Blog Tipz

During the past week, there has been quite a bit of news about the tools that you use to publish posts on your blog – the systems and platforms that make the process so simple.  While this post is slightly out of the normal realm of posts published here,  we’ll return to the normal, high quality and feature-rich posts tomorrow.

This is a short roundup of links and resources dealing with WordPress and related announcements.  Provide your thoughts and additional links in the comments area.

WordPress

• WordPress Developer’s Toolbox [Smashing Magazine] – Steven Snell published a complete resource list for WordPress enthusiasts and users alike.  You can find resources, tutorials, themes/design information, icons and more.  A must-read article if you need to venture into working with WordPress or are looking at designing/creating more advanced sites.
• Admin Interface Survey [WordPress Development Blog] – Now closed, this survey offered users the ability to voice their opinions on the 2.7 version of the WordPress backend panel – links are now located in the sidebar within drop-downs rather than the header [and endless clicking, unless you use plugins to modify this area].
• Protecting Your Blog with SSL [WordPress.com blog] – A video and instructions on how to take advantage of the CookieMonster toolkit when using public networks.
• Go Ad-Free on WordPress.com – For just $0.08/day or 30 ($30) credits yearly, you can remove the ads as an upgrade to your free WordPress blog.  While the Automattic team likely makes about this much (average) from every blog, some users prefer not to have ads ever displayed on their blog.  In the future, you will also be able to use your own ads.
• WordPress 2.7 Features List, Finalized [Hack WordPress] – With about a month left until the next major WordPress version release, there are several enhancements and feature additions that I am certainly looking forward to.  However, I am also hoping that the code base used is reduced to maintain or cut down on the load time.  Features listed below, with plugins that would be eliminated (that I am currently using).
  • New admin User Interface, with menus and improved navigation.  (Baltic Amber Admin Themes, Admin Management Xtended (not as likely), and Lighter Menus)
  • New edit post page, allowing dragging and dropping of meta boxes; easily expanded and collapsed or completely hidden.
  • Option to hide columns on content index pages.
  • Comments API for moderation on mobile devices such as the iPhone.
  • Reply to comments from the admin.  (I don’t use any plugins for this, but there are some available)
  • Keyboard hot keys for managing comments.
  • Threaded comments along with new API.
  • Sticky posts.  (Plugin available)
  • Automatic plugin installation and integrated plugin browser.  (WP Easy Uploader – likely won’t switch, as you an upload nearly any file with this, including themes, images, etc.)
  • Automatic upgrade integrated.  (WordPress Automatic Upgrade, SimpleScripts/Fantastico)
  • HTTPOnly auth. cookies.
  • New HTTP request API.
  • New SSH2 filesystem abstraction for updates and installs over SFTP.

Movable Type

• Virtual Movable Type released, available as open source code, a free download, or priced for professional/corporate users.  It allows you to use the system without going through the process of installing Movable Type on a web server – created by JumpBox, and is available as a full-featured virtual appliance.
• Movable Type Developer Guide [MovableType.org Documentation] – This guide includes nearly every code required to add “custom functionality, user interfaces, and other components” to your site.
• Sandbox for Movable Type {September 10} – As a plugin, you can use the Sandbox themes on your Movable Type website, which allows you to build templates built around theme frameworks and well-designed starter themes.  As you may know, WordPress has taken advantage of the Sandbox themes for quite some time.

Blogger

A new “social” tool was added to Blogger, making it easier for all members to connect with other readers and stay updated with the blogs they follow.