As of December 10th, 2008 Wordpress 2.7 is available for download from the Wordpress site.  Have a look at some of the interface elements below:

Dashboard: Courtesy of Wordpress.org

New Post Page: Courtesy of Wordpress.org

I haven’t upgraded as yet but can’t wait to get my hands a little dirty with the new upgrade.  I plan to upgrade myself on the weekend -> I urge you all to do the same.  Just take a look at the screenshots, if you have any doubts!

New Features

1. Keyboard Shortcuts for comment moderation:
2. Sticky Posts:
3. Theme update API
4. Dashboard and write box rearranging
5. One click plugin installs
6. Reply to comments from admin
7. *Core Updating
8. Frame-like method for moderating ping/tracbacks
9. Seperate Large and Full images sizes, related improvements
10. Comment Threading
11. Comment Paging
12. HTTPOnly cookies
13. Column hiding for all management pages
14. Templae Tage wp_page_menu wrapper for wp_list_pages

Backup Before Upgrading to WP 2.7

Props to the Design/Development Team and WP Bloggers!

I’d just like to express my deepest respect to the team of designers and developers out there who make Wordpress as “priceless” as it is.  Without there ingenuity and love of the platform where would we be?  I know where I’d be: with Expression engine or Rails , but still i love WP above all other platforms for its ease of use and vibrant community.

I’d also like to send a shout out to Lorelle, Jane and OP111.net for there amazing articles, constant contribution and love for the the WP platform.  Kudos girls and guys.

Ahh, finally i picked up the theme that i most adore!!  The Thesis Theme from DiyThemes.  
Head over there and check it out.

WHAT IS THE THESIS THEME?

The Thesis Theme for WordPress is a high-quality template system that you can use to improve your site immediately.  Thesis boasts the strongest SEO of any theme on the market today thanks to its expertly-coded HTML + CSS + PHP framework. The days of worrying about your in-site SEO are over—with Thesis, your strategy is “just add links.”

Not a coder? Not a problem. The Thesis options panel allows you to command your site with ease, while Thesis does all of the heavy lifting behind the scenes.

The difference is in the details. Typography and visual clarity are a much bigger deal than people realize. If you want your audience to take you seriously, then it helps to look the part.

BENEFITS OF USING THE THESIS THEME

• Thesis 1.3.2 Brings Compatibility, Fixes, and General Awesomeness
• Customize Your Site Intelligently with Hooks
• Issues with Page Templates? Solve them with Thesis 1.3.1

WHAT I PLAN TO DO WITH THE THESIS THEME?

Basically i plan to setup my company FluidNewMedia surrounding this awesome framework!!  Essentially i would like my company to be tied in with my blog.  I won’t use the themes built in page functions for my home and inner pages, rather I will develop and design them on my own.  That way I can have Wordpress act as a CMS/BLOG for my whole corporate identity.  Furthermore i have clients that want to customize this theme according to their specifications (Note the developer license on this one)

Most of all I would love to see how REAL professional code a theme like thesis.  I will be using the theme and paying $89 bucks seems worth it to me (cuz i can hit two birds with one stone).  Sure it looks really simple, but behind the hood is a PHP framework that’s will rival any WP theme out there!

SCREENSHOTS OF OPTIONS 

 

Hats off to the Chris Pearson:  The man that made all this happen!  Keep up the good work dude..
Why didn’t I do a screenshot of the visuals in the theme?  Just to prompt you to go and see it for yourself.  I know how the theme looks, but am more interested in whats under the hood.  Hope im not dissapointed!!!

There is a fake wordpress site out there, so make sure you dont upgrade to version 2.6.4 becasue there is none. The next version of Wordpress will be 2.7, and you can obtain it from www.wordpress.org.  

You may visit Lorelle’s blog for a summary of more articles.

Update from 2.2.1 to 2.6.3:  4.25 pm Karachi time.  To bring out the true blogger in me i will be adding these functions this theme for a more usable experience.:

• ***Javascript sliders and tabs.:  For managing my categories, archives, recent posts, comments 
• **Access Keys:  Shortcut keys to the main pages, categories and tutorials.
• *Plugins:  Administrative plugins as well as 3rd party plugins for overall usability.
• **Adjust margins and paddings so content can breathe.