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Mobile Miscellany: week of June 10th, 2013

zachary lutz
Updated ·4 min read
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If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, the Lumia 925 touched down in Germany, a popular RSS client for Android broke free of its Google Reader shackles and BBM Channels received some sorely needed features. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of June 10th, 2013.

Lumia 925 hits shelves in Germany

Mobile Miscellany week of June 10th, 2013

The Nokia Lumia 925 touched down in Germany this week as a kickoff to its eventual rollout in other European countries, along with China and the US. The phone comes bundled with a beta version of Nokia Glance Screen, which allows users to get an immediate look at the time and battery level -- all without waking the device. The Lumia 925 arrives as a slimmed down variant of the Lumia 920, with differences that include an aluminum enclosure, an improved camera and an AMOLED display. As for Glance, other Lumia owners will be able to get in on the fun with the arrival of Nokia's upcoming Amber software update. [Nokia Conversations]

Press for Android gains Feedbin and Feed Wrangler support

Mobile Miscellany week of June 10th, 2013

With only a couple of weeks to go before Google Reader receives the axe, the creators of Press -- an RSS reader for Android -- have updated the app with support for Feedbin and Feed Wrangler. Neither service is free, however, as you'll pay $2 per month for Feedbin or $19 per year for Feed Wrangler. On the upside, Press users can look forward to future integration with Feedly (free) and Fever ($30). [Android Police]

New searching and sharing options arrive in BBM Channels beta

BBM Channels is still in its early days as a social network, but users will now find a number of changes that make the Tumblr-like service more useful and approachable. A new beta version of the BBM Channels app was released this week, which allows users to search -- rather than just browse -- for channels, and the ability to repost content from others into one's own channel. Other minor improvements include the ability to share a clickable version of your Channel PIN to Facebook and Twitter, support for animated GIFs and the ability to view subscriber counts of a channel. Should you decide that BBM Channels isn't your thing, the latest version also allows users to delete their channel. [BlackBerry]

Other random tidbits

  • A dual-SIM version of the HTC One was announced in Taiwan, where it's known as -- wait for it -- the HTC One Dual. Pomp and circumstance aside, the phone is a rebranded version of the 802d, which has been available in China for a few months now. [ePrice]

  • As speculated, the LG Optimus L4 II is now available in Russia and Ukraine for 5,490 rubles ($172). Rumored specs have also proven accurate, as the phone combines Android 4.1, a 3.8-inch HVGA display, a 1GHz single-core processor and a 3-megapixel BSI camera. [Unwired View]

  • The beta version of Facebook for Windows Phone 8 received support for German and Italian in its latest update. [WMPoweruser]

  • Skype for BlackBerry received an update that's designed to improve performance and stability, and allow users to purchase Skype Credits from within the app. [CrackBerry]

  • Consumer Cellular introduced a home phone service that runs $10 per month for its current subscribers. As a necessary component, users must also purchase the Wireless Home Base Device, which works with existing landline equipment and costs $35. [PhoneScoop]

  • The Samsung Galaxy Ace II E made its debut at Eastlink and Videotron in Canada, which combines a 3.8-inch WVGA display, a dual-core 1GHz CPU, a 5-megapixel camera and Android 4.1. Eastlink is currently offering the better value of the two carriers, which sells the phone for $249, as opposed to $300 at Videotron. [MobileSyrup]

  • The Huawei Ascend Y201 is now available at Virgin Mobile in Canada for $80 outright. The entry-level smartphone features a 3.5-inch HVGA display, a 3.2-megapixel camera and runs Android 2.3. [MobileSyrup]

  • Huawei has put the Ascend P6 up for pre-order today in China, which comes a mere three days before the phone hits general availability. [Engadget Chinese (translated)]

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[Mobile Miscellany photo credit: Thristian / Flickr]