WordPress 3 Beta Released Recently

A great news for all the die-hard WordPress users. WordPress 3 Beta has finally been rolled out. It is not a fully baked product from WordPress, as it is made clear by the Jane Wells.  Therefore, beta testers will have ample opportunities here to explore this weekend. WordPress 3.0 was slated to be released later, but it was decided to release it one week earlier so that the users can check out all its features before everything is finalized.

A number of features are inducted in WordPress 3.0 Beta, and all you have to do is to explore them:

Choose your own username for admin account

During WordPress installation, user now can choose different username for admin account and you no longer need to remove admin username to secure your WordPress site.

WordPress and WordPress MU Merged

This is probably the best feature that a user can expect from a WordPress beta version. This merger is definitely going to benefit the users, as WordPress MU allows users to operate multiple blogs, which are running on WordPress software, from a single installation. However, there are some simple instructions that users need to read before getting started.

Custom Post Types

Now users can create any type of content they want. Previously, users could only create pages or add a post but now, they will be able to create library, catalogue, portfolio or anything they wish to create. However, custom post tag is not going to replace tags and categories, instead they are allowing users a better way to sort and display their content.

So let’s try to add a ‘Catalog’ type and here’s simple code to be added to functions.php. Function reference – register_post_type

[sourcecode language=’php’]
function post_type_portfolio() {
register_post_type( ‘Portfolio’,
array(
‘label’ => __(‘Portfolio’),
‘public’ => true,
‘show_ui’ => true )
);
register_taxonomy_for_object_type(‘post_tag’, ‘Portfolio’);
}
add_action(‘init’, ‘post_type_portfolio’);
[/sourcecode]

Better Menu Management

Though this feature is still missing the final touches, it is much improved than its earlier version. A drag and drop functionality has been introduced. There are options to hide categories or pages from the menu section, if the users wish so.

Changes in UI

Some small changes are inducted to the interface as well as to the UI to make it more effective than ever.

Apart from these above-mentioned additions, some changes have also been introduced in theme (as shown above), author and custom background image section to give users a pleasant surprise. Just download the latest version of WordPress and there you go.