14 DAY TRIAL // Owners of Android-based devices interested in loading a custom ROM on them can now grab the new CyanogenMod builds, namely CM 11.0 M7, which started to arrive on supported smartphones and tablet PCs over the weekend.
The new release is based on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system but includes a nice range of new features and enhancements when compared to the previous build.
According to the CyanogenMod team, CM 11.0 M7 comes with a Theme Chooser UI Overhaul, as well as with Performance Profiles, and a redesigned Calculator app.
At the same time, the new software will provide users with a series of performance improvements when it comes to themes on low-memory devices (~512MB RAM or less).
The new release was also packed with a series of bug fixes, both for general issues and for device-specific problems that users had been reporting on.
Some changes in Trebuchet were also made, such as moved settings to new slide-out panel, or the introduction of consolidated settings for home and drawer options.
CyanogenMod 11.0 M7 also comes with FFMpeg support (expanded media format support), as well as with better Bluetooth capabilities, meant to improve support for new car audio systems and docks.
“The non-device specific code was branched on May 22nd, giving us a bit longer than usual for our stabilization period,” the team announced in a blog post.
“Device specific code was branched on May 31st. For those of you who jump between nightlies and M releases, the May 22nd branch point is the one you should be paying attention to.”
As mentioned above, the new release is still based on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat branch, and CyanogenMod has confirmed this, saying that Android 4.4.3 will not be added to the M releases until next month.
Apparently, the Android 4.4.3 code has been already merged into CM for nightlies, but the stable branch does not feature it yet, as the team did not want to rush its release.
“Given the source code was only made available last week, we chose not to rush the new code into the stable branch. There will be plenty of things to address with 4.4.3 in time for our M8 release next month,” the team says.
Those of you interested in installing the new CyanogenMod 11.0 M7 build on their devices should head over to the CM download website to grab it. Just keep in mind that not all smartphones and tablet PCs are supported as of now (only around 40 models can enjoy it at the moment).