The most popular blogging platform has really come a long way since its inception in 2003. Its latest iteration in WordPress 3.9 – named after jazz player Jimmy Smith – included live widget and header previews and faster image editing and uploading.
Bloggers and web developers are excited over news about the launch of a shiny new release of the number one blogging software, in the form of WordPress 4.0. In fact, WordPress just released the first beta version of the upcoming major release last July 10. You can download the beta file here (in zip format). Note that this version is still under development, so you can either install the beta file on a fresh site or use the WordPress Beta Tester plugin.
If you are one of the many enthusiasts who are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the next major release, here is a list of WordPress 4.0 features you should be expecting:
Grid View for Media Files
The new release brings the Media Library to a whole new level by offering a grid view. The interface started with the Media Grid plugin, but will now be integrated into the WordPress 4.0 core. Clicking any of the grid elements will bring up a pop-up window where you can edit the media file details.
Sticky Post Editor Menu Bar
One of the most frustrating things in the Post Editor panel is when you have written a lengthy post and found the need to change the text formatting. The Post Editor menu bar is located at the top of the page, so you have to scroll all the way up just to access the formatting buttons. In WordPress 4.0, the menu bar will be placed as a sticky at the top of the page, so even if the Post Editor box is scrolled down, the menu bar remains visible at the top.
Better Plugins Panel
The Plugins panel will be given a facelift, as the list of available plugins will be presented in grid style, complete with plugin description, date of last update, user reviews, and compatibility with the installed WordPress installation.
Other Features
- URLs embedded in posts or entered through a media file in the “Insert from URL” field may now be previewed.
- Language may be chosen starting from the installation process.
- Cursor and keyboard integration with TinyMCE views have been given a boost.
- The Theme Customizer panel now has a Widgets section where you can adjust the widget layout.