View the official press release here: http://wordpress.org/news/2011/12/sonny/

Learn how to update from your dashboeard here: http://codex.wordpress.org/Dashboard_Updates_SubPanel

Please, ALWAYS BACKUP ! before carrying out any upgrade or major change to your site.

Iif you would like us to carry out the upgrade (£40+VAT), you can order via a support ticket

• Media uploader enhancement – Probably the most important addition in this version is the imlpementation of a revamped media uploader.  Advances such as “drag and drop”, instant resizing, filter by type of file and more.
• Improved admin bar
• Fly out admin menus
• Beginners first steps guidelines – For new users and installation this feature will get users up and running quickly.
• Performance improvements

Steps you should take

All WordPress web site owners should start to think about their upgrade to this new release.  I’d recommend scheduling an upgrade after about a week of the release, keeping an eye on WordPress.org for updates on the launch and feedback.

Things you should do before upgrading:

• Make a full backup of your existing WordPress site files and database.
• Check with your theme author to see if there are any known theme issues and if an update theme is available, which is tested and compatible with 3.3
• Do the same with any core plugins you use.

As much as this can feel like hard work and a hassle, once you’re upgraded you can beenfit from the new features and continue to enjoy, enhance and develop your site to it’s full potentia

Thankfully the Timthumb Vulnerability Scanner plugin will do the job of checking your theme for out of date Timthumb code and give you the option to upgrade it!

As some of you will already be aware, the popular image resize script TimThumb.php (used/included in many WordPress themes), was identified as having a security hole.

This exposed the sites using the script vulnerable to attack and code injection. Even themes housing the script that are not active on a WordPress installation, can cause issues. So it’s important to secure your active theme and DELETE any themes not in use.

There are many articles now available regarding the issue and how to address it, so here are some, should you require further information:

• Technical details and scripts of the WordPress TimThumb.php hack
• The Register
• Timthumb.php Security Vulnerability – Just the Tip of the Iceberg

It’s important to check your theme/s, update the TimThumb.php script if it’s in use on your theme and implement some of the suggested security measures to secure your site in the future.

If you need further advice or help, please submit a Support Ticket

‘ I started writing my beginner’s guide to WordPress SEO a while back, and have since done a load of posts on the subject, an article in the Search Marketing Standard, newsletters, and presentations. It’s time to let all the info of all these different articles fall into one big piece: the final guide to WordPress SEO. ‘ – Joost de Valk

http://yoast.com/articles/wordpress-seo/

We have recently updated the Hosting Control Panel with a brand new file manager. The first thing you will notice is how much more attractive it looks compared to the previous version. On top of this, you’ll also be able to navigate around the features more quickly and intuitively.

The new file manager is already live and ready to try in your Hosting Control Panel.

Improvements include:

• Drag and drop interface.
• Queue multiple uploads.
• Visible permissions, along with warning indicator when the user has set permissions that we do not allow.
• Ability to work with multiple files at the same time (e.g. move 10 files at once with shift+select).
• All functionality available via right-click and via menu at the top to allow for better working in mobile browsers.
• Better navigation.
• Better handling of archives.

All of our developers use the file manager as an alternative to FTP to make adjustments to code and files.

More than 99.9% of people shouldn’t have any problems during this industry-wide test, but your experience on June 8th will depend on your computer and network configuration.
– If you only have IPv4, you’ll simply use IPv4 as usual and not see any test-related problems.
– If your configuration is ready for IPv6, you’ll automatically use IPv6 and not see any test-related problems.
– In rare cases if you have IPv6 enabled but not configured properly, you may have connectivity issues with Google Apps and other test sites on June 8th.

WordPress is a third party application and is constantly being updated to imrpove and patch security issues.  It’s important to keep your install of WordPress and all Plugins, up to date.

Above all, ensure sure you make a regular backup, also when you’re about to install new plugins or make changes to your core site files.  As much as you try to keep the bad guys out by implementing some (or all) of these tips, having a regular backup taken of your site files and database provides peace of mind.

• Admin User – Always create a new user with admin priveledges and delete the default ‘admin’ user.  The admin username will be a key target for hackers.
• Keep WordPress up to date! – Always keep WordPress up to date to the latest version.  This is easy with the automatic update feature from within the WordPress admin area.  No excuses!
• Use SSL in the admin area – This means encryption of all data during admin sessions in WordPress.  This involves adding a small peice of code to your wp-config.php file and having a dedicated SSL certificate.
• AnitVirus Plugin – AntiVirus for WordPress is a smart and effective solution to protect your blog against exploits and spam injections. http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/antivirus/
• Ultimate Security Checker Plugin – Helps you identify security problems with your wordpress installation. It scans your blog and give a security grade based on passed tests. http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/ultimate-security-checker/

However, we’ve decided to go one (or two!) better.  Not only do you get a FREE WordPress book, you get a choice from three of the current best selling books available.

Now, with the choice of ‘WordPress for Dummies’, ‘Smashing WordPress Beyond the blog’ or ‘Wicked WordPress Themes’.  There is a book for every level of WordPress user and three great reasons to start a new site.

Order yours today

We expect many of you have domain names at other registrars, gathering dust! Well, we want to provide a new home for those domains, right here in one place, with your other domain/s.

So make a note that from 25th April – 1st May 2011 you can transfer your domains into us and not pay any transfer-in fees (.com .net .info .org .biz .name .co.uk .org.uk .me.uk)

PLUS for .com level domains, we’ll add an extra years registration (£8.99 value) onto the domain as well.