Credit: crunchmeme

The much anticipated release of WordPress 3.1 happened this morning.  Although I was excited to see some more geekery what I’m pleased as punch with, is the pretty blue admin theme.  More on that below!

Here’s a few things you may be interested in – and how to get around them:

In new blogs, the edit post screen will be more streamlined.  This means the extra boxes will be hidden.

To add, remove, or edit the number of viewable boxes, click on the “Screen Options” tab at the top of the screen.

As I mentioned above, a refreshed blue admin theme is available.  If you don’t already use the blue admin theme, I recommend checking it out.  Nothing on the outside of the blog is affected.

You can change the theme you use in Users>>Your Profile subtab.

A handy feature that 99% of us will use is the new linking feature.  You can now, easily add a link to another post within your site.

To do so, highlight the text that you’d like to link, and click the chain link icon.  Instead of completing the linking field, click on the “Or link to existing content”. A suggestion box will open with content that may be related to your current topic.  Or you can search for a more appropriate post/page within your site to link to.

Some of the more geekier changes include custom format support for posts, more flexibility with custom queries, taxonomies and the related breadcrumbs.   To view all the geeky details see this page:  http://codex.wordpress.org/Version_3.1

If you’d like a full backup and upgrade, email us at support@desperatelyseekingwp.com and we’ll be happy to help.

And YES – please DO upgrade your WordPress to 2.8 with the CLICK of a button!  How cool is that? If you haven`t yet upgraded to 2.7 then you won`t be able to do the automatic upgrade, yet. For $20 we`ll put you on WordPress 2.8 and then you`ll never have to pay for an upgrade again!

The deets:

1. Go to your `settings`panel and find `WP DB Backup`and be sure that you have the latest backup on your computer, or emailed to you.
2. Go to your plugins panel and select all plugins
3. From `Bulk Actions`deactivate all.
4. Click on the `Please Update Now`in the admin bar in your admin panels.
5. That`s it!!

Cheers my friends,
Cathy

The hype has been HUGE.  It has been so big, that I’ve been looking forward to this upgrade!  I know, right?  STRANGE.  The big deal is simply this:

It’s PRETTIER.

Can I take a moment to speak to the Girls?  This is like getting a brand new handbag – with the works:  new wallet, buckles, the key ring, cellphone holder, change purse, spot just big enough for your daytimer, but not too big.  Enough pockets to store everything.  But not too many so that you get lost.

This upgrade is just plain FUN.  I’ve played with it for not longer than an hour, and already I feel at home.  Now, if you’re the kind who hates change (I mean, really, who doesn’t?)it may take a few minutes – perhaps hours to feel comfortable.  But this is not a big leap.  We’re not going from English to HTML here.  Just snazzy new organizing system and buttons.  Check out the video to see it for yourself.

And back up everything first.

Then upgrade.

Need a hand?  Give us a shout, we’re here to make your bloggy life easier.  We’ll upgrade the first 20 clients who contact us, for $10 each.

I would never, knowing you, ever, remotely come close, to being that bossy with y’all.  Okay, maybe I would.  And this is probably one of those rare (ahem) times.

WordPress 2.6.2 is considered a “Mandatory Upgrade” for a lot of geekaleze reasons.  But at the end of a lot of confusing schtuff, this is what they say:

“The attack is difficult to accomplish,  but its mere possibility means we recommend upgrading to 2.6.2.”

And by attack – they do mean security attack.

I read through the geekaleze, translating to english when needed, and this is the Cathy-version: On the RARE chance that someone figures out how to enter a username in this particularly mean way, they can reset the password of another user.  And if they understand the current weakness in SQL they may be able to predict the automatically generated password that they just reset.  And this will only happen if you allow open registration.

Open registration is automatic unless you change the options under “Settings” – “General” – “Membership”.  And people do not need to register to comment if you have unchecked the next box in that same screen.   So there you have it:  upgrade!

Good luck!

Cathy

To back up, see this post.

To upgrade, see this post.