Back in January, I reported on Belle Extra Buttons v1.7.5, itself a big update. It seems that the developer hasn't rested, for we now have v2.1.0, with a changelog as long as your arm, including now up to 28 shortcuts for each of the two expending panels, better formatted pane overlays and a mountain of fixes and tweaks. See the full changes, some screens and links below.

Here's the summarised changelog from v1.7.5 to v2.1:

• Each Expandable Window now extends dynamically to hold up to 28 shortcuts, 56 shortcuts for both.
• You can select the icon style of the Expandable Windows (A / B) when set as a [Tap] for the Toolbar buttons under 'Stylize' category.
• Added more Stylish icons for Preloaded Features when used in the Expandable Windows under 'Stylize' Category.
• Home-Screen & Telephone Dial Pad applications are now available to be assigned to any button via [ Custom(Installed App) ] option.
• Status Pane Buttons 'Exception Apps List' changed to be 'Show Status Pane Buttons at' to add the applications where Status Pane buttons will be accessible.
• Status Pane Buttons by default (and automatically) are not available over 'Camera' application to avoid rendering problems on Belle FP2 devices.
• Status Pane Buttons by default (and automatically) are not available over 'Virtual Keyboard'.
• Fixed: Enable / Disable Status Pane Buttons during call option functionality.
• Fixed: Installed applications exist in the 'Expandable Window (A)' were not available to set to 'Status Pane Buttons' & 'Toolbar Buttons'.      
• Fixed: Music Buttons appears when 'Ended Call' / 'Java game' / 'Java application' information dialog appears.
• Music Control Buttons: Added 'Align Music Buttons' option [ Left - Right ] under 'Music Control Buttons' category (For Right-To-Left languages as Arabic).
• Music Control Buttons: Mute button is not overlapping 'Notifications' word in German / Russian.
• Internal enhancements for a better quicker performance.1) Fully categorized sections related to each feature.
• You can activate/deactivate Status Pane Buttons [Grey - Red - Green - Blue] individually.
• You can assign [ None - Installed Application - Preloaded Feature - Expandable Window ] to [ Tap - Long Tap ] of each Status Pane Button.
• You can assign [ Installed Application - Preloaded Feature - Expandable Window ] to [ Tap - Long Tap ] of each Toolbar Button.
• Music Control Buttons [ Via Drop Down Menu ] - Added Mute / Unmute button.
• The preloaded ‘Restart Phone’ Feature has been enhanced to be very quick.

The developer does note that you should restart your mobile after downloading / installing the new update so that the system reloads the new graphics (in case, for example, Music Player Control Buttons don’t appear correctly).

Here's Belle Extra Buttons 2.1 in action:

Central to Belle Extra Buttons are two expending panels - by default one handles all the system functions and shortcuts, while the other comes with applications, but you can fully customise what goes where....

Also included is an overlay pane for the drop-down notifications pane, with music controls and a 'mute' control, as shown right.

The main Belle Extra buttons control panel, with a mountain of dialogs to fiddle with; (right) at each stage, adding any app is as simple as picking it from the main OS identifier list.

You can buy Belle Extra Buttons for £3 (or update it) here in the Nokia Store. There's also, in theory, a 5-day trial version here, though when I checked this morning, this was still at the old v1.7 base - expect this to get updated shortly too.

Comments welcome if you use this utility. How's it working for you and what do you think of this new version?