Cyanogen just made it a lot easier to control your OnePlus One smartphone with the "MOD ready" version 13.1 of the open-source operating system, rolling out now to the first-gen smartphone.

Unveiled at Mobile World Congress in February, the new platform is a series of APIs that allows developers to create the apps they want—without Google's usual constraints.

"Mods are your favorite features, right where you expect them. [They] give you a way to make your smartphone uniquely yours," Cyanogen wrote in a blog post, welcoming folks to the "post-app era."

OnePlus One users can now make Skype phone and video calls directly from their phone's dialer—no standalone service needed. Skype contacts are clearly marked with the familiar blue-and-white logo and searchable among your saved phone numbers; the new mod also lets you buy Skype Credit.

Perhaps more impressive, though, is the Cortana mod: Tell her to "take a selfie," and the digital personal assistant will give you a voice-controlled, hands-free, automatic countdown for capturing your best side.

"Avoid the hassle of trying to frame the perfect selfie, perhaps while coordinating with a group of friends in it, while also trying to hit the shutter button," the blog said.

Cortana on OnePlus One has been extended to the lock screen for easier access; simply wake the device, swipe left, and use your voice to search, set reminders, see your schedule, and more. The mod is currently available only in the US.

Cyanogen, meanwhile, cribbed Microsoft's Hyperlapse camera mode, allowing users to create "smooth and stabilized" time-lapse videos, and its OneNote function, so users can save emails and jot messages during a phone call.

And turn on the Twitter Lock Screen Mod to ensure you never miss a minute of trending news with an immersive full-screen microblogging experience—without ever unlocking your handset or opening the social network app.

The new mod platforms works only on CyanogenOS, and it is unlikely Google will change its policies on deep integration anytime soon. Still, Cyanogen says it anticipates more than a dozen "MOD ready" devices launching starting in March; the company hopes to add more developers over time.