Everything you need to know about WordPress 4.1
Named after the American Grammy award winning jazz vocalist Dinah Washington, WordPress’ “Dinah” 4.1 update went live in late December. To help you get to grips with the freshly updated WordPress 4.1, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite new features. Read on to find out what you can expect once you update.
Where do I go to update?
Updating to the latest, arguably greatest, version of WordPress couldn’t be simpler; most users will find themselves staring the message “WordPress 4.1 is available! Please update now” in the face as soon as they log onto their dashboard.
From there, simply hit the link and you’re good to go. We would recommend backing up your site before applying any and all updates, however, especially as we don’t know how it will effect some themes and plugins. As always, better to be safe than sorry.
A new theme for 2015
One of the major additions to the 4.1 update is the inclusion of a brand new theme. Dubbed Twenty Fifteen, the theme employs Google’s new Noto web font, which is designed to work across multiple languages, and boasts simple, clean lines, making it perfect for blogs.
No more distractions
Focus is the new name for WordPress’ distraction-free-writing tool. The feature has been given a slight overhaul, making it easier than ever to focus on your content without getting distracted by dashboard clutter, widgets, and notifications. The feature has had mixed reactions since its debut, but we’re glad WordPress continue to refine it and, as ever, it can simply be switched off if you don’t like it.
Do you speak it?
WordPress 4.1 is a truly multilingual affair, allowing developers to pick from one of 40 supported languages, with more on the way. If you want to see how your site would look in Español de Chile, for example, simply visit ‘Settings’ under the ‘General’ tab.
Plugin of the day
Sifting through the thousands of plugins on WordPress can be a nightmare. Luckily, the 4.1 update offers plugin hunters a new ‘Recommended Plugins’ search option. This handy feature compiles a list of plugins drawn from other sites similar to your own, making it easier than ever to find that perfect widget.