I am pretty excited as the fine folks at WordPress just released (this morning) their first BETA of their latest version (3.8) of this most amazing CMS. With too much on my plate already, I decided to bite the bullet and download the latest build to my local server… Just to play. Okay, I am as curious as they come.
This new version is hot on the heels of V3.7 which was just released on October the 24th. V3.7 addressed a number of issues. Primarily the concept of automatic core updates (still not sure I like this concept). Plus some password strengthening (“letmein” just won’t cut it anymore.).
This version works on backend aesthetics. The administration panel sports a nifty new interface with a number of customization options. Kinda like what Apple did when they rolled out iOS7. Also, the concept of responsive design has moved to the Administration area. Can you say iPad friendly? There will also be some nifty plugin enhancements.
Choosing themes is much “prettier”. Speaking of themes, the latest default theme is Twenty Fourteen (yes there is a trend going here).
The default theme is a magazine theme with a sleek, modern, and beautifully crafted responsive design. The home page features your choice of up to 6 posts prominently displayed in a grid or slider, controlled by the “featured” post tag; you can change the tag and layout in Appearance > Customize. Three widget-ready areas to customize your sidebars and footer area, including a special Ephemera widget to highlight your latest videos, music, links, and more. Tailor content pages to your needs with two extra page templates: full-width (no sidebar) and a Contributor page to show off multiple authors.
BTW, the final release of V3.8 is scheduled for December the 12th. Geesh! Keep your eyes peeled and ears open. This looks to be a great enhancement to an already superb CMS.