WordPress 3.4 is finally here! All users can now safely update from Dashboard -> Updates or download and update manually, though you should probably backup first, just in case. Right out of the box, users will notice some great new features, like a new theme customizer, Tweet embeds, HTML support in image captions, and dozens of performance improvements. If you run into trouble with WordPress 3.4, stop by the master list of known issues and post to the support forums if your problem isn’t covered there.

WordPress 3.4 RC 3 has been released with just a few lingering issues fixed since the second release candidate. The core developer team is still planning for the final release of WordPress 3.4 to debut some time this week, so it’s time to give this a good solid test, especially if you are a plugin or theme developer. As you test out the WordPress 3.4 RCs, please review this guide to see what you should keep your eyes on. If you find any bugs, please report them, and contact the support forums if you need any help.

As WordPress 3.4 draws nearer to its inevitable released, Aaron Campbell and Helen Hou-Sandi have joined the ranks of the Contributing Developers! Their improvements to custom headers and the overall Themes interface will really make WordPress 3.4 stand out. If you’re on this release’s credits list, now’s the time to make sure that your profile actually has a name. Here’s hoping that WordPress 3.4 will be the best release yet!

WordPress 3.4 RC 2 has been released with a few changes since the first release candidate. The core developer team is planning for the final release of WordPress 3.4 to debut early next week, so it’s time to give this a good solid test, especially if you are a plugin or theme developer. As you test out WordPress 3.4 RC 2, there are a few important things to watch out for, and this guide covers them in detail, or rather links to the appropriate guides. If you find any bugs, please report them, and contact the support forums if you need any help.

WordPress 3.4 RC 1 has been released. Well over 500 tickets have been closed, so there’s plenty to look out for as you take out your testing sticks and knock it about. As before, this is not yet meant for live sites, though the adventurous amongst you may feel free to tempt fate, especially if you are a plugin or theme developer. If you find any bugs, please report them, and contact the support forums if you need any help. Also, I’d like to wish an extra special Happy Birthday to WordPress, which was released yesterday nine years ago!

WordPress 3.4 Beta 4 has been released, with quite possibly the most brief, and yet most simply descriptive, release announcement yet. I’ll take the liberty of forever preserving it below in all its glory: Less bugs, more polish, the same beta disclaimers. Download, test, report bugs. Thanks much. /ryan #thewholebrevitything So, let’s break that down just a bit in case you’re not yet familiar with what’s going on. First, WordPress 3.4 Beta 4 has less bugs and is a bit snappier and cleaner than the previous beta releases, but the same disclaimers are still valid. This is not yet meant for live sites, but please do take a few swings at it on a test installation, especially if you are a plugin or theme developer. If you find any bugs, please report them, and contact the support forums if you need any help.