As is the norm technology and social media , numerous updates and changes were introduced this week. This week we will look at three of the newest items in social media.

WordPress 2.8

The newest version of WordPress is not a beta version, but the newest and greatest version of WordPress, at least according to Matt on the WordPress Blog. This version of WordPress, officially called WordPress2.8 Baker, after the famous trumpeter and vocalist, Chet Baker fixes 790 bugs, has 180 new features, changes and upgrades.

Major improvements boasted on the WordPress Blog are:

  • WordPress 2.8 is faster to use
  • A theme directory  you can browse and install a theme with a single click
  • A new Code Press editor
  • A completely redesigned  widget interface
  • New screen options on every page

A video, available on the WordPress Blog, shows an overview of the major changes. One of the changes that is particularly interesting is that user can now drop and drag widgets. If you have made edits to a widget, but you no longer want to use it, you can drag it to the inactive widgets for future use.

If you already have a WordPress account, it is easy to update to the new version. At the top of your Dashboard, you will have a message requesting that you update. Click on the message and choose from an automatic update or a download option. I chose the automatic update option and the update was almost instantaneous. If the other improvements to WordPress 2.8 are as user-friendly, I will be an even bigger fan.

Also on the Dashboard, in the lower right hand corner, be sure to check out Other Word Press news. This is a great resource for lists and updated information on WordPress 2.8.

Have you tried the new WordPress? What do you like best about it? Or, are you going to wait and see what others say about it?

Vanity URLs in Facebook

Starting on Saturday, June 13 beginning at 12:01 am EDT, profiles created before 3 PM June 11, 2009 and pages created before May 31, 2009 with more than 1000 followers will be able to reserve their vanity URL. The URL’s will be given out first come, first serve. You cannot change or transfer your URL once you have created it, and you will need to create one for each page you administer.

You can reserve your vanity URL by going to http://www.facebook.com/username, but do not try to get in line early. All you will find there is a clock counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until June 13 12:01 am EDT. For a detailed list of questions and answers on getting your vanity URL, you can go to Facebook Pages.

One thing that you can do right now, if you have the rights to a trademark, is to register the name by using this form. This will prevent someone else from registering it as a username.

Do you have fewer than 1000 followers? Don’t despair. You will be able to reserve your user name starting in June 28. I will be seeing you “in line” on the 28th for my vanity username.

The One-Millionth Word

While not strictly something new in the world of social media, the one-millionth word added to the English Language created a lot of press this week. In case you missed it, the one-millionth word is Web 2.0. What seems odd about this choice of the one-millionth word is that all of the facets that made Web 2.0 the word to use two years are now commonplace: social networks, web-based file sharing and content, and most people do not even refer to Web 2.0. As Adam Ostrow states on Mashable, “Web 2.0 Becomes One Millionth Word; Just As We Stop Using It”.

Even though Web 2.0 is the newest recognized word in the English language, what do you envision will be the next words that will emigrate from the social media lexicon to everyday language?

Updates and changes in social media happen at lightning speed, and we are happy to share a few of those we find the most interesting. What have you found this week? What has rocked your social media world this week?

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