Get geared up for WordPress 2.7

From the buzz around, we can sense that Wordpress 2.7 is going to be one of the best upgrades ever. Bigger with all new interface and packed with all new features. Many bloggers are even holding back the current upgrade waiting for the 2.7 upgrade. That means, this is going to be very interesting. Let’s see what the wordpress community has to offer in Wordpress 2.7

What’s new in Wordpress 2.7 ?

According to the Wordpress community, these are the new features we can expect from Wordpress 2.7.

A more lively comments section

Wordpress 2.7 will be bringing in more functionality into the comments section with threaded comments, inline replies and pingback – comments sorting.
Right now, there are plugins available to accomplish these features like Brian’s threaded comments plugin, Pingback-Comments separator etc. but Wordpress 2.7 will integrate it all into the basic package so that they are part of the standard code.

A completely different Dashboard

This feature may sound scary if you are so used to the current dashboard. Because, it seems like there are some major changes you have to catch up to.

The new dashboard will feature more arranged layout where the more often accessed controls will be within one or two clicks while keeping away the un necessary and less used icons and menus.
 

A whole new feature packed Write/Edit Post page

The Write new post window will sport a complete new look with minimalistic menus and integrated features.

From the icons seen there I’m guessing that there would be option to add flickr images, Youtube videos and also a google service, this could be Google images or Google docs.

Canonical redirection of Feeds

Now requests for /index.php?feed=atom or /wp-atom.php will redirect to the correct location.

Automatic one-click plugin installation from the dashboard

If the news wine is right, there would be access to the Wordpress plugin repository right from the Dashboard, where from you can search and sort plugins based on any criteria. On finding the right plugin, you can install it right from the dashboard with a few clicks. No more uploading to the plugins folder through FTP.
Some part of this is accomplished by the One Click plugin by Anirudh at the moment on the current versions.

Version Upgrades option from the Dashboard

This feature will help you bypass the messy upgradation process, by letting you upgrade to the new versions with a few clicks within your dashboard.
At the moment, Keith’s Automatic Upgrade does the job for current Wordpress versions though.

Page Menu API

Not sure how useful this is going to be, but looks like there are some improvements with the wp_page_menu() function.
I’m hoping that they give some more flexibility with this function like enabling users to control the title attribute, page slug and even hiding pages from listing out.

Sticky Posts

This feature will enable us to feature a single post everytime on the top of the article listing in the homepage. Alright!

And there are a host of other features too. (As listed on the official site)

• New admin UI based on the crazyhorse experimental UI branch with new menus and navigation
• New edit post page that allows dragging and dropping of meta boxes. Boxes can be expanded and collapsed as before and now also completely hidden.
• Ability to hide columns on the content index pages
• Inline editing of posts and pages on the content index pages
• Comments XMLRPC API
• Reply to comments from the admin
• Keyboard hot keys for managing comments
• Threaded Comments and new wp_list_comments() API
• Sticky Posts
• Automatic plugin install and integrated plugin browser
• Automatic upgrade of WordPress
• HTTPOnly auth cookies
• New HTTP request API
• A new SSH2 filesystem abstraction for updates and installs over sftp

Is Wordpress 2.7 something to be excited about ?

Yes, for all reasons. And more for the reason that there has been triple fold improvement in the functionalities and look and feel of Wordpress. This is really good since post Wordpress 2.5, there have been updates but they were very minor. I hope the Wordpress community develops Wordpress more as a simple to use, CMS platform, from a “just a blog” shell as that’s where the web is heading.

Having said that, I have to admit that the advancements seen in Wordpress 2.7 are nothing extra ordinary. The new features are, already available on different wordpress plugins and can be incorporated in to a current 2.5 version with less effort.

So, if you don’t want to waste time in getting accustomed to the new dashboard, but want to enjoy the goodness of the new features (almost) , you might want to install al these plugins, and sit back enjoy.

Wordpress Plugins that will make your current version of Wordpress as close to as Wordpress 2.7

• Wordpress Automatic Upgrade Plugin
  Saves you time and effort, of upgrading to a newer version of Wordpress. No messy process involved, the plugin does it all in a seamless manner right from the Dashboard.
• One Click plugin installation from Dashboard
  No FTP uploads, no code edits. Just as simple s a drag and drop, right from the dashboard.
• Sticky posts
  Make any post a sticky post that stays right on the top of listed articles on the homepage.
• Feed redirection
  Redirects your feed URLs to feedburner. (Some glitches known to exist)
• Embed YouTube videos to your posts
• Photo Dropper Wordpress plugins
  Lets you add creative commons allowed flickr photos right from the Write Posts menu.
• Brian’s threaded comments
  Let’s users reply to individual comments in a threaded manner. (Known to have glitches)

More information on Wordpress 2.7 here.