WordPress 3 8 – what’s new and why it matters

Agenda • New User Interface Design • Improved Theme and Widget Management • Twenty Fourteen: A ‘’magazine style’’ Default Theme • Other Noteworthy Updates • The New is Now CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Introduction CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Do you use WordPress? If so, your world is about to CHANGE and you’re not alone CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Recent statistics show WordPress now powers: • Close to 20% of the web And controls: • Close to 60% of the Content Management System market CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html So when big changes are rolling out, there’s a LOT at stake CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html The most recent version of WordPress, version 3.8, shows that the platform (and its developers) take this responsibility seriously and aim to further simplify web publishing for everyone CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Let’s dive in and take a closer look at the WordPress 3.8 release! CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html New User Interface Design CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html New versions of WordPress follow a general pattern: • Odd numbered releases are mostly back-end upgrades • Even numbered releases carry with them feature additions, front-end upgrades, and changes 10 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Twenty Fourteen: A “Magazine Style” Default Theme 29 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Since 2010, WordPress has shipped with a new default theme every year Unfortunately these themes, named after their release year, have usually been released towards the end of their year 30 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html With Twenty Fourteen, the new default theme ships with version 3.8, following a release schedule more like those of automotive manufacturers 31 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Twenty Fourteen is a magazine-style theme with a heavy focus on featured content sliders and tiles, as well as large images These types of themes have proven exceedingly popular, and Twenty Fourteen aims to answer the need for visual options, aside from plain old blog themes 32 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html 3.8 ships with three default themes: • Magazine-style Twenty Fourteen • Blog-centric Twenty Thirteen •CMS-focused Twenty Twelve 33 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Twenty Twelve and Twenty Thirteen were all about simplicity, Twenty Fourteen focuses on massive-content-overload, with plenty of options 34 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Some of these options: • The header allows for a large banner image or logo • There is an optional featured content area that displays sticky or tab-based posts in a carousel or tiled view • The main content is boxed between two widgetized areas on the left and right that disappear on smaller screens 35 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Concerns have been raised that this theme may be too content heavy and prone to clutter, but I recommend holding any reservations until we see how the WordPress community as a whole puts it to use My two cents: always keep the widgets in your theme to a minimum 36 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html For an in-depth walkthrough of Twenty Fourteen and all it has to offer, stay tuned for my upcoming lynda.com video course: Start with a Theme: Twenty Fourteen 37 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Other Noteworthy Updates 38 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html WordPress 3.8 also introduces some other, less talked about updates, including: •Updated Profile page with choices reflecting more modern sensibilities • AIM, Yahoo! IM, Jabber/Google Talk are GONE, replaced by the more popular options of Google+, Facebook, and Twitter •Auto-updating for point releases (which was actually introduced in 3.7.1) •A smarter password strength indicator for more robust security •Many other core code updates to give developers new power and capabilities 39 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html The New is Now 40 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Now that you have a clear understanding of what WordPress 3.8 is all about, go forth and update your own site After making a backup of course! 41 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html WordPress has always been on the cutting edge of current web trends, and 3.8 will put you and your site firmly at the forefront of modern web development best practices So what are you waiting for? Upgrade to 3.8 today! 42 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com/WordPress-training-tutorials/330-0.html Check out all the lynda.com Wordpress video series, including: - Installing and Running Wordpress - Wordpress Quick Tips - Start with a Theme - Wordpress Plugins - Wordpress Ecommerce and much more! Browse our video training: Wordpress Training Courses 43 [...]... http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html Improved Theme and Widget Management 21 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html In tandem with the new admin user interface The Theme and Widget managers have also been updated to provide better user experiences 22 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html... plain old blog themes 32 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html 3. 8 ships with three default themes: • Magazine-style Twenty Fourteen • Blog-centric Twenty Thirteen •CMS-focused Twenty Twelve 33 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html Twenty Twelve and Twenty Thirteen...So it should come as no surprise, that 3. 8 has some new features But unless you’ve been paying close attention, the extent of these new features may SURPRISE you 11 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html Version 3. 8 is not just a feature upgrade It is a long awaited facelift 12 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES:... http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html The Customizer has been updated with the new design, making it less obtrusive and easier to use Also, your theme’s info can be more easily read with a larger area of the screen now devoted to it 28 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html Twenty Fourteen: A “Magazine Style” Default Theme 29 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS. .. http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html Since 2010, WordPress has shipped with a new default theme every year Unfortunately these themes, named after their release year, have usually been released towards the end of their year 30 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html With Twenty Fourteen, the new default theme ships with version... This provides tablet and smartphone users– and also Windows 8 users utilizing Snap––a much improved user experience Plus it makes WordPress administration truly mobile out of the box As part of this move to responsiveness, the WordPress Toolbar has been subtly changed to be touch friendly by making the bar and its buttons bigger as screen sizes get smaller 18 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES:... developed as stand-alone plugins, MP6 and its cohorts DASH (simplified dashboard), THX 38 (new theme experience), and the Widget Area Chooser are now baked into the WordPress core code This provides a whole new administrative experience that is simpler, more accessible, and works beautifully across all screen sizes 16 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html... http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html The only real way to get the full story on the new UI, is to try it for YOURSELF! As you dig in, let me direct your attention to some of the finer and less obvious points 17 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html 1 MP6 admin UI is fully responsive–meaning as screen sizes change the layout resizes and reformats... reworked with the same minimalist approach as the overall UI, and now provides a more intuitive and less cluttered interface 23 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html Now Gone • Vertical separation between your active theme and the themes available to you • Theme info is moved to modal windows for a quicker overview of available themes and. .. OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html Theme Manager 25 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html Widget management has been improved to alleviate an enduring frustration for anyone with a widget heavy site: simpler widget selection 26 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO ... developers new power and capabilities 39 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html The New is Now 40 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS. .. LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html WordPress has always been on the cutting edge of current web trends, and 3. 8 will put you and your site... http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html Version 3. 8 is not just a feature upgrade It is a long awaited facelift 12 CHECK OUT LYNDA.COM’S WORDPRESS VIDEO COURSES: http://www.lynda.com /WordPress- training-tutorials /33 0-0.html