Just before Christmas we saw the release of WordPress 4.1, named ‘Dinah’ after jazz singer Dinah Washington. This latest release combines new features, a new default theme and smaller tweaks that are all supposed to enhance the user experience even further.
First of all, let’s look at the biggest addition: distraction-free writing mode. Ever get those days when you need to write a new post but just can’t concentrate? If so, this feature is perfect for you. Removing all distractions from the screen and leaving you with nothing but a blank text box, it’s a great way to help you focus and stay as productive as possible.
Next up is the inclusion of WordPress’ new default theme, Twenty Fifteen. The focus of this theme is clarity and, as Matt Mullenweg describes it:
‘Your content always takes center stage, whether viewed on a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.’
Aside from the two main changes listed above, there are a few other bits and pieces that make up WordPress 4.1:
- A simple visit to your profile now means you can log out anywhere that you’re logged in, just in case you forgot to sign out from a shared computer.
- WordPress has recognised the growing popularity of Vine, as Vines can now easily be embedded into posts.
- The plugin installer will now suggest plugins that are suitable for you to try, providing recommendations based on your currently installed plugins. If the recommendation algorithm is competent – this could be a very interesting new feature.
Have you tried WordPress 4.1 yet? If so, let us know what you think.