About WordPress in General
Before talking about the latest update of WordPress which happens at the moment to be version 3.1, it would be nice to take a few moments to explain what WordPress is, what it does and how it came about.
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And so, WordPress was first developed in 2003 as a very simple piece of software code that was intended to give computer typography a little boost for improved appearance of the existing typefaces on blogs and maybe even a little elegance. Its beginnings were very modest with just a small handful of users. It is, therefore, hard to believe that in under a decade the usage of WordPress has gone up to the tens of millions and, of course, its software has grown, expanded and matured to new heights of sophistication with many new revisions and countless plug-ins and add-ons to further improve its functionality.
While WordPress had in its early stages been used solely for blogging, it is now a fully equipped web content management system and a complex, albeit easy to use, web platform that can handle websites of all kinds. Furthermore, the aforementioned WordPress plugins and add ons along with hundreds of widgets and innumerable theme packs give WordPress limitless capabilities.
About WordPress 3.1
Now let us look at WordPress 3.1 and the main new features it incorporates:
1. Internal Linking
This WordPress 3.1 Internal Linking feature is perfect for SEO (search engine optimization).
Adding links within a blog or a website with previous versions of WordPress was cumbersome as it required opening up a new tab, searching for the relevant URL and then copying and pasting it as a link.
The Internal Linking feature of WordPress 3.1 enables users to find the right URL within the database and to easy link it by using the Visual Post Editor to create the hyperlink.
2. Post Formats
Post Formats are meta options which can be utilized with a variety of themes to enable customization of specific posts on any given website or blog. This new WordPress 3.1 version allows users to have multiple Post Formats.
With this feature in place, each post can have a different style, look and feel. Furthermore, added details of posts (links, images, audio & video, etc.) can now be organized in one location and they can all be styled in accordance with the post they appear in.
In WordPress 3.1, Post Formats is a standardized, built-in feature and will, therefore, work intuitively.
3. Admin Blue Theme Refresher
This is just a cool little feature that was added to the latest WordPress 3.1 version and it gives the Blue Theme for the Administration Panel a fresh new look.
4. Admin Bar
This new WordPress 3.1 Admin Bar feature may be the precursor to WordPress Front-End Editor but for now it is merely a convenient means by which to connect the back end and the front end of WordPress blogs and websites.
It also provides a quick and easy, single-click accessibility to the administration dashboard, to posts, to pages and so on.
5. Ajaxified Pagination & Columns
Up until now, there was not quick and easy way of sorting posts and / or columns in WordPress. With the WordPress 3.1 Ajaxafied Pagination & Columns feature in place, it is as quick and easy as entering a page or a column number. It really cannot be made any more effortless.
6. Cleaner Write Panels
In light of the fact that WordPress is now being used by individuals who may or may not be particularly computer savvy, WordPress 3.1 has incorporated the Cleaner Write Panels feature that clears away the clutter and confusion that is caused by default WordPress fields and so on.
And those cleared away fields can now be found in the customization area of the WordPress administration dashboard.
7. Advanced Taxonomy Queries
The Advanced Taxonomy Queries feature of WordPress 3.1 may be way too complex for the everyday user but WordPress webmasters will appreciate the fact that it will enable them to run advanced queries with less effort. Sorting of posts with this feature will become a breeze.
8. Custom Post Type Archives
While Custom Post Types have already been introduced in WordPress 3.0, there was no quick and easy way to create an archive page that would list a specific custom post type until WordPress 3.1 has appeared on the scene.
And so, WordPress 3.1 does that automatically, on auto pilot.
9. Admin Network Dashboard
This WordPress 3.1 Admin Network Dashboard is separate from the regular user Admin Dashboard and it is fully equipped with its own menus, posts, pages, and so on.
This is a feature that keeps dashboards in a much more tidy state.
10. Exporter / Importer Overhaul
This WordPress 3.1 feature works behind the scenes as it incorporates functions for better handling of taxonomies, navigation menus and much more.
All in all, for those who are not yet using WordPress as their website platform, it is highly advisable that they consider doing so. For those who have been using WordPress, WordPress 3.1 is a terrific new version which will enhance their blogging experience.
The following video is presented by Jenna Waites who talks more about WordPress 3.1. It is short and to the point and worth your while.