New plugins Site Background Slider uses fullscreen images (read from a specified folder) to create a slideshow inside your background area. Updated plugins Fast Secure Contact Form lets your visitors send you a quick e-mail message and blocks all common spammer tactics. Additionally, the plugin has a multi-form feature, optional extra fields, and an option to redirect visitors to any URL after the message is sent. FoxyPress is a custom plugin made to integrate FoxyCart e-commerce functionality into your WordPress website. Slick Social Share Buttons allows you to add Facebook, Twitter, Google +1, Digg, Google Buzz, Linkedin, and Stumbledupon social media buttons in a floating or slide out tab. WPtouch automatically transforms your WordPress blog into an iPhone application-style theme, complete with ajax loading articles and effects, when viewed from an iPhone, iPod touch, Android, Opera Mini, Palm Pre, Samsung touch and BlackBerry Storm/Torch mobile devices.

Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, turned 28 two weeks ago. It’s been a busy year for Matt. Three major WordPress versions were released, he switched back to using a Mac after 8 years on Windows, and he travelled 190,000 miles over 245 days. Even though two weeks have gone by, it’s not too late to say “happy birthday” to Matt. In fact, he would prefer to receive all of his birthday gifts this year in the form of donations to Charity: Water through his birthday campaign. Matt has set an ambitious goal to reach $28,000 in donations by April, but if that goal is reached, his “birthday presents” will have provided clean water for 280 families in developing countries. Not everyone can head to the nearest faucet for a clean glass of water, so say “happy birthday” to Matt and help someone else enjoy some clean water today!

Evergreen is a colorful theme that packs a visual punch. Famous is an advanced theme for business, portfolio or blog usage.

iThemes has now added a huge student discount to their popular Web Designer’s Toolkit. The new Student Edition offers full-time students in the US and Canada access to over 150 themes, over 20 plugins, and over 300 hours of training for only $97 ($880 less than the original). Folks with a strong memory may notice the similarity to iThemes’s Educator Program. While the Student Edition of the toolkit is not free, the $880 discount is something that can’t be beat, especially if you’re busy spending money on your tuition. If you have plans to launch a WordPress-focused career in design, consulting, maintenance, and other such things, this is a great way to get a head start. Disclaimer: iThemes is one of our advertisers.

New plugins Pretty Pinterest Pins allows you to display thumbnails and links to your latest Pins from Pinterest in your sidebar. Stop Censorship Ribbon will place a black ribbon with the words “Stop Censorship” in the top right corner of your website, linking to the American Censorship website. Updated plugins Fast Secure Contact Form lets your visitors send you a quick e-mail message and blocks all common spammer tactics. Additionally, the plugin has a multi-form feature, optional extra fields, and an option to redirect visitors to any URL after the message is sent. Ultimate TinyMCE beefs up your visual editor with a plethora of advanced options.

Pronto is a very minimal grid style masonry theme. Spring Wish is bright, optimistic and reminiscent of spring.

NASA, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, has started to churn out quite a few open source projects. Though this doesn’t have any impact on the blogsphere (yet), it’s exciting to see a government agency of this level working in an open source environment, effectively asking its citizens for help with projects, while simultaneously making some outstanding code available for anyone to use. As an added bonus, the new code site is powered by WordPress.

New plugins SOPA Blackout adds a temporary 503 status and customisable page on your site to automatically join Web Blackout Day – 18th January 2012. Stop SOPA Ribbon will place a black ribbon with the words “Stop SOPA” in the top right corner of your website, linking to the American Censorship website. Note: Folks with WordPress.com blogs can join the SOPA/PIPA Protest via Settings -> Protest SOPA/PIPA in their Dashboards. Updated plugins WP-Aletheia: Feedback allows you to easily gather feedback from your clients’ sites.