Hello!
The WordPress 6.7 release squad has been announced and will be the third and final major release of this year. Call for team reps for the Test Team and Photo Directory is now open. Also, the call for mentors and mentees for the third WordPress Contributor Mentorship Program cohort is now live.
Don’t forget to subscribe and listen to the podcast version of this newsletter on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, where you can hear more details and discussions about these topics and more.
See you next week!
Team WP-CONTENT.CO
This weekly newsletter is kindly sponsored by Omnisend and WP Job Openings
📰 WORDPRESS & AROUND
All the updates around WordPress and its closely related technologies
Matt Mullenweg is the project’s Release Lead, with David Baumwald serving as the Release Coordinator and Peter Wilson and Kira Schroder taking on the role of Core Tech Lead. Other members of the squad include Ankit K. Gupta (Test Lead), JJoen Asmussen (Design Lead), Mukesh Panchal (Performance Lead), Beatriz Fialho (Default Theme Design Lead). The Editor Tech Leads (Robert Anderson, Kai Hao), Core Triage Leads (Ahmed Kabir Chaion, Stoyan Georgiev), Editor Triage Leads (Nick Diego, Damon Cook), Documentation Leads (Fabian Kägy, Mumtahina Faguni) make the rest of the team.
- Introducing Twenty Twenty-Five: A brief overview of the upcoming new default theme, Twenty Twenty-Five set to arrive with WordPress 6.7 has been published and showcases new patterns, templates, high-quality and comprehensive fonts, and more.
- WordPress 6.6.2 maintenance release: The next maintenance update for WordPress 6.6 is scheduled to be released on September 10, 2024. The RC is expected to be made available on September 4.
- Automatic conversion of HEIC images to JPEG in WordPress 6.7: In WordPress 6.7, HEIC image uploads will be automatically converted to JPEG on the server when possible. This allows you to view HEIC images in WP Admin and use them in posts and pages regardless of whether a visitor’s browser supports HEIC.
- What’s new in Gutenberg 19.0: The latest update includes a UI to connect blocks and custom fields, quick edit is now available on the new Pages list, improvements to Data Views, and so on.
- WordPress Contributor Mentorship Program Cohort #3 (2024 Q4): Call for Mentees & Mentors: The call for mentees and mentors for the third WordPress Contributor Mentorship Program cohort is now open. The deadline for application submissions is on August 26, 2024.
- Test Team Reps: Call for nominations: The nomination period is now open, with a deadline of September 23, 2024. The responsibilities of the Test Team Reps and the selection process are clearly outlined.
- Call for Photo Directory Team Representatives: The Make WordPress Photo team is in need of two to three new Team Reps and interested candidates can submit applications by August 30th.
- Linux Foundation welcomes the Open Model Initiative to promote openly licensed AI models: The Open Model Initiative (OMI) aims to foster the creation and adoption of high-quality, openly licensed AI models that push creativity forward, are free to use, and meet the growing demands for open source AI solutions.
- Google Search expands AI Overviews globally: Google Search expands AI overviews to six countries, adds a save function, and simplifies language while testing in-text links for web content.
- Google rolls out August 2024 Core update: This latest algorithm change aims to boost high-quality content and demote low-value SEO-focused material in search results.
- Google’s Gemini to gain ‘Deep Research’ feature: Google plans to add “Deep Research” capabilities to Gemini. The feature will compile and synthesize information from multiple sources.
🚨WEB SECURITY & VULNERABILITIES
A collection of web security and vulnerability news and updates for the past week
The InPost PL plugin has been patched whereas the InPost for WooCommerce plugin has been removed from the repository. Wordfence recommends that users who are still using the removed InPost for WooCommerce plugin delete it and install the InPost PL plugin instead.
- Unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability patched in GiveWP WordPress plugin: The vulnerability which allowed attackers to execute code remotely and delete arbitrary files was patched recently. All users are to update to the latest version immediately.
- WordPress vulnerability report — August 14, 2024: Weekly report from SolidWP
- Wordfence Intelligence Weekly WordPress Vulnerability Report (August 5, 2024 to August 11, 2024): There were 136 vulnerabilities disclosed in 114 plugins and 6 themes.
- Introducing the WordPress Bug Bounty Superhero Challenge: The challenge will run till October 14, and will focus on themes and plugins with 5,000,000+ active installations and the rewards have been tripled with the highest possible earning being an impressive $31,200. A few of the rewards are as follows, $31,200 for an unauthenticated arbitrary PHP file upload vulnerability, an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability, and also for unauthenticated privilege escalation to admin or authentication bypass to admin vulnerability, $21,600 for an unauthenticated arbitrary file deletion vulnerability and more.
🔌 NEW PLUGINS & THEMES
Be one of the first ones to explore some fresh plugins and themes
- Kanso theme: A simple and intuitive blog block theme designed with a focus on writing.
- Compendium theme: A portfolio block theme for developers and designers.
- Solid Performance plugin: The plugin improves your site speed and performance through efficient page caching.
- Marquee Carousel plugin: This allows users to create eye-catching carousels.
- Bulk Price Update for WooCommerce plugin: This allows users to make bulk price adjustments based on a wide range of criteria.
👥 COMMUNITY NEWS
Updates and News from the WordPress Community
A new initiative from Michelle Frechette and Corey Maass, IPA will be a directory of WordPress plugins with a focus on co-promoting and cooperative marketing.
- Ramping up WordPress on YouTube: Josepha Haden Chomphosy has announced that Jamie Marsland will be taking on the management of the WordPress YouTube channel. The goal of this will be to expand and enhance the YouTube presence of WordPress.
- All new WPTuts Academy and Community launching soon: The new offering from WPTuts is launching soon and interested folks can sign up as it will be opened to a small number of early adopters.
- All new VIP Learn from WordPress VIP: A new, completely free enterprise-focused WordPress developer training program from WordPress VIP. The course targets developers who need to build the skills that will help them differentiate Enterprise WordPress development from smaller-scale projects.
- WP.org – Google Translate browser extension: Felipe Elia, the Associate Director of Platform Engineering at 10up has created a useful browser extension that will allow users to use Google Translate to translate WordPress.org themes and plugins.
- A set of controls from the Advanced Query Loop plugin have been merged into the core Query Loop block: Ryan Welcher recently shared on X that key controls from his Advanced Query Loop plugin have been merged into the core Query Loop block. This update is included in Gutenberg version 19 and will also be part of the Core with the upcoming WordPress 6.7 release.
- A History of WordPress told through the number of themes published in the Themes Directory: A detailed history of the WordPress Themes Directory, exploring its growth from its launch in 2008 to the present. The directory was launched in 2008, and the initial selection was very limited, but it quickly grew thanks to the developer community that began to contribute.
- WP Tavern is back: WP Tavern is back after a hiatus, with Jyolsna JE as the new writer selected from the Hunger Games which concluded a few months back.
- A glimpse into Tutor LMS 3.0: The upcoming update will introduce a revamped Course Builder with a new design and features and a new Quiz Builder.
- Now use your own domain at TasteWP: Users can now opt to use any domain they want with TasteWP. However, this will require you to be on a premium plan.
- WordPress now powers the Onion website: Aaron Jorbin shared on X that The Onion’s website is also powered by WordPress. Kamala Harris’s website is also using WordPress.
- Angoda Emmanuel receives the Yoast Care fund for his contribution to the WordPress community: Angoda Emmanuel, a member of the WordPress Community Team is the latest recipient of the Yoast Care fund.
🔖 INTERESTING READS & PODCASTS
More posts and podcasts from the WordPress Community you don’t want to miss
- A journalist’s journey into WordPress: From HeroPress
- Why not WordPress?: From Half-Elf on Tech
- Go ahead and use WordPress your way: From The WP Minute
- Should WordPress development stop?: From WPTuts
- State of generics and collections: From The PHP Foundation
- Responding to “should we be open about discussing WordPress?”: From Anne McCarthy
- WordPress is a bit like Burger King – Have it your way: From Jeff Chandler
- Investigating the issue between Query Monitor and Solid Performance: From Jeff Chandler
- Katie Keith & Matt Cromwell on making a success of your WordPress product: From WP Tavern Jukebox
- The security risks of using nulled WordPress plugins: From Sucuri
- From 25k to 45k/month: Trying to build the company we wished for as employees: From WP Umbrella
- Pros and cons of going non-exclusive: Weighing the options for WordPress plugin and theme makers: From Freemius
- How advanced SFTP and SSH security features can better secure your WordPress site: From Kinsta
- State of SEO Report: Top insights for 2025 success: From Search Engine Journal
- Google vs Microsoft Bing: A detailed comparison of two search engines: From Search Engine Journal
🛠 GUIDE ZONE – HOWTO’S and MORE
Handpicked fresh guides from WordPress circle
- How to extend a WordPress block: From WordPress Developer Blog
- The building blocks of WordPress templates: From Learn WordPress
- How Styles are generated: From Learn WordPress
- How to reinstall WordPress without losing data: 4 Methods: From Melapress
- How Google search ranking works: From Search Engine Land
📆 SAVE THE DATES
Do not miss a WordPress event ever again
- BlackPress meetup, Making the most of WCUS 2024 on Aug 26, 2024: This a free online event that will focus on the actions one should take to prepare for WCUS, mindsets to keep in mind during the event, and recommendations for when it’s all said and done.
- WordCamp US on 17-20 September 2024: The tickets are now available.
- WordPress Agency Summit 2024 on September 27, 2024: The call for speakers is now open.
- WordCamp Nagpur on September 28, 2024: The call for sponsors is now open.
- WordPress Accessibility Day on Oct 9-10, 2024: The call for speakers and volunteers is now open.
- Rome Core Days on November 8-9, 2024: This will be a two-day event dedicated to WordPress Core developers with round tables, open discussions, and contribution rooms.
- WordCamp Romania on November 14-15, 2024: The event is in the early planning stages.
- WordCamp Malaysia on November 22-23, 2024: The event is in the early planning stages.
- WordCamp Netherlands on 29-30 November 2024: The call for speakers is now open.
- WordCamp Asia on February 20-22, 2025: The venue will be the Philippine International Convention Center, Manila, Philippines. The call for speakers is now open.
- WordCamp Europe on 5-7 June 2025: The call for organizers is now open.
- WordCamp US 2025 on August 26-29, 2025: The event is in the early planning stages.
🎁 WORDPRESS DEALS OF THE WEEK
Again, these are the best deals of the week, handpicked by yours!
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- 50% off Web Hosting Packages at StableHost (Coupon Code – 50OFFYEAR1)
- 80% off for plugins at WPPool
- Up to 77% off hosting plans at HostPapa
- 50% off for Advanced Giftcards for WooCommerce plugin
- Upto 55% off hosting plans at Nexcess
- 20% off for Fluent Forms plugin
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- 20% off for FluentCRM plugin
- 50% off for WP Social Ninja plugin
- Upto 95% off for PitchGround products
- Upto 69% off WordPress Hosting plans at InMotion Hosting
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- 60% off at Hostgator India (Coupon Code- SUNSHINE)
- Up to 74% off at Liquid Web
- 52% off on Managed Dedicated Server Hosting at Liquid Web
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