Hello Everyone, and 2023! I am not just excited to write this newsletter but also use WordPress even more in 2023 – are you? Featuring in the first issue of 2023: many new launches, product updates, and the first acquisition news of the year.
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What’s Buzzing in WordPress 💖
- New Launches… the WPCafe online food ordering plugin for restaurants now has a WPCafe App solution that allows you to have your own white-label Android and Apple apps for your food business. Also, test drive all new IndyStack platform that is promising enterprise-grade infrastructure for developing WordPress websites.
- WP & Browser Addons… TasteWP service for spinning up dev WP installs has released a Google Chrome extension that tells you quickly if a website is using WordPress and which theme or plugin is being used. Also, CodeWP now has a Firefox extension to quickly run this WordPress AI Code Snippet Generator in the browser.
- Got Noticed… WP Freighter plugin for running multiple websites from a single WordPress install has been made free by Austin Ginder. While Munir Kamal has a new CF7 Blocks plugin that adds the block editor to the form editor of the Contact Form 7 plugin. Also, Ahfaz Ahmed has launched the Bricks Wizard project featuring a collection of premium templates for Bricks Builder users.
Extended WordPress Buzz 🔥
- Coming Soon… Gravity Forms teased the library of premade and fully-customizable form templates as seen in Gravity Forms 2.7 RC 2 version. Also, Kadence Blocks 3.0 is coming soon with many new things. Kathy Zant shared how you can be a part of this test drive of Kadence Blocks 3.0 beta – for curious minds.
- Price Changes… WP Rocket has announced a price hike for all plans now at $59, $119, and $299 as against the previous pricing of $49, $99, and $249 for single, plus, and infinity plans. The existing customers have been grandfathered at the original prices.
- For Plugin(s) Devs… Ronald Huereca shared how to opt-in for the community or commercial plugin tag for your plugin listing in the plugins directory. While Matt Cromwell explained on using Zapier to automate the tracking of daily downloads of plugins and themes.
- WordPress Core… check the proposed planning schedule of the WordPress 6.2 release scheduled for March 28, 2023. Also, the new Gutenberg 14.9 update with the feature to push block changes to global styles and typography support for page list block.
- WordCamps & Events… WordCamp Asia 2023, the full schedule for all three days is now available. Bluehost is organizing the WP CreatorCon online event on Jan 12, 2023, featuring familiar names from the WordPress ecosystem. Also, GroundHogg Day 2023 online event has been announced and is scheduled for Feb 02, 2023.
Quick Bits 👍
- New Blocks: In Spectra for Image Gallery & Modal for pop-ups.
- Oxygen added an accessibility-focused site navigation element.
- JetSmartFilters 3.0.4 plugin added compatibility for Bricks Builder.
- Security & Trust: Rob Cairns shared insights on LastPass & more.
- Ben Gabler shared the new look of Rocket (.)net website, neat!
- First of 2023: Duplicator plugin acquired by the Awesome Motive.
WordPress in 2022 to 2023 and Beyond!
WordPress in 2022… check the insightful recap of core in 2022 as the WordPress Core team shipped 2597 commits as against 1852 in 2021 and had over 398 first-time contributors. Also, check the 2022 review for all the significant progress made to the Block Editor and the Gutenberg plugin.
WordPress in 2023… David McCan shared his seven predictions for WordPress in 2023 – which out of these was on your mind? While Matt Medeiros explained why WordPress is the most important piece of software in 2023, & love for WordPress!
And… a welcome surprise, TheWPWeekly on Twitter has crossed 3000 followers. If you are not already connected, follow ‘TheWPWeekly’ on Twitter.
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