Version 7.1 of the popular Android ROM CyanogenMod has been released, bringing with it a raft of new features and support for 68 devices.

It is based on Android 2.3.7, and the new version adds support for these new handsets:

HTC Desire S HTC Incredible S HTC Incredible 2 LG Optimus 2X and T-Mobile G2x Motorola Backflip (Motus) Motorola Cliq / Cliq XT Motorola Defy Motorola Droid 2 Motorola Droid X Samsung Captivate Samsung Fascinate Samsung Mesmerize Samsung Showcase Samsung Vibrant Samsung Galaxy S Samsung Galaxy S2 (multiple carriers) Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc ZTE V9

The full changelog is here.

Source: CyanogenMod

Although there is speculation over the validity over the screenshot, if they do in fact turn out to be true, then we are on course to see another fantastic handset from Samsung. The screenshot, supposedly designed for an internal presentation, seems to show plans and specification lists for a couple of other Samsung devices, ending with the design and specification list of the Samsung Galaxy S3.

According to the image, the Samsung Galaxy S3 will feature 1.8GHz Exynos 4212 processor, 2GB of RAM, a mammoth 12-megapixel camera, and a 4.6″ Super AMOLED Plus HD display screen.

Unlike the upcoming Samsung Nexus Prime, the Samsung Galaxy S3 will not feature a curved display, but it will be thinner than the earlier S2 device. It has also been noted that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will retain four physical buttons on the handset, but will be running the latest Android OS; Ice Cream Sandwich.

Via: Phandroid

LG have been somewhat quiet of late in the mobile industry, and have managed to fly relatively low under the radar. Until now that is. The LG Optimus LTE seems to be a device which might/will surprise a fair number of people. One of the big talking points on the Optimus LTE is the screen on offer, with a sizable 4.5″ HD display (1280×720) on offer, and from what we’ve seen, it looks extremely impressive.

Under the chassis, the LTE will be powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and have 1GB of RAM. An 8-megapixel rear facing camera with LED flash is also present. There will be 4GB of built-in storage, as well as a microSD slot for 16GB more. The LG Optimus LTE also boasts HDMI, DLNA and Wi-Fi connectivity, and will be running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Whenever we see a phone with specifications at the level that the LG Optimus LTE can offer, we start to worry about the battery life. However, a sizable 1830mAh battery is on board, which should be good enough to keep the phone ticking over nicely.

At the moment, the LG Optimus LTE is set to only be making its way to Korea in the near future, but with enough support we’re sure we’ll see the Optimus LTE hit our shelves soon enough.

It’s often said that Android apps lack some of the panache of their iPhone  equivalents. Pulse News begs to differ. Originally launched for iOS, it has come to Android in all its glory, instantly taking its place as one of the prettiest apps on the platform. Pulse is an RSS reader that pulls in the latest updates from your 25 favourite websites. But unlike every RSS app, it doesn’t present these updates to you in a simple text list, making the day’s events look like your email inbox – it does so far in a far more graphical, finger-friendly way that makes the same stories inviting to read.

A grid of images shows all your latest updates. Swipe up and down to view your feeds, then when you find the one you want to read, swipe left and right to see each story heading, along with a small thumbnail image. It’s a pleasure to use on a phone, and makes even more effective use of the larger display area on a tablet as well. The glorious presentation doesn’t end with this home screen. Tap on a story and it will open so you can read it (full webpages, if needed, will open within the app rather than needing to launch the browser separately), then you can continue swiping left or right to browse through some of the other recent stories from that same site.

It’s a really efficient use of the RSS format, one that enables you to quickly pick and choose which stories you read across all your favourite sites, as well as casually browsing any individual site on your own. Content channels are recommended, making it trivial to find good reading online, and you can add social networking feeds as well. Pulse is a real pleasure to use, proof that good design does have a positive impact on usability of an app way beyond the realms of mere eye candy.

The big difference between the internet today and that of 10 years ago is social networking. Gone are the days when people would simply surf from website to website in complete isolation. Nowadays, it’s all about linking together with friends, sharing items with each other and keeping in contact. There is an ever growing number of social networks around, but the big three are Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, each carving its own niche.

The developers of the apps in question have done far more than just take the websites and squash them on to a small screen – they have ensured that each of them is so easy to use that you will find it no effort at all to return time and again. The beauty about having the apps on your mobile phone is that your social networks go wherever you are. So you could check-in at a cafe and, as you sit drinking a latte, let everyone know exactly where you are in case they want to join you. That is made possible by the Places feature in Facebook.

You may have spotted a rare album in a record shop that you know would be of interest  to the world. Take a photograph of it on your Android phone and, with a few taps of the screen, it can be shared on Twitter within seconds, complete with a short explanation. And if you’re looking for work and want to call upon your contacts, then having them all neatly stored within LinkedIn could prove quite lucrative.

Mail clients are pretty thin on the ground for Android devices. It’s strange when you think about it, because almost every other corner of the Android Market is rammed with choice, well enter Kaiten Mail. A neat new client with a few tricks up its sleeve, albeit one that still manages to suffer the same problems that blight the Gmail app. The app it a decent-looking piece of kit, and intuitive to use right from the off. You log into your email account and Kaiten Mail does the rest, downloading your settings direct from your email provider.

A slider bar at the top of the screen allows you to split your view, displaying an email in the bottom pane and your inbox in another. Kaiten Mail certainly has the edge over most other email clients in the looks department. It’s a neat little package that’s wonderfully easy on the eye, and you’ll find almost everything you want within a few taps of your fingers. Long-pressing on an email opens up a whole raft of options, from replying to finding more mail from that sender.

One thing the app doesn’t let you do is create new folders for your email account. You’re able to move things around in the folders you’ve already created, but if you receive a new email that you want to start a new folder for, you’re going to have to do it online rather than in-app. You can pinch and double-tap to zoom in an email, but Kaiten Mail quite often gets confused over what you’re trying to do and you end up staring at a blank screen instead of the text you were trying to enlarge.