Here is a quick video showing some of the Features.

Some highlights of Wordpress 2.8:

• New drag-and-drop widgets admin interface and new widgets API
• Syntax highlighting and function lookup built into plugin and theme editors
• Browse the theme directory and install themes from the admin
• Allow the dashboard widgets to be arranged in up to four columns
• Allow configuring the number of items to show on management pages with an option in Screen Options
• Support timezones and automatic daylight savings time adjustment
• Support IIS 7.0 URL Rewrite Module
• Faster loading of admin pages via script compression and concatenation

There are over 790 Bug fixes and 180 new features, changes, upgrades and improvements. You can read about them on the Codex.

My problem was that on another one of my blogs I have a download section of selected ebooks for my subscribers to download. I had to manually email the subscribers the password to access the downloads every time someone subscribed.

After going through the subscription process myself, it finally dawned on me that I could change the welcome message displayed after the subscriber verified their email address.

Here is how I did it

The existing displayed message is:
You have successfully subscribed!

Save a copy of the plugin on your computer so if you mess up, you can delete the mess and upload a good copy, at least copy the code into a notepad file and save it.

Deactivate the plugin then go to Plugins Editor.
Select Subscribe2 in the list.
In Firefox open Edit – Find
Type in: “subscribed!” (without quotes)
You will see a line like this:

$this->added = "<p>" . __('You have successfully subscribed!','subscribe2') . "</p>";

Right after the subscribed! but before the ‘ is where we will add our message.

 Add a double line break after the subscribed!<br /><br />
Thank you for subscribing to MyBlogName <br /><br />

You can access your downloads by clicking on the PageName<br/>
and entering the password: xxxxxx<br />
Please save it in a safe place.<br /><br />

Enjoy your download of ______! '

You can add whatever you like, but no paragraph tags. I did not try a link since the link to the page I am pointing them too is right above the message, nor did Otry an image. Do not use words like it’s, don’t or anything with an apostrophe in it. That will end the code at that point.

The problem with doing this, is that when the plugin is updated, you would have to make the change every time.

Let me know how it goes!

Subscribe2 plugin homepage

The domain name will usually resolve to a web page containing advertising listings and links. These links will be targeted to the predicted interests of the visitor and may change dynamically based on the results that visitors click on. Usually the domain holder is paid based on how many links have been visited (e.g. pay per click) and on how beneficial those visits have been. The keywords for any given domain name provide clues as to the intent of the visitor before arriving.

A domain name plays a major role in flourishing the business and exposing the products to more and more customers. But still the domain names are neglected by businessman. They still treat the internet role insignificant in their business. They are not aware of the importance of domain name and hence it becomes the minor issue for the business. Special techniques and funds are invested to protect the trade names but no value is given to domain names.

With registration of trademarks, the domain of any business, whether big or small, should also be registered. Neglecting it can be costly in future terms to any business. Some legal companies now recognize this important issue and started advising their customers in this regard. Many smaller businesses do however not realize these facts and should wake up to reality. Many smaller businesses can grow into bigger enterprises over time after giving proper value to their domain names.

Neglecting the domain names a business may end up spending huge amounts on legal costs to protect their interests. Domain name is like a brand in web marketing. Hence the name must be catchy and should represent you and your products appropriately. This is the name through which your business is known over net. This is the word by which your business and your website will be known in the internet marketing. Hence the Key words should be choose from the niche. It should be a unique name. It should be sensible and easy to remember.

Having a Domain name is the way to success of an online entity. This will create a first impression of your business. You should always aim for the dotcom version of a name, that’s what most people will go to after doing a search or after typing something directly into their address bar. You’re likely to have more traffic to your website with your own domain name because more people will be returning as they can remember your address and because many search directories such as Yahoo only index websites with their own domain name.

You can also consider domain name transfer, if you are not satisfied with the previous one. However, if you are also willing to change your domain name registrar as well, make sure that it is at least 60 days old; otherwise ICANN registrar will not allow it. However, if you want to renew it with your previous registrar only, wait for at least 45 days, otherwise the amount paid for renewal will not add one more year to your previous date of expiry and instead, the money submitted will go waste. Click for tips on making money using parked domain

Good luck in transforming your parked domains into cold, hard cash!

After redesigning most of my other websites/blogs and throwing a couple half assed designs up on this site, I decided it was time for a major overall. I used the Leviathan theme as a base along with Hybrid to come up with this child theme’s design.

Let me know what you think. Much better yeah?

If you spot something out of place, Please leave me a comment or send me a note.
 Mahalo!

“WordPress” in sub-domains is fine, like wordpress.example.com, we’re just concerned about top-level domains.

So this will be my temporary home for awhile until I have time to explore for a different domain to use. Pre-tax season has me hopping at the moment.

Edited 1/11/09: I decided to just merge my Wordpress 123 blog into this one. Less blogs to worry about and along the same topics. I hope you will enjoy it.

I figured this was coming back when I bought it a few years ago ~ oh well.

Happy Holidays and a Joyful New Year to you and yours!

Justin over at ThemeHybrid released his second child theme for his Hybrid theme framework. The theme named Leviathan is available for download at ThemeHybrid.

Exclusive theme club members can download a Photoshop psd image pack with all the images used in the theme for easy customizing.

If you haven’t checked out Justin’s themes yet you are missing out. He brings a whole new dimension into designing with Wordpress.

They also released a new theme Abstract.

ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett

Problogger.net is where bloggers worldwide go for advice and information on enhancing their blogs presence. Whether you are just starting out or have been blogging for years, these two professional bloggers show you how to turn your passion for blogging into extra revenue.
This practical guide to creating and marketing a blog with the potential for generating a six-figure income shows you how to choose subject matter that works for you, handle technical issues, and evaluate your blogs success so that you can use your blog to generate income indirectly.

Wordpress For Dummies By Lisa Sabin-Wilson

Bloggers love WordPress! If you’re ready to start using this free blogging software, WordPress For Dummies, 2nd Edition is just what you and your blog need to make a splash.

Professional blog designer Lisa Sabin-Wilson shows you how to use all the latest upgrades to WordPress 2.5 and helps you decide whether to use the Wordpress.com hosted service or self-host your blog with WordPress.org. Whether you’re just venturing into the blogosphere or you want to shift an existing blog to WordPress, WordPress For Dummies, 2nd Edition will help.

Zen To Done:The Ultimate Simple Productivity System By Leo Babauta

Not just for bloggers, but for anyone who wants to simplify their tasks and their life. Zen To Done takes some of the best aspects of a few popular productivity systems (GTD, Stephen Covey and others) and combines them with the mandate of simplicity. It makes things as simple as possible, and no more.

Pure Digital PSV-351 30 Minute Point-and-Shoot Camcorder

A compact, affordable, easy-to-use solution for creating and sharing high quality home movies. Pure Digital’s new camcorder allows anyone to easily record and share their memories with just the push of a button. It is the ideal easy-to-carry choice for capturing memories of family vacations, beach trips, weddings and much more.

A great gift for a Videoblogger.

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes

The power of video in your pocket. Capture the everyday moments that happen anywhere, and share them with family and friends everywhere. That’s idea behind the new Flip Video Ultra Series. It’s portable, simple to use and amazingly affordable. Shoot anything. Share everything.

Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes

From the makers of the popular Flip Video Ultra comes the Mino, which puts the power of video in your pocket. The super-portable, super-simple Mino makes it easy to capture and share high-quality video anywhere and everywhere. And thanks to its flip-out USB arm and intuitive, built-in software, Mino lets you view, edit and upload your videos to popular video-sharing sites instantly. In addition to its sleek compact design – complete with touch-sensitive, backlit buttons – Mino boasts a rechargeable battery that powers up automatically while plugged into your computer or electrical outlet.

Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 – Web camera – color – audio – Hi-Speed USB

A long time favorite of bloggers and vloggers. With this webcam by Logitech you can enjoy image-perfect detail and clarity. Carl Zeiss optics and Autofocus keep images razor-sharp, even in extreme close-ups.

Comfortable Desk Chair

Bloggers spend a lot of time at their desks on their computers. Make sure they are comfortable with a comfy chair. Pictured this Black leather High Back Executive Leather Chair features passive ergonomic seating with built in lumbar support. Hardwood arms accented with upholstered pads. Hardwood caps on a 27″ steel leg base and hooded double wheel casters make for greater stability. Also features a powerful pneumatic gas lift, providing instant seat height adjustment while the adjustable tilt tension control assures the right reclining angle.

One Laptop per Child XO Laptop (Give a Laptop, Get a Laptop)

The OLPC Foundation is a non-profit 501c(3) organization that is committed to delivering as many laptops to children in developing countries as possible. Due to costs associated with manufacturing, transporting, and setting-up laptops in some of the most remote and isolated parts of the world, we can never predict the full cost of delivering a laptop to a child. Frequently this will include power and connectivity infrastructure, teacher preparation and other technical and educational support. Therefore, given the magnitude of our mission and fulfillment costs covered in each donation, your contribution may advance this mission in vital ways beyond simply supporting the donation of a laptop.

Happy Holidays!
If you need my address to ship me any of the above, just let me know

Here is a short video from Wordpress showing some of the details of 2.7:

For more information on Wordpress 2.7 you can go to the Wordpress Dev Blog.

The Dev Blog has listed a good set of links to various blog posts on how to use Wordpress 2.7.

1) Download your favorite Wordpress theme

2) Upload it to your wp-content/themes folder

From here on out we will not be touching the original or Parent theme at all!

3) Create a new folder and name it “mycooltheme” or whatever you want*

4) Open the original themes style.css file and change the top portion (if it exists in this format) with the following:

/*
Theme Name: Original Theme Name - Custom
Theme URI: http://yoursite.com/Original Theme Name-custom
Description: Write a short description.
Template: Original Theme Name
Author: Your Name
Author URI: http://yoursite.com
*/

The most important part of this whole process is this line:

Template: Original Theme Name

The Original theme name MUST match the original theme. If you are using the popular options theme then it would be:

Template: options

If you are using the popular basic2col theme then it would be:

Template: basic2col

5) Upload your new style.css with the above changes into the new folder you just created. Also upload the original themes screenshot and the complete images folder and the functions.php if it has one.

You may be able to edit such things as single.php or pages.php by editing and including them in your child theme folder, but Read your themes documentation. You may have to edit them in the functions.php or the themes settings.
The header and footer.php files shouldn’t need to be touched if you are using Justin’s themes. He provides for including header includes and footer includes in the Theme settings.

6) In your dashboard click on Design (or Appearance in 2.7) and select themes. Select your new theme (Not the original) click OK or Activate. You are now using your child theme you just created!
Click on the Theme Settings in the Dashboard/Appearance section and setup your theme.

Wasn’t that easy?

Uhmm Ron it looks exactly like the original!

7) This is where you make the theme your own. Make any changes you need to make to your new style.css to change colors, bullets, images, fonts… whatever you want to change to make the design your own! Be sure to upload any new images you may be adding into your child themes images folder, not the original themes images.

Now when a new version of your theme is released you can just upload it into your themes folder replacing the original theme. This leaves your custom child theme still intact without having to remember what you previously changed.

*Notes: When choosing a theme name think keyword. If your blog is about Hawaii use themename-keyword
or as example using the basic2col theme: basic2col-Hawaii

First this will give a keyword in the first sentence of your style.css and second it helps you keep track of the themes in your computer files and what blog they belong to. If you have 3 blogs and all three child themes are named options-custom then you could mistakenly upload the wrong css file, image or something later on when you make future changes and mess everything up.

I keep mentioning Justin Tadlock’s themes in my posts. I fell in love with his themes about a year ago and I am slowly switching all of my blogs over to his parent themes. He has also created several child theme designs for you to use with his themes. Choose the child theme with the closest layout and color scheme you want and make your changes from there.

I wish I would have understood just how easy using child themes was from the start. I hacked up one of Justin’s themes pretty badly with all my modifications on another blog and I’m looking at several hours work to fix it the right way, with Wordpress 2.7 just around the corner, I can’t put it off any longer.

Justin’s Theme Hybrid site.

The Core Update will not work to update your version TO 2.7, you will have to download 2.7 and install it manually, or wait until your host updates their Fantastico files. After updating to 2.7 you will be able to update later releases (like 2.7.1) using the core update.

If you are not familiar with the new features of Wordpress 2.7, Lorelle has an extended list of links to blog articles with the news, screencasts, video, and features you have to look forward to in WordPress 2.7.

Lorelle also mentions in the post that she believes the long awaited release of 2.7 will be announced this weekend at the “WordCamp Australia in Sydney”. Stay tuned…

There is two ways to use Syndicate Kahuna one as a publisher and then you will receive keyword articles and/or videos delivered directly to your blog. You choose the keywords, posting frequency and if you want the articles auto-posted or held for review (recommended).

Backlink Automation

The second way to use Syndicate Kahuna is to join for free then pay a monthly fee and start submitting your articles and videos and have them auto-posted on a network of blogs. The network consists of 4,073 blogs built by members of PortalFeeder, Traffic Kahuna and Syndicate Kahuna, but this will explode with this launch.

Syndicate Kahunas trickle syndication gives you even more link juice and creates a more natural link frequency that is beneficial to getting you better search engines rankings.

Here are a few features from the website:

• Content rotation — Your content doesn’t always go to the exact same blogs and this gives you a more natural content distribution for better search engine optimization and linking
• Unique content tools — Use our built-in tools to add your content variations, spins to make your content more unique and get better results
• Blog and content monitoring — We employ full-time staff who quality moderate blogs and content. The crap gets rejected real fast and keeps our network high-quality and squeaky clean
• Auto-blog pruning — We use daily admin tools that automatically remove lagging blogs from the network — your content only gets syndicated to live, healthy blogs that are search engine magnets

Here is your special Invite Code to get started with Blog Automation from Syndicate Kahuna.

A new design concept has been spreading through the Wordpress theme development community that uses child themes to keep your main theme intact so you can update the themes easily when newer versions of Wordpress comes out.

Bloggers who heavily edit their themes to get that special look for their blog should definitely be looking in to using child themes. Bloggers who use themes right out of the box and make no changes at all don’t have to worry about this.

According to Justin Tadlock; “if you plan on modifying the background color of the theme, then you should create a child theme. Yes, even if that’s the only change you plan on making.”

I’ll leave the experts to explain to you more information on child themes and the how’s and why’s to use them.

Justin Tadlock’s explains about child themes and why he designs for the use of them.

Ian Stewart explains in a little more depth what child themes are.

Demetris has put to together a pictorial for beginners using child themes.

Chris Pearson took a slightly different approach with his free Copyblogger theme, using a custom.css file to make your changes in.

Links above open in a new window so you can easily find your way to each of them.

What do you think of using child themes on your blog? Share your thoughts with us by commenting below.

Twitter is fast becoming the leader in the micro-blogging craze. It is a great way to spread the news about your wordpress blog when used correctly.

Here are a few places I’ve been visiting to learn more about Twitter and how to use it.

Twitip – you have probably heard of Darren and his famous blog ProBlogger.net. He just recently launched TwiTip.com which is a great resource for learning how to best use Twitter the right way.

TweetLater – setup your Twitter account to send an auto reply to new followers either as a Tweet or as a Direct Message (DM). You can also pre-load tweets and have them “Tweet Later” at a time you set. A new feature just launched is the ability to have TweetLater watch for certain keywords and send you an email notice containing the tweet with your keyword. Business owners should set this up for their business name so they can see what is being said about the company and who is talking about you.

Twitterapps – while reading some comments on TwiTips I found this Squidoo lens with a ton of applications for Twitter. Twitterapps currently lists 275 different applications for Twitter. You can even add your Twitter link to her plexo list.

Any more Twitter resources you would like to add? Leave a comment.

Tweet ya later.

Sunday afternoon the latest beta version of Wordpress 2.7 was released making it the 3rd release in just a few weeks leading up to the full release hopefully by the end of the month.

I have been test driving 2.7 on a development blog and I love the easier layout of the admin panel. For the first time in a very long time I am actually looking forward to a Wordpress update. The automatic update is a great feature that will make it so much easier to keep our blogs updated, especially for those of us who run multiple blogs.

You can download the Beta 3 at:
 http://wordpress.org/wordpress-2.7-beta3.zip

Have you tried the new Beta version yet? if so share your thoughts of it.