14 DAY TRIAL // WordPress 3.8 has just been released and it comes with a bunch of cool new features. Dubbed “Parker in honor of Charlie Parker, the update is available for download or update in the WordPress dashboard.
The company boasts that this new version is the best-looking one yet. It brings a new look to the admin dashboard, adding a little bit of freshness with some colors. The design is also a bit clearer and simpler, leaving out some of the clutter that WordPress users were used to.
There’s also an improved contrast which, combined with a new type, should make things easier to read and navigate. Users can also opt for one of the new right admin color schemes to suit most personalities and desires.
WordPress also offers access to the dashboard from various platforms, including smartphones, tablets, notebooks and desktops, which means the interface will adapt as needed.
The themes screen also received a redesign, making it easier to browse through, while clicking on any of the items will bring out more details. WordPress widget management has also been streamlined.
A cool new theme has also been introduced to the collection. Called Twenty Fourteen, it brings out the option to display featured content on the homepage through a grid or slider. It also supports three widget areas and comes with two-page templates.
“This release was led by Matt Mullenweg. This is our second release using the new plugin-first development process, with a much shorter timeframe than in the past. We think it’s been going great,” WordPress writes.
The last stable release laid the ground for a lot of nice changes that are set to be implemented. For instance, 3.7 brought in automatic platform updates and stronger passwords, which sought to make the blogging tool safer. The localization support also got enhanced, bringing out faster software translations for those who don’t use the platform in English.
You can download WordPress 3.8 from Softpedia.