Its very exciting to see the latest and greatest version of WordPress 2.8 released. The first notice is that, visually V.2.8 feels a lot like V.2.7, just with some minor tweaks at some places. However once you’ll dig in you’ll begin to appreciate the changes. Herte is an video presentaion by VideoPress that showcase some major features of the new WordPress v.2.8
Major New Improvements
First and foremost, 2.8 is way faster to use. We’ve changed the way WordPress does style and scripting.
The core and plugin updaters in previous versions of WordPress have been such a success we decided to bring the same to themes. You can now browse the entire theme directory and install a theme with one click from the comfort of your WordPress dashboard.
If you make edits or tweaks to themes or plugins from your dashboard, you’ll appreciate the new CodePress editor which gives syntax highlighting to the previously-plain editor. Also there is now contextual documentation for the functions in the file you’re editing linked right below the editor.
If you were ever frustrated with widgets before, this release should be your savior. We’ve completely redesigned the widgets interface (which we didn’t have time to in 2.7) to allow you to do things like edit widgets on the fly, have multiple copies of the same widget, drag and drop widgets between sidebars, and save inactive widgets so you don’t lose all their settings. Developers now have access to a much cleaner and robust API for creating widgets as well.
Finally you should explore the new Screen Options on every page. It’s the tab in the top right. Now, for example, if you have a wide monitor you could set up your dashboard to have four columns of widgets instead of the two it has by default. On other pages you can change how many items show per page.
Highlights
- New drag-and-drop widgets admin interface and new widgets API
- Syntax highlighting and function lookup built into plugin and theme editors
- Browse the theme directory and install themes from the admin
- Allow the dashboard widgets to be arranged in up to four columns
- Allow configuring the number of items to show on management pages with an option in Screen Options
- Support timezones and automatic daylight savings time adjustment
- Support IIS 7.0 URL Rewrite Module
- Faster loading of admin pages via script compression and concatenation
New Features
User Features
- New Theme Installer routines
- Add CodePress syntax highlighting to Theme and Plugin editors
- Add Documentation(function) lookup to Theme and Plugin editors
- Use “Custom Header” for menu text and revise Default theme to reflect change
- Separate Comments into a separate postbox, from Discussion postbox, on the Edit Post screen
- Make tags accessible without Javascript on the edit screen
- Don’t ask for confirmation when marking a comment as spam
- Don’t notify post author of own comments
- Fix comment paging for static front page
- Allow the dashboard widgets to be arranged in up to four columns as set via the Screen Options tab
- Make titles into links in Dashboard Right Now module (this was in 2.7.1)
- Improved Admin icons (grey-to-transparent shadows)
- Update Blue Admin Color Scheme
You can read the full list of over 180 new features, changes, upgrades, and improvements on the Codex. The list is exciting!
We just downloaded the latest version of wordpress for our blog… http://ceo.distrabit.com/ it is alot easier to change the sidebar now which is nice. maybe some nice new themes are needed
Personally, I use textpattern for my site http://www.solarpower2day.net. However, if wordpress improves its speed and reduces its footprint I just might reconsider. Good to see they’re working on these aspects.
Wow, WP comes out with a ton of new features this time around. Convenient to be able to browse/switch themes from within the admin without having to download/FTP.
And hey, faster is always better. http://www.academyx.com
This is excellent! WP has made this so much easier, and quicker.
The one-click theme installer is a great time saver at the start for newbies who probably try out atleast 2 or 3 before settling on one.
I really liked your blog!
WP comes out with a ton of new features this time around
I actually like the upgrade. It is now looking more professional and easy to use.
I really liked your blog!
I just installed wordpress ,it’s the version 2.71 in here http://blog.youtips.net/
Do you think I must update ? and as I’m new using wordpress, is the upgrade compatible with plugins ? should I verify that before Upgrading ?
thanks for info first, and thanks for answering.
Yes, I just installed 2.8, doesn’t look much different but I guess it was bug fixes and such.
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@Hic,
Idealy you stick for now with version 2.71 and wait a little untill most used plugins get updated and compitable with the new WP version
Ok, thanks a lot ! I have about 8 plugins installed .. I’ll check for updates..
Thank you for answering.
Its good to see that this i like to call it tool is just becoming stronger and stronger. Nowadays anyone can set up a professional website that is secure and easy to maintain. I might use this for my website to Play Arcade Games .
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I will definately want my wordpress blog upgraded to 2.8.1 i will check all the plugins for compatibility and I will upgrade it to 2.8.1
WP comes out with a ton of new features this time around.
Its good to see that this i like to call it tool is just becoming stronger and stronger. Nowadays anyone can set up a professional website that is secure and easy to maintain.
Thank you very much!
lol