IntenseDebate reopens after Automattic acquisition, new WordPress plugin available
IntenseDebate reopens after going invite-only since its acquisition by Automattic. So for those who haven’t signed up for an account, now you can.
And of course, they’ve made it especially easy to use for WordPress users with a new beta plugin, with the following features:
- Two-Way Comment Sync (comments are saved both in your WordPress database and the IntenseDebate server)
- Admin Panel Integration
- Search Engine Optimization
- Trackbacks
- Profile Sync
- Post Settings
And more:
Can’t wait to get hold of all the great commenting features included in WordPress 2.7? Get IntenseDebate now!
WordPress 2.7 icon survey
Once again, the Automattic team is letting the WordPress community help out with the design of the WordPress 2.7 admin interface. This time it’s about the icons that will be used in it.
So now we need to choose a direction. For each of the icon sets, we’ll show you the set itself, the designer’s introduction, and some feedback from the lead developers. After you’ve reviewed all five, place your vote for the set you think has the visual style that is the most suitable for WordPress 2.7. This will be followed by additional votes on specific icons, so if you like the specific image used in one set but like the style of another, you can vote to change the metaphor for a given icon. You’ll also be able to leave general feedback throughout the voting process. When voting has concluded, we’ll review the comments and the votes, and will declare a winner.
Aside from the survey results, the “winner” will be decided by the following people: Ryan Boren, Andrew Ozz, Mark Jaquith, Peter Westwood, Jane Wells, Matt Thomas, and Matt Mullenweg.
Be sure to look at the full-size image of the admin dashboard before proceeding, especially if you haven’t tried out the WP 2.7 beta.
Take the icon survey here. (The form will be open for only 48 hours.)
WordPress 2.7 Beta 1
The first beta of the much-awaited WordPress 2.7 version is out! Prepare for a completely revamped admin interface and all the new features we’ve been raving about the past few months.
Several things to note: WP 2.7 Beta 1 works best in Firefox and Safari (for now). And the final WP 2.7 release is 2 weeks behind schedule.
The downside is more waiting; the upside is the team isn’t rushing to get it out but to polish it the best way possible. It’s slated for November 10th, and while the developers are still trying their best to get it done by that date, a release candidate should be out by then. End of November seems more like the WP 2.7 final release.
WordPress 2.5 and Crazyhorse admin panel usability report
Jane Wells has posted a report on the usability testing of two WordPress admin panels: the one found in version 2.5 and the newer, rapidly-prototyped Crazyhorse (demo-ed in WordCamps worldwide).
Take note that this Crazyhorse is different from the WP 2.7 interface designs we’ve seen lately, which are a lot more polished. Still, you’ll see from the PDF that the redesign was a welcome change to the users, compared to the 2.5 interface.
I’m impressed at how transparent Automattic is about these things. For the casual WordPress user it may be a bit too much, but for the hardcore fans, it’s great seeing the whole story!
Favorite Actions in WordPress 2.7
planetOzh writes about a neat little feature coming in WordPress 2.7 called “favorite actions”. It gives you quick access to sections of your admin panel that you frequent the most. This dropdown menu links to “Add New Post”, “Add New Page”, and “Manage Comments” but as mentioned in the blog entry, this can theoretically be modified with a plugin.
Yet another hint of what’s to come in November!
WordPress 2.7 looks pretty!
Since WordPress 2.7 is all about an admin redesign, it’s high time we see what it will really look like. The wait is almost over! The WordPress development team teases us once more with a couple of screens for the new admin panel.
This week at the Automattic team’s semi-annual offsite meeting (offsite since we have no office), the visuals you have been craving were finally created and approved. We hope you like them. Mad props to Matt Thomas and Andy Peatling for their visual talents. You can expect these designs to be extended to the rest of the 2.7 screens and implemented over the coming weeks.
WordPress 2.7 - New Post screen
WordPress 2.7 - Admin Dashboard screen
I’ll be honest: I’m slightly irked that it’s got touches of the Apple look. And I kind of wished they hadn’t resorted to using rounded corners here. But if you’ve been following the saga of WordPress 2.7 admin dashboard redesign long enough, you’ll definitely agree that this design looks like the prettiest yet!
Read more about it here. Expect even more hype about the arrival of WordPress 2.7 within the coming weeks.
WordPress 2.7 on “feature freeze”
Ryan Boren has just announced at the WP-Hackers mailing list that the upcoming version of WordPress has gone into feature freeze, meaning there will be no new features added from now on until the official release. Read more details about the new features at this blog post from Performancing.
Jeff Chandler also mentions in there that the admin panel demo by Chris Johnston is still up, so if you want to check out what WP 2.7 currently looks like without having to download and install it for yourself, just login (username: admin; password: demo).
Wireframes of the WordPress 2.7 dashboard
One of the biggest things the WordPress development team is working on for the 2.7 release is the admin dashboard. And they’ve released a PDF containing wireframes of that interface.
WordPress 2.7 is a work in progress. These wireframes attempt to document the current state of or plans for the application. In some cases, elements may change as development proceeds, either because of technical issues or to address usability issues. In addition, elements may change during the visual design stage. These wireframes are a guide for development that will be updated as necessary, and are not set in stone.
We’ve seen demos of Crazyhorse before, but the PDF file explains in more depth what to expect in terms of the layout and functionality of the administration interface.
WordPress Admin Dashboard to be updated in 2.7
The admin dashboard is an essential part of what makes WordPress really work, which is why the Automattic team continues to tweak it to ultimate user interface perfection. In the upcoming version 2.7 (nicknamed “Crazyhorse”), WP FUN shares a glimpse of what the new dashboard will look like:
Each of the menu items on the left open and close as needed. Templates contains everything that is in the design tab now. Utilities features the new inbox (which seems to include notifications about WordPress and maybe new comments, but it doesn’t do anything yet) and some of the contents of the manage menu.
The recently-concluded WordCamp also demo-ed Crazyhorse. You can find more pictures here. See the “Riding the Crazyhorse” talk by Liz Danzico of Happy Cog, the company who redesigned the admin interface in WordPress 2.5.
A video courtesy of socialTNT is also embedded below:
Finally, CalinSoft has also posted an in-depth walkthrough of Crazyhorse, though unfortunately it’s in Spanish. (Try Google’s translation here.)
The dashboard is just a critical part of a blogger’s workflow, so it’s a good thing that WordPress is really working hard to continuously improve it.
