The CyanogenMod team has released a major update to its popular Android distribution. All told, CyanogenMod 7.1 supports 68 different devices, and the new release adds support for a number of new phones including the Samsung Galaxy S II, Motorola Droid 2 and X, and and a number of Sony Xperia phones.
The developers also promise that more devices will be added to the list soon, once beta testing is complete. That includes the version of CyanogenMod for the HP TouchPad that the team has been working on for the last few months.
If you do have a supported device, here are some of the improvements in CyanogenMod 7.1:
- This is the first version based on Google Android 2.3.7.
- There’s support for a Bluetooth mouse.
- You can now revoke application permission.
- Selected devices now include an FM radio option.
- There’s a new touch-to-focus camera feature.
- You can find a screenshot option in the power menu.
You can find a complete list of changes in the release notes.
The easiest way to upgrade from an earlier version of CyanogenMod is to use the built-in ROM Manager application. For that matter, the easiest way to install CyanogenMod even if you’re not already running an earlier version is to use ROM Manager.
You can download the app for free from the Android Market. The app requires root access and an unlocked bootloader — and the first time you flash a new ROM you will likely erase all the data from your device’s main storage.
