Today, we have released the Beta 3 version of SPF 4.3. With the delay of WP 3.0, we decided to add a few more features. This beta now includes a code syntax highlighter and improved RTL support as well as a few bug fixes.

Please remember that this version of Simple:Press (as will the final) requires WP 3.0… – itself available in Beta. Head on over to our downloads page and grab it and help test the next version before its formal release.

We would love to get a few more multisite testers playing with this version and WP 3.0 and to hear about your experience – good or bad!

Today, we have released the Beta 2 version of SPF 4.3. Please remember that this version of Simple:Press (as will the final) requires WP 3.0…

Head on over to our downloads page and grab it and help test the next version before its formal release.

We would love to get a few more multisite testers playing with this version and WP 3.0.

With the release of WordPress 3.0 Beta 1 yesterday, we have released a beta version of our upcoming 4.3 version. WordPress 3.0 has significant changes in it requiring work by plugin authors to maintain compatibility. It also includes the much talked about merge of WP and WPMU (henceforth known as multisite).

In order to use SPF 4.3 Beta 1, you will have to be running the WordPress 3.0 Beta 1 (or later releases).

The 4.3 Beta 1 release includes mostly WP 3.0 compatibility changes and bug fixes, but a few new features have found there way in there too:

• New RPX login redirect options
• option for topic name above topic info
• new latest post excerpt tooltip when hovering over topic
• better options for block admin
• option to show group name in breadcrumbs
• more pretty permalinks with improved seo canoncial urls
• use of tinymce editor for creating sig – gets rid of separate sig text and sig image fields
• display avatars in member list
• option to not show user permissions
• new permission for use of spoilers
• new permission for viewing of links in content
• tinymce buttons can now be split amongst two row of buttons
• and more…

You can see all the tickets incorporated into 4.3 here.

We have also set up a special forum for reporting any issues or discussing the upcoming 4.3 version.

We would really like to get some beta testers to play with this version before its release goes Gold. We would especially like some WP multisite testers (formerly wpmu) to have a play with it and make sure we have the compatibility nailed. If you would like to give 4.3 Beta a whirl, please had on over to our downloads page and grab it. Please remember that WP version 3.0 is required for SPF 4.3.

Version 4.2.2 of Simple:Press was released today. This is mainly a bugfix release. The main issues corrected in 4.2.2 are:

• Blog/Topic Linking: Tags now get created correctly/Editing a post now fires the correct hooks/Comment count tag updated
• bbCode and HTML editors no longer strip links
• Issues with tag management in admin are corrected
• Rank names with non alphanumeric characters no linger breaks the display
• PM Titles with foreign characters no linger freezes the preview
• Two new blog linking related template tags introduced
• Group and Forum descriptions can now contain HTML
• Tags are now ‘clickable’ in IE
• various other, smaller fixes

We are now turning our attention to the forthcoming release of WordPress version 3.0 which, as I am sure everyone knows, merges WordPress with WordPress MU and brings them together into a single system. We are already readying a release of Simple:Press – 4.3 – to coincide with this new version and will start using it here on our site over the coming week.

Today, we have released version 4.2.1 of Simple:Press for WordPress. This is a recommended upgrade for all users at includes an important security fix as well as some other bug fixes against the 4.2.0 release. You can see all the changes that went into v4.2.1 on our Mantis Bug Tracker page for 4.2.1.

With this release, we can now focus our attention on v4.3.0 which will primarily be a compatibility release with the upcoming WP 3.0 version which includes the long awaited (or feared) merger of WP and WPMU. It should be noted that when v4.3 hits the streets, it will require WP version 3.0. We are aiming to have a beta version of SPF 4.3 available when WP 3.0 hits beta.

Of course, as we work the compatibility release, we will continue to support the 4.2.x series also and will make patches available in the patch forum and will still release a new version if warranted.

Once the compatibility release is done, we will turn our focus to v5.0 which, according to plans, will include the long awaited switch to a templating system instead of skins and an API for SPF plugins, plus a few other surprises. Of course plans can change, but that’s the path we have charted.

We hope you enjoy v4.2.1 and as always, stop on by the support forum if you have any issues, questions or suggestions.