well, i was looking for something like that for a long time.
problem is that the frontpage where the news are displayed simply can't do it as it is now.
if you run a fansite or gaming portal showing a category image in the newsheader really helps a lot. as of now - joomla can't do that. combined with my very high modding skills i couldn't get it to work. ^^
If there is anyone out there who can do it - do it please.
I just included an image so you know what i mean - the box, the image in the left corner (the book) etc.
Its in german - i know - but thats the first thing i could get a hold on.
Well - actually Joomla has the Tools to do that... You can configure the Frontpage (Menumanager > your mainmenu > "Home" Link) to display as many items, as you wish and you can also choose in which way to display them (# of Full Articles, # of Intro-Articles, Columns, # of Links etc.) and you can also have a Look at the Latest News-Module, which comes with Joomla by default.
If these don't fit your needs, you can search for something more fitting at
extensions.joomla.org
would love to explain it - but am a bit short on my time
the things you mentioned - yes - joomla can do that.
But there is a thing missing.
Normally Joomla puts a new news just above the old one (standard) without any graphics around it. as you can see above, every news item is boxed with an icon representing its news category.
the only thing joomla has is the "contentpaneopen css tag" - but thats not the same. as you can see for sure. ^^
there is no extension that can do this out there cause all i know is, that you need to hack your index page for that (if i remember correctly) and thats no one doing/willing to do/ or simply can't do.
edit: no - ijoomla magazine can't do that - just an image - but sorry, ijoomla magazine (i own that thing too) is just a pain in the ass.