There is a new version of WordPress out. It's a major release of some new features. There are no security updates with this release.
We do suggest our clients upgrade to get these new features but we plan on waiting about a week for a follow-up update since this normally occurs. The follow-up version usually fixes some bugs and some security issues so it's best to wait for that version since there are no security issues fixed with this release.
WordPress 4.5 “Coleman” (wordpress.org)
Version 4.5 of WordPress, named “Coleman” in honor of jazz saxophonist Coleman Hawkins, is available for download or update in your WordPress dashboard. New features in 4.5 help streamline your workflow, whether you’re writing or building your site.
Editing Improvements
Inline Linking
Stay focused on your writing with a less distracting interface that keeps you in place and allows you to easily link to your content.Formatting Shortcuts
Do you enjoy using formatting shortcuts for lists and headings? Now they’re even more useful, with horizontal lines and <code>.Live Responsive Previews
Make sure your site looks great on all screens! Preview mobile, tablet, and desktop views directly in the customizer.Custom Logos
Themes can now support logos for your business or brand. Try it out with Twenty Sixteen and Twenty Fifteen in the Site Identity section of the customizer.Under the Hood
Smart Image Resizing
Generated images now load up to 50% faster with no noticeable quality loss. It’s really cool.Selective Refresh
The customizer now supports a comprehensive framework for rendering parts of the preview without rewriting your PHP code in JavaScript.Script Loader Improvements
Better support has been added for script header/footer dependencies. New wp_add_inline_script() enables adding extra code to registered scripts.Better Embed Templates
Embed templates have been split into parts and can be directly overridden by themes via the template hierarchy.JavaScript Library Updates
jQuery 1.12.3, jQuery Migrate 1.4.0, Backbone 1.2.3, and Underscore 1.8.3 are bundled.
The previous version of WordPress was version 4.2.2 and was released on February 2, 2016.
Our Website Maintenance Department will be in contact with you regarding these upgrades. Clients that have signed up for our Automatic WordPress Update Program or Website Care program will get their website updated in the next week or so or if a follow-up version of WordPress is released.
View the complete list of WordPress versions here.
Read more about why WordPress updates are important.
If you haven't heard about our Website Care program, then you're missing out!
There are different levels to choose from but with each level, you get your installation of WordPress checked weekly for updates to the core software, plugins and themes. The benefit is that your website software is kept up to date. This work is done by hand and we test your website after the upgrade to make sure everything works like it should.
The program is either by monthly subscription or you can save 10% and pay for a year in advance. When you use this program you save about 40% on updating WordPress. It's kind of a no-brainer!
Sleep better knowing that your website is being taken care of when you enroll in our Website Care program today!
-Tony
[UPDATE 04/22/2016:] We're expecting WordPress 4.5.1 to come out early next week with fixes. We'll see if there are any security concerns but once it comes out, it'll be a good idea to upgrade just to keep up with WordPress releases.
