly experience. They’ve also provided “quick access” to additional content by way of podcasts, videos and photo galleries. The guys at the Verge promise that “videos play just fine on both iOS and Android.” Commenting on posts works too. The “StoryStream” feature for following a story is intact, giving you a notification each time your subscribed story gets an update.

You can find the Verge app in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store for the iOS and Android versions, respectively. And yes, they are both free to download.

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