Starting with the 3.2 beta, WordPress contributors are now credited on a fancy new page in the Dashboard. Data is pulled from the contributor’s WordPress.org profile (for example, Andrew Nacin’s profile), so make sure that yours is up to date! It sure is great to see some up-front recognition for all of the contributors to WordPress. What do you think? Is this a step in the right direction?

Previews of upcoming WordPress 3.2 changes seem to be pouring out regularly these days, especially since the news about the new distraction free writing mode earlier. The team has got to work on a full Dashboard refresh, which you see some nice screenshots of here. Overall, the new look is quite a bit sleeker and clearer than earlier versions. We’re also getting our first sneak peaks at Twenty Eleven, which is still pretty much Duster with a few minor changes. If you’re handy with accessibility issues, the team is looking for both feedback on Twenty Eleven and volunteers to join a new accessibility working group. If you can’t wait to get your hands on these cool new changes, install the WordPress Beta Tester plugin to grab the latest trunk. Are you running the latest WordPress 3.2 trunk? What do you think so far?

A new distraction free writing mode has made its way into the WordPress trunk for the upcoming 3.2 release. As the name implies, the goal is to create a simple screen that pretty much displays nothing but the text you type, though further options can revealed simply by moving your mouse. If you’re running WordPress on the bleeding edge, we’d love to hear what you think! If you’re sticking with the stable release, like most of us, check out these handy screenshots from Automattician Stephane Daury.

The plans have been laid for WordPress 3.2. In summary, this is going to be a much faster and lighter release with support dropped for long-outdated technologies. Here are the details: Faster Release Cycle – It’ll be here before you know it, or at least sooner than other releases have been. Faster and Lighter – With support for long-outdated technologies being dropped, this will be the fastest and lightest WordPress in quite some time. PHP 5.2.4 Required – The team will simply be dropping support for PHP 4, there won’t be very many new PHP 5 features added. MySQL 5 Required – Like above, the team will simply be dropping support for MySQL 4. IE6 EOL – No more fancy IE6-only hacks. The team will be officially discontinuing support for IE6 in the Dashboard and instead providing a “use a real browser” nag screen. New Fullscreen Editor – It’s time […]