New Features and Functionalities from WordPress 3.0

WordPress launches its next version this month, in an attempt to fortify its position in the CMS space. WordPress 3.0 comes with some new features that will enhance user experience. Here is a rundown of 5 important features:

Custom Post Types: Normally WordPress permits you to publish two types of content: “Posts” and “Pages”. However, in version 3.0, you will have the liberty to define additional content types along with their individual attributes. For instance, if you have a WordPress site for a designing concern, you can create a custom post type to showcase portfolio items, and others for employee pages and client testimonials respectively.

Menu Management: It is one of the most hyped features in WordPress 3.0. You can gain complete control over your site’s navigation menus with the help of this exciting feature. Menu Management has an easy drag and drop interface, where users can create menus composed of links to internal pages, external URLs, categories, and more.  These custom menus can be later embedded as a widget depending on your theme requirement and specification.

Custom Taxonomy: This feature might seem a bit complex compared to its simpler counterparts. Developers would find it easy to handle. However, this feature brings WordPress 3.0 closer to a perfect CMS. Custom Taxonomies permit you to create augmented meta information. You can now add custom types besides “Categories” and “Tags”. For example, in a real estate listing website, in addition to photos and descriptions, you might use additional taxonomies to provide a list of specification on individual properties.

New Default Theme: It is the long-awaited default theme packaged with new installations of WordPress 3.0. It showcases a neat and bold design pattern along with some rare functionality. Two features in WordPress 3.0 can be particularly helpful for a non-developer to customize his theme. These are:

Custom Header Image – You can now change your site’s header image. There are eight great banner images to select from. You also have the liberty of uploading your own image.

Custom Background Image – You can set a custom background by uploading your own image. Solid background can be set as well. It is very useful for users who avoid the use of CSS.