WordPress 2.7-hemorrhage
Recently, after updating my WordPress blog via SVN, I have seen changes and new features inside the admin panel (some usable and a few still prototype). WordPress 2.7 Bleeding Edge has been changed to Hemorrhage (which is a hit song by Fuel, a rock band). All the WordPress codenames used to be Jazz related except for this one.
Admin UI
The most noticing change is user interface of the WordPress’s admin panel, there’s still unified bar on top which has links to dashboard, account (with dropdown link to edit profile), comment counts, help (still does not link yet) and some extra links (such as user greeting, Turbo and etc).
Surprisingly, WordPress’s main admin navigation has been changed from horizontal to vertical with collapsible links. Design link has been renamed as Templates and categories, tags, users and import/export are group under “Utilities” with a new “Inbox” link which is still a prototype. I am not sure what Inbox will really do yet, and WordPress has not released a single news on this as well. So I guess it will be some kind of integration with upcoming WordPress’s social networking features (BudyPress).
Post Features
On the Post writing/editing page, there are two new features which I think is very cool and useful for all the bloggers out there. One is a feature that allow you to stick your post to front page (I am not sure it is already existed in current version, correct me if I am wrong). Purpose of “Stick” feature allow users to create create or apply sticky status to posts without the need of additional plug-in.
Another feature is titled “Media added to this Post” (somewhat working, but is not fully functional yet) and it enable users to edit/remove any images or media files inside a post right from the sidebar instead of going through the post, searching, editing or deleting them individually especially on long entries with lots of media. Beside all the features and UI changes, Buttons to add images/media or file has been consolidated into one button called “Add Media.”
Overall, WordPress still rocks big time and just one request from me: put an option to revert the admin UI to current one so that whoever does not like the new UI, they can just change back to the old one. For me, I love the new UI as it makes a lot things more accessible.
Tagged in: Tags: WordPress, WordPress 2.7
August 26th, 2008 at 12:52 AM
I am really not liking this at all. I also just recently updated mine, and the whole horizontal thing killed everything. I really am not a fan of it. If I liked it, I would have switched to Fluency a long time ago. But there will be some genius that will be able to change it back, I am sure.
I liked the 2.5 layout change. But I think that another one for 2.7 (two in a year?!) is way too soon and the WordPress community isn’t ready for it. I like some of the features, but I think that we are going a little too fast.
-JD
August 26th, 2008 at 1:07 AM
Well, the new navigation layout is sort of confusing compare to the current version (2.5 - 2.6). If I am not wrong, WP Tiger Admin (which was quite popular before WP did layout changes in 2.5) has the same navigation style as 2.7.
Reason for why WP team has made the changes from horizontal to vertical is probably the “space” issue. More and more plugins are using the menu (either in manage or setting), and if you keep installing the plugins, the horizontal menu row may overflow. By changing to vertical, WP team can add more menu items and links inside the navigation.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:59 AM
I guess we just have to remember that WordPress 2.7 isn’t until November and a lot can happen in ~ 3 months.
It might not even be done yet.
So I guess we just get to wait and see what they cook up. I am I die-hard WordPress fan and would never consider not using it. I just hope that I can live with these changes.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:20 PM
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