Android 4.4 KitKat Update: CyanogenMod 11 M6 Snapshot Now Available; Team To Implement More Frequent 'M' Milestones

The Android 4.4 KitKat-based CyanogenMod 11 continues development with the M6 snapshot, which became available on Sunday.

The team introduced its M5 snapshot for more than 50 devices just one month prior. Since releasing its first set of CM 11 nightlies in early December, the team released its M1 snapshot for Nexus devices in late December, its M2 snapshot was released in early January for 65 current devices its M3 snapshot for more than 30 devices in February and its M4 snapshot for more than 50 devices in March.

With the introduction of the M6 snapshot, CyanogenMod has also announced a change in its release sequence, which will bring more frequent fixes to builds once considered “release candidates” or “stable.”

The team detailed the change on its blog on Sunday, saying this will be their answer for why CyanogenMod 11 has not yet seen a stable milestone. It will be getting rid of stable builds and release candidate builds and replacing them with more frequent “M” builds.

Currently, “M” or “monthly builds" release about every four weeks and are considered more stable than nightly builds that come out more frequently and with the latest features but with little attention to bugs or other issues. With the new M release schedule, builds will release about every two weeks to address vital bug fixes in addition to introducing new features.

According to CyanogenMod there is no real difference between an M build and a release candidate or stable build; the team noted that stable builds are not without bugs, the milestone just means that team would cease development of that ROM version outside of small patches.

CyanogenMod also discussed a need for more regular attention to its more stable builds in the wake of such cyber vulnerabilities such as ‘master key’ and ‘Heartbleed.’ With the current standard if there was a major issue with an M snapshot, users would have to wait up to one month for a fix or would have to load a nightly that included the fix they need and risk encountering other issues with an unstable build. CyanogenMod says it would like to be fully converted to this new release sequence by the end of this year.

CyanogenMod 11 M6 Snapshot Details

The CyanogenMod 11 M6 snapshot is now available over 50 devices, with a number of the usual models receiving support, including the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, 5 and 7, Samsung Galaxy S, S2, S3, S4, and Note 2, LG Optimus G, G2, G Pro, and G Pad, and HTC One and HTC One Mini. Other devices are expected to receive CM11 support in the coming days.

CyanogenMod details a number of new and improved features to be found on this iteration of CM 11, in its change log, listed below:

Quiet Hours – Fix longpress QS tile option
Voice+ – Integrate into settings (under Wireless and Networks > ‘More’)
Blacklist – Add provider permissions
Lockscreen – Fix custom wallpaper crashes and album art issues Display – Consolidate screen-off animation options (remove checkbox)
Bluetooth – Upstream updates and fix issues with audio routing to select car makes/models and disconnect issues
MultiSim – Additional support patches (15+) and UI/UX modifications
Lockscreen – Disable elements when in custom lockscreen
Quick Settings – Options to show smaller tiles; add BT device name to tile
Quick Settings – Fix QS tiles layout in landscape mode
Usage Stats – Fix screen on stats after boot
Resolve memory leaks in Frameworks
Settings – Show ‘eject card’ action for USB storage
Theme Engine – Introduce new Engine capabilities (chooser to arrive in nightlies this week)
Parallel Shutdown – Decrease shutdown time
Address security vulnerability for icons
Downloads – Add pause/resume support
Trebuchet – Hidden apps and labels support
Remove parallel boot dexopt from stable/cm-11.0 branch
And more (all changes from Mar 29th to April 30th)

As always, users should take caution when installing custom firmware onto their devices, keeping in mind that their warranties may be voided. Backing up your device is recommended. CyanogenMod installation requires root access and custom recovery software.

You may download CyanogenMod 11 here.

The Gapps Zip file for Google Play Store and Google Services can be downloaded here.

Devices With CyanogenMod 11 M6 Support

LG G-Pad
HTC One S
Motorola Razr
Google Galaxy Nexus (GSM, Verizon, Sprint)
Google Nexus 7 (GSM)
Asus Transformer Pad TF701T
Asus Transformer Pad Infinity
Asus Transformer Pad TF300T
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7"
Motorola Droid Bionic
Samsung Galaxy Note II (GSM LTE)
Samsung Galaxy Premier
Motorola Droid Razr
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini (Intl)
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini (3G)
Barnes & Noble Nook HD+
Amazon Kindle Fire (2nd gen)
Amazon Kindle Fire (1st gen)
Samsung Galaxy Note II (GSM Non-LTE)
Oppo N1
moto_msm8960 (Atrix HD, Electrify M, Photon Q, RAZR HD, and RAZR M)
Motorola Droid 4
Google Nexus 4
HTC One (GSM, Verizon, Sprint)
HTC One Mini
LG G2 (Sprint)
LG Optimus G (Sprint)
Samsung Galaxy S4
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
Samsung Galaxy S III (Intl)
Samsung Galaxy S II (G, Intl)
Barnes & Noble Nook HD
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Google Nexus 5
Google Nexus 7 (Wi-Fi)
Samsung Galaxy S (B)
Google Nexus 7 2013 (Wi-Fi)
Droid Incredible 4G LTE
Oppo Find 5
Moto G
HTC One XL
Samsung Epic 4G
Barnes & Noble Nook Color
LG Optimus G Pro (All e98x GSM)

Will you be testing out the CyanogenMod 11 M6 snapshot? Let us know in the comments below.

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