Being a WordPress developer, I was really excited for the release of WordPress 3.8. I downloaded it immediately when it was made available on December 12, 2013, but I only now have the chance to write about it.
WordPress 3.8 Features
The biggest and most noticeable change is in the admin dashboard. It looks totally different from all previous versions. The default admin theme uses the Open Sans typeface on a dark, solid background. Gone are the blah and blasé shades of grey seen prior to version 3.8. What’s even more exciting, in the User Profile page, you can now change the Admin Color Scheme. Woohoo! There are eight to choose from, and you can preview each one on the fly, to see it in context.
One of my favourite features is the password meter. Ever since its introduction on WordPress 3.7, the password meter has been enhanced to help strengthen user passwords. WordPress 3.8 recognizes numerical and alphabetical patterns when you create or change a password. Prior to version 3.7, what you thought was a strong password might now be considered a weak password. This is good news for obvious reasons, because strong passwords offer better security.
Why do I like this feature so much? It’s because I really cannot emphasize enough the importance of a strong password. It’s always best to choose a password that you can remember, but is difficult for hackers to hack. The enhancement to the password meter will warn you if your password is weak, so you can keep your security high.
Another wonderful feature of WordPress 3.8 is its use of vector-based icons in the admin dashboard. This eliminates the need for pixel-based icons. With vector-based icons, the admin dashboard loads faster and the icons look sharper. No matter what device you use, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or a laptop computer, the icons actually scale to fit your screen.
With so many new features and benefits within WordPress 3.8, why not get started by downloading it from the official WordPress.org website? Better yet, contact KIMBO Design and ask us how we can develop and customize a WordPress website for your business.
