I updated to WordPress 2.7 last night and other than my own screw up uploading the files everything went pretty smoothly.

WordPress tried to change the admin screen a couple of versions ago but it just seemed like a design change for the sake of change. I’m actually pretty impressed with the updated admin area. It takes a few minutes to get used to coming from the previous versions, but it’s very well put together. The left nav needs… something. I can’t put my finger on it but when I do I’ll make sure to update this post.

The front end didn’t have all that many changes with threaded comments being the biggest in my mind. I’m not sure how I feel about threaded comments. On the one hand, it makes more sense to do it that way. On the other, I can’t stand reading threaded messages. Too fragmented. Luckily, they way it works is pretty easy to follow no matter which way you prefer so I’m sure I’ll get used to the idea. Then again, I’ve had the option for threaded display since before the web when I ran my own BBS so it’s not like I’m going to just accept threading off hand.

The one thing I’ve been looking for I can’t find. I had read or heard somewhere that WP-Cache or WP-SuperCache was going to become a standard part of WP. I need to look into that more though. In order for any CMS, WordPress included, to handle a high volume of traffic caching is essential.

I still have 2-3 sites to upgrade and I’m looking forward to having all my sites running this shiny new version of WordPress. Go upgrade and enjoy the new toys.

I’m pretty excited right now. My wife Aeryn has an idea for her first site. She’s often helped me out on mine and we’ve tried a few small ideas together but never built her own from idea to launch. She found a topic she wants to cover and I think it will do well. I’m looking forward to working with her on it. We’ll be using WordPress, naturally and I’ll do the template for it. It’s one of the two sites I’ll be part of launching for 2009.

One of the things we decided to do was try to capture the process for launching our sites so that whatever we learn we can share with everyone. I think we may use a WP to chronicle that journey but not publish it to the public. We’ll then take all that info and then release it as a free ebook, including the mistakes and mishaps along the way. Give people a real look at what it takes to get a site going. Maybe do some video diaries along the way, that sort of thing. We haven’t ironed out exactly how to do this part yet, but we have already decided it’ll be free for whoever wants it. I’m just excited to be working with my wife on this.

I’m about to!

I’m getting revved up for 2009. I don’t mean so called ‘New Years resolutions’, which typically fail miserably. I’m talking about a plan for 2009. I know everyone gets this way around the new year, myself included. But this isn’t the same. This is something I’ve been working towards for a few months now, doing research, planning and getting all setup for this change.

My plans aren’t huge. They aren’t epic, or world changing. My plan is about getting back to basics. Getting back to doing the things I love and making some money. In about two weeks I’ll be launching my first site and others will follow as time permits. Some of you may even remember a time when I ran somewhere in the range or 15 or 20 sites. Some of them quite large. I made a pretty good part time income from some of my sites and right when things were starting to get good, it all turned bad, and quick. Big, life changing family stuff that I won’t cover again, but it required all my energy. Now, I’m back at the beginning. Well, maybe not right at the beginning. While my sites will be new, I’ve got nearly 15 years experience and great friends in this business. It’s good just knowing I’m not alone.

I’m not in a rush. I’m going to start back into his with my first site, which will be Mobility Hacks, which I plan on soft launching in about 2 weeks (drop me a line if you want to guest post!). The official launch will be January 1, naturally. After that, I have a handful of sites – maybe 5 total for now – that I’ll start launching, slowly.

This also means more posts here as well as some of my old usual haunts as I start guest posting other places again, assuming they’ll have me back. Regardless, I’m about to start making a little noise again. And I’m excited. It’s been too long.

So, I think that’s enough meta for now though. Off to run some errands and then back to work.

What’s your plan (not resolutions) for 2009?