Important Call Tonight: WordPress 3 and Semiomantics

Semiomantics has been building the most powerful semantic publishing frameworks for the last 3 years, based on the WordPress platform.

The new WordPress 3.0 release opens new doors for development, makes life easier for non professional editors and … increases the needs for advanced optimization.

Why WordPress 3.0?

WordPress has achieved to be the most popular open source site script and in order to increase the popularity, WordPress has developed from a simple blog to a Content Management framework.

Furthermore WordPress has made it easier for the masses: plug-ins and themes can be loaded and managed from the dashboard, widgets allow for easy addition of content and features and better taxonomy makes organizing and searching for content easier.

What’s actually new on WordPress 3.0?

You may already have read a few posts concerning this topic, so I will just resume some topics:

- WP is merged with WPMU, allowing the WP 3.0 script to act as a framework for multi-user sites.

- a new Theme, the Twenty Ten replaces the good old Kubrick theme

- a contextual Help system

- custom menu

- plus some theme related features, pertaining to background editing, widgetized areas and more.

Do you need to upgrade to WordPress 3.0?

If your present site is running well and providing you with the satisfaction you expect, then you don’t need to upgrade; why would you fix what’s not broken.

If on the other hand you would like to profit from new features you may as well do the step after a few considerations.

WordPress 3.0 enabled Themes

While most themes will properly display on WordPress 3, new features may not be enabled, such as the new default widget areas as built into the Twenty Ten. While your existing theme may already use footer widgets, the code may not be as smooth as on WP 3.

Having said that, for most users, the WP 3 advantages will require to rebuild a new theme or to partially rebuild the existing theme.

Experience shows, that with every WP update, plug-ins will update as well and I therefore am looking ahead to some bumpy days, namely with the more complex plugs. There is no hurry and maybe it is a good idea to wait for a few days until the various developers have adapted their scripts and come up with plug-ins which work together in harmony on the new WordPress.

WP 3.0 and Semiomantics

All Semiomantics scripts since The Magic Search Traffic Formula will run on WP 3 without any problem. For some of the new WP features, upgrades will become available shortly, namely for the famous XO 2.9.x.

New Semiomantics Script under Development

In view of the new WordPress development as well as the increased need for coordination of traditional websites with Social Networks, Mobile Devices and Applications we have started to develop a new Semiomantics Framework which will also take into account increased use of media content and flash developments.

The code name for the new Semiomantcs script is X10.

Semiomantics X10

Semiomantics X10 will be presented in July for release in August. 10 will come in two favors: a traditional Theme architecture and a Framework architecture for developers. More about X10 shortly.

WP 3.0 Workshop

Tonight’s call will deal with WP 3.0 and the new features as well as on the impact on our existing Semiomantics websites.