WordPress 3.3 is finally here and ready to be downloaded or upgraded to from the Updates section of your blog’s Dashboard. Of all the changes, the most noticeable are the simplified toolbar (formerly known as the admin bar), the new drag and drop media uploader with support for multiple files, hover-powered Dashboard menus (no more wasted clicks), better help menus, a new Tumblr importer, and a complete introductory welcome page for new users. For developers, there’s a new version of jQuery, better help screen hooks, and a new editor API. If you’re running into trouble after upgrading to WordPress 3.3, there is a master list of known issues and FAQs on the forums which will be updated regularly, and the kind volunteers in the support forums will be more than happy to help you with any of your troubles.

WordPress 3.3 RC 3 has been released. There were just a few things to fix, so the final 3.3 release should be right around the corner. If you’re a plugin or theme developer, and you haven’t tested your products against WordPress 3.3 yet, you my have just a few days (if not hours) left before the final release is public. Andrew Nacin has provided an outstanding WordPress 3.3 field guide for developers and Mika Epstein has provided an awesome WordPress 3.3 known issue and FAQ master list. As always, feel free to report any bugs that you find and contact the support forums if you need any help.

WordPress 3.3 RC 2 has been released. The team feels that WordPress 3.3 is just about ready to be released, so this could very well be the last release candidate before 3.3 is officially released. If you’re a plugin or theme developer, it’s time to test your products against WordPress 3.3 before the rest of the world gets their hands on it. Andrew Nacin has provided an outstanding WordPress 3.3 field guide for developers and Mika Epstein has provided an awesome WordPress 3.3 known issue and FAQ master list. As always, feel free to report any bugs that you find and contact the support forums if you need any help.

The beta phase is over, and the talented folks behind WordPress feel that 3.3 is ready for release. As with the standard process, the first release candidate is available. If no issues are reported with this release, this may very well be what we get for WordPress 3.3, so it’s time to put your testing hats on and hammer away, especially if you’re a plugin or theme developer. If you run into any bugs, don’t forget to report them and contact the support forum if you need help.