WordPress 2.7 Beta 3 Released

WordPress 2.7 Beta 3 was released earlier today, making it the third release candidate/beta working up to the final release of Version 2.7, due around the end of the month or beginning of December.

I have gone through and updated all my blogs with the version, as previous beta versions have proven successful and there have been numerous improvements.

You can find the download here or preview a fresh install here.

Design-wise, the only concerns that I can see is the fact that the devisions between different settings have been taken out (even between Beta 2 and Beta 3) and the new feature, which darkens the screen when inserting a link doesn’t extend the whole length of the window, so if you are working in a split-view window or have scrolled down the page, it won’t darken/cover the whole screen.  However, these are both minor, and many of the bugs that were in Beta 2 have been (as far as I can tell) worked out.

In addition, the TinyMCE editor behaves slightly differently than before.  Previously, when you went a new line, the bold, italic, and underline text formats would disappear, which is the way I preferred.  Now, you’ll have to either use the editor itself (I prefer using keyboard shortcuts) or go into the HTML/raw code view to change the properties.

More than 160 changes and improvements were made between this Beta and the previous (2).

• Numerous style improvements and refinements.
• All admin notices go under the page title.
• PHP Notice fixed.
• Dashboard widget options now properly save.
• Menu fixes.
• New design for Quick Edit area.
• Canonical feed URL fixes.
• Walker fixes.
• Hello Dolly plugin updated.
• Plugin installer updates.
• Updated login logo.
• Switch position of “Save Draft” and “Preview” buttons in publish module.
• File upload support for Microsoft Office 2007+ file formats.
• Media upload buttons won’t show if the user doesn’t have the upload capability.
• Add New User page now separate.
• Tag suggest only suggests tags (not other taxonomy terms).
• QuickPress shows “Submit for Review” if user cannot publish.
• Private posts/pages, and password-protected posts/pages are rolled into new “Visibility” section of publish module.

My Experience/Opinion - I like many of the changes coming and hope that nay additional bugs/errors that I don’t notice as much are worked out before the final release (as they should be).  Otherwise, it looks like many great changes for users of the WordPress system.

The design combines style, simplicity, yet is complex and user-friendly for nearly any blog/blogger to use, no matter how small or large their blog is.

If you have the time, I’d suggest you updating/installing this Beta (or installing the final release when it comes out) so you are able to at the very least, see how it works for you.  If you have tried it, please leave feedback and your experience with it below.

Updates: 

• Comments still return an error.  I guess I’ll have to look into a fix for this.
• A plugin I use, Platinum SEO Pack, is returning errors on another blog (i.e. a blank screen), while on this blog, it works normally.  I guess I’ll have to go back to another plugin or find a fix until it is updated.