diff --git a/docs/platforms-release-process.md b/docs/platforms-release-process.md
index 093cf3ad6..ea370e74f 100644
--- a/docs/platforms-release-process.md
+++ b/docs/platforms-release-process.md
@@ -258,13 +258,19 @@ Create and prepare your release branch by using `coho prepare-platform-release-b
 3. Propagates version number from `--version` argument (or from `package.json` if there is no `--version` argument) to all other files (`VERSION` and similar [e.g. `build.gradle` for Android]) on the release branch `5.0.x`
 4. Prepares `master` for future development already: It gives version (`package.json`, `VERSION` and similar) a minor bump and adds `-dev` (=> `5.1.0-dev`) again
 
-Run the following command (make sure to replace the version below with what is listed inside `package.json`).
+Run the following command (make sure to replace the version below with what is listed inside `package.json`) in case of release from the `master`:
 
-    coho prepare-platform-release-branch --version 5.0.0 -r android
+    coho prepare-platform-release-branch --version 7.2.0 -r android
+
+or in case of release from another release branch:
+
+    coho prepare-platform-release-branch --version 7.1.1 -r android -b 7.1.x
 
 Then ensure commits look okay on both branches
 
-    coho repo-status -r android -b master -b 5.0.x
+    coho repo-status -r android -b master -b 7.1.x
+
+or use git tool to verify manually.
 
 ## Testing
 
@@ -355,25 +361,31 @@ Create a JIRA issue for it, and mark it as a blocker.
 
 All good? Have another look at the changes:
 
-    coho repo-status -r android -b master -b 5.0.x
+    coho repo-status -r android -b master -b 7.1.x
 
 If changes look right:
 
     coho repo-push -r android -b master -b 5.0.x
 
-This pushes the commits in both `master` and `5.0.x` (the release branch) to the remote.
+This pushes the commits in both `master` and `7.1.x` (the release branch) to the remote.
 
 ### Tag and push tag
 
 Before you tag, run this command:
 
-    coho tag-platform-release --version 5.0.0 -r android --pretend
+    coho tag-platform-release --version 7.1.0 -r android --pretend
     
 Seems okay? Then execute it by running:
 
-    coho tag-platform-release --version 5.0.0 -r android
+    coho tag-platform-release --version 7.1.0 -r android
+
+This command also tags `cordova-js` with `android-7.1.0` and pushes it.
+
+To tag without automatic push:
+
+    coho tag-platform-release --version 7.1.0 -r android --tag-only
 
-This command also tags `cordova-js` with `android-5.0.0` and pushes it.
+and then manually push the new tags.
 
 ## Publish Release Candidate to `dist/dev`
 
diff --git a/src/gitutil.js b/src/gitutil.js
index fe7c55821..973ec75fb 100644
--- a/src/gitutil.js
+++ b/src/gitutil.js
@@ -137,6 +137,10 @@ exports.pendingChangesExist = function * () {
 exports.gitCheckout = function * (branchName) {
     var curBranch = yield gitutil.retrieveCurrentBranchName(true);
     if (curBranch !== branchName) {
+        // EXTRA WORKAROUND SOLUTION for package.json,
+        // as needed for cordova-osx & Windows
+        // FUTURE TBD better solution for package.json?
+        yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('git checkout -- package.json'));
         return yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('git checkout -q ', branchName));
     }
 };
diff --git a/src/platform-release.js b/src/platform-release.js
index 9982c3291..a7b59c20a 100644
--- a/src/platform-release.js
+++ b/src/platform-release.js
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ function * updateCDVAvailabilityFile (version) {
     fs.writeFileSync(iosFile, iosFileContents.join('\n'));
 }
 
-function * updateJsSnapshot (repo, version, commit) {
+function * updateJsSnapshot (repo, version, commit, branch) {
     function * ensureJsIsBuilt () {
         var cordovaJsRepo = repoutil.getRepoById('js');
         if (repo.id === 'blackberry') {
@@ -139,10 +139,19 @@ function * updateJsSnapshot (repo, version, commit) {
         if (hasBuiltJs !== version) {
             yield repoutil.forEachRepo([cordovaJsRepo], function * () {
                 yield gitutil.stashAndPop(cordovaJsRepo, function * () {
-                    // git fetch and update master for cordovajs
-                    yield repoupdate.updateRepos([cordovaJsRepo], ['master'], false);
-                    yield gitutil.gitCheckout('master');
+                    // git fetch and update master (or fetch other branch) for cordova-js
+                    if (branch === 'master') {
+                        yield repoupdate.updateRepos([cordovaJsRepo], [branch], false);
+                    }
+                    // EXTRA WORKAROUND SOLUTION for package.json,
+                    // as needed for cordova-osx & Windows
+                    // FUTURE TBD better solution for package.json?
+                    yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('git checkout -- package.json'));
+                    yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('git checkout -q ' + branch));
+                    yield gitutil.gitCheckout(branch);
+                    yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('npm install'), false, true); // WORKAROUND PART 1 for local grunt issue in cordova-js
                     yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('grunt compile:' + repo.id + ' --platformVersion=' + version), false, true);
+                    shelljs.rm('-fr', 'node_modules'); // WORKAROUND PART 2 for local grunt issue in cordova-js
                     hasBuiltJs = version;
                 });
             });
@@ -175,13 +184,16 @@ exports.createAndCopyCordovaJSCommand = function * () {
                '    1. Generates a new cordova.js.\n' +
                '    2. Replaces platform\'s cordova.js file.\n' +
                '\n' +
-               'Usage: $0 copy-js -r platform')
+               'Usage: $0 copy-js -r platform [--js <cordova-js branch or tag name>]')
     );
 
     var repos = flagutil.computeReposFromFlag(argv.r);
+
+    var jsBranchName = argv.js ? argv.js : 'master';
+
     yield repoutil.forEachRepo(repos, function * (repo) {
         var version = yield handleVersion(repo, argv.version, false);
-        yield updateJsSnapshot(repo, version, false);
+        yield updateJsSnapshot(repo, version, false, jsBranchName);
     });
 };
 
@@ -197,24 +209,49 @@ exports.prepareReleaseBranchCommand = function * () {
                'Command can also be used to update the JS snapshot after release \n' +
                'branches have been created.\n' +
                '\n' +
-               'Usage: $0 prepare-release-branch -r platform [--version=3.6.0]')
+               'Usage: $0 prepare-platform-release-branch -r platform [--version=3.6.0] [-b <platform branch name>] [--js <cordova-js branch or tag name>]')
     );
 
     var repos = flagutil.computeReposFromFlag(argv.r);
+
+    // XXX TBD ???:
     var branchName = null;
 
+    var isOtherRepoBranch = !!argv.b;
+    var repoBranchName = isOtherRepoBranch ? argv.b : 'master';
+    var jsBranchName = argv.js ? argv.js : 'master';
+
     // First - perform precondition checks.
     yield repoupdate.updateRepos(repos, [], true);
 
     yield repoutil.forEachRepo(repos, function * (repo) {
         var platform = repo.id;
         var version = yield handleVersion(repo, argv.version, true);
-        var branchName = versionutil.getReleaseBranchNameFromVersion(version);
+        var releaseBranchName = isOtherRepoBranch ? repoBranchName :
+                versionutil.getReleaseBranchNameFromVersion(version);
 
         yield gitutil.stashAndPop(repo, function * () {
             // git fetch + update master
-            yield repoupdate.updateRepos([repo], ['master'], false);
-            if (platform === 'ios') {
+            yield repoupdate.updateRepos([repo], [repoBranchName], false);
+
+            // Either create or pull down the branch.
+            if (yield gitutil.remoteBranchExists(repo, releaseBranchName)) {
+                print('Remote branch already exists for repo: ' + repo.repoName);
+                // Check out and rebase.
+                yield repoupdate.updateRepos([repo], [releaseBranchName], true);
+                yield gitutil.gitCheckout(releaseBranchName);
+            } else if (yield gitutil.localBranchExists(releaseBranchName)) {
+                yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('git checkout ' + releaseBranchName));
+            } else if (isOtherRepoBranch) {
+                yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('git checkout ' + repoBranchName));
+            } else {
+                yield gitutil.gitCheckout('master');
+                yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('git checkout -b ' + releaseBranchName));
+            }
+
+            yield updateJsSnapshot(repo, version, true, jsBranchName);
+
+            if (platform === 'ios' && /\d$/.test(version)) {
                 // Updates version in CDVAvailability.h file
                 yield updateCDVAvailabilityFile(version);
                 // Git commit changes
@@ -222,39 +259,33 @@ exports.prepareReleaseBranchCommand = function * () {
                     yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('git commit -am', 'Added ' + version + ' to CDVAvailability.h (via coho).'));
                 }
             }
-            // Either create or pull down the branch.
-            if (yield gitutil.remoteBranchExists(repo, branchName)) {
-                print('Remote branch already exists for repo: ' + repo.repoName);
-                // Check out and rebase.
-                yield repoupdate.updateRepos([repo], [branchName], true);
-                yield gitutil.gitCheckout(branchName);
-            } else if (yield gitutil.localBranchExists(branchName)) {
-                yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('git checkout ' + branchName));
-            } else {
-                yield gitutil.gitCheckout('master');
-                yield executil.execHelper(executil.ARGS('git checkout -b ' + branchName));
-            }
 
-            yield updateJsSnapshot(repo, version, true);
-            print(repo.repoName + ': Setting VERSION to "' + version + '" on branch "' + branchName + '".');
+            print(repo.repoName + ': Setting VERSION to "' + version + '" on branch "' + releaseBranchName + '".');
             yield versionutil.updateRepoVersion(repo, version);
 
+            // skip remaining steps for this repo if other repo branch was specified:
+            if (isOtherRepoBranch) return;
+
             yield gitutil.gitCheckout('master');
             var devVersion = createPlatformDevVersion(version);
             print(repo.repoName + ': Setting VERSION to "' + devVersion + '" on branch "master".');
             yield versionutil.updateRepoVersion(repo, devVersion);
-            yield updateJsSnapshot(repo, devVersion, true);
-            yield gitutil.gitCheckout(branchName);
+            yield updateJsSnapshot(repo, devVersion, true, jsBranchName);
+            yield gitutil.gitCheckout(releaseBranchName);
         });
     });
-    executil.reportGitPushResult(repos, ['master', branchName]);
+
+    // XXX TBD ???:
+    executil.reportGitPushResult(repos, [repoBranchName, branchName]);
 };
 
-function * tagJs (repo, version, pretend) {
+function * tagJs (repo, version, pretend, tagOnly) {
 
     function * execOrPretend (cmd) {
         if (pretend) {
             print('PRETENDING TO RUN: ' + cmd.join(' '));
+        } else if (tagOnly && cmd[1] === 'push') {
+            print('SKIP: ' + cmd.join(' '));
         } else {
             yield executil.execHelper(cmd);
         }
@@ -281,16 +312,21 @@ exports.tagReleaseBranchCommand = function * (argv) {
     var argv = configureReleaseCommandFlags(optimist // eslint-disable-line
         .usage('Tags a release branches.\n' +
                '\n' +
-               'Usage: $0 tag-release --version=2.8.0-rc1 -r platform')
+               'Usage: $0 tag-release --version=2.8.0-rc1 -r platform [--pretend] [--tag-only]')
         .options('pretend', {
             desc: 'Don\'t actually run git commands, just print out what would be run.',
             type: 'boolean'
         })
+        .options('tag-only', {
+            desc: 'Don\'t actually push to origin, just print out what would be pushed.',
+            type: 'boolean'
+        })
     );
     var repos = flagutil.computeReposFromFlag(argv.r);
     var version = flagutil.validateVersionString(argv.version);
     var pretend = argv.pretend;
     var branchName = versionutil.getReleaseBranchNameFromVersion(version);
+    var tagOnly = argv['tag-only'];
 
     // First - perform precondition checks.
     yield repoupdate.updateRepos(repos, [], true);
@@ -298,6 +334,8 @@ exports.tagReleaseBranchCommand = function * (argv) {
     function * execOrPretend (cmd) {
         if (pretend) {
             print('PRETENDING TO RUN: ' + cmd.join(' '));
+        } else if (tagOnly && cmd[1] === 'push') {
+            print('SKIP: ' + cmd.join(' '));
         } else {
             yield executil.execHelper(cmd);
         }
@@ -329,7 +367,7 @@ exports.tagReleaseBranchCommand = function * (argv) {
             } else {
                 print('Repo ' + repo.repoName + ' is already tagged.');
             }
-            yield tagJs(repo, version, pretend);
+            yield tagJs(repo, version, pretend, tagOnly);
 
         });
     });
diff --git a/src/versionutil.js b/src/versionutil.js
index 7c1909939..afd55fd55 100644
--- a/src/versionutil.js
+++ b/src/versionutil.js
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ exports.updateRepoVersion = function * updateRepoVersion (repo, version, opts) {
 
     // Update the package.json VERSION.
     var packageFilePaths = repo.packageFilePaths || ['package.json'];
+    var pendingChangesExistInJSON = false;
     if (fs.existsSync(packageFilePaths[0])) {
         fs.readFile(packageFilePaths[0], {encoding: 'utf-8'}, function (err, data) {
             if (err) throw err;
@@ -138,7 +139,8 @@ exports.updateRepoVersion = function * updateRepoVersion (repo, version, opts) {
             // use 2 spaces indent similar to npm
             fs.writeFileSync(packageFilePaths[0], JSON.stringify(packageJSON, null, 2) + '\n');
         });
-        if (!(yield gitutil.pendingChangesExist())) {
+        pendingChangesExistInJSON = yield gitutil.pendingChangesExist();
+        if (!pendingChangesExistInJSON) {
             apputil.print('package.json file was already up-to-date.');
         }
     } else {
@@ -170,6 +172,8 @@ exports.updateRepoVersion = function * updateRepoVersion (repo, version, opts) {
 
     var commitChanges = !!(opts ? opts.commitChanges : true);
     if (commitChanges && (yield gitutil.pendingChangesExist())) {
-        yield gitutil.commitChanges('Set VERSION to ' + version + ' (via coho)');
+        var versionDescription = pendingChangesExistInJSON ?
+            'version & VERSION' : 'VERSION';
+        yield gitutil.commitChanges('Set ' + versionDescription + ' to ' + version + ' (via coho)');
     }
 };