WordPress Theme Viewer
Fans of BloggingPro can now have their blog with a similar look, as this 3 column theme has been released for public use. Nice use of white space, a pale blue 2 column right hand sidebar, with a darker blue 3 column footer all contribute to this stylish theme. A few plugins are required for the theme to work out of the box, specifically for the footer sections with recent comments, posts, etc.
ear-fung.us
For those tuned (ha, get it iPod, tuned) into working out with the combo of the Nike+ iPod gear, and want to share/track their progress on their blog, this seem like the ticket. Using the Nike API, it pulls the XML file and allows for customization via the admin interface, including showing a “power song” and linking to iTunes. Also has the ability to graph the run. This plugin is at v 1.4, so it’s seems well developed with a full demo on the author’s site in their sidebar.
WP-AJAX Newsletter
Housed at Google code, apparently this plugin allows for a newsletter to be emailed to all registrants of blog content. Lots of ability to customize the outgoing newsletter, as well as an AJAX powered registration (including email conformation for registration). I couldn’t decipher if you could include content outside of blog posts or not.
ShinRa House
A stylish, single column theme, with lots of drop shadow effects and gradients. As the name implies, a blue theme, with an abstract header image (though the demo link seemed to open a different theme, so I couldn’t tell exactly what it was).
The theme also employs a AJAXy drop down shelf, a search box that is also some AJAX type effect (though the cross hair icon may not suggest to everyone that it means search), as well as an interesting Accessibility icon that converts the page to a non graphic, non javascript mode. Well thought out for such a design to include.
Well worth the look if you are after a more “web 2.0″ modern feel.
Alex King
Beta 2 is out for the Twitter plugin for WP. I keep reading more and more about this Twitter thing, and am finding it hard to resist to “drink the Kool-aid”.
Trev’s Travels
Trevor has released what looks like an excellent learning tool for WP users who want to venture into learning more about plugin development. Basically he’s released everything you need to create your plugin, simply without the specific function.
I haven’t tested it yet, but I did look at the file, and it’s very well commented. Options for widgets, including something like into a post/page and a normal plugin function call are included, as well as an options page for your plugin if you need it.
I’m actually surprised I haven’t seen anything like this before, though there are several tutorials floating around.
ikram_zidane
This theme will probably prove to be quite popular, as it has a modern, grungy feel. A hybrid, 3 column theme, it features the most recent post in the left most column, with a list of previous entries below that. The right portion of the theme is split into 2 more columns, one with categories, and another for archives (though this can be modified with one caveat – the headings for those two columns are images, so unless you are proficient with Photoshop or Gimp, you will not have the same type headings). Below those two columns is an “about” section that spans the width of the above 2 columns. A search box rounds out the page.
As mentioned, it has that “distressed” feel, with a grayish header, dark background for the bulk of the design, and a contrasting blue footer, all which use images, so again, customization may be limited. I would say the navigation in the header is lacking, however as this was designed for as specific site, then made available, the nav bar may have been originally customized. I’d still like to see a little more prominence or style however. Also worth note is that it’s fixed width, however not with 800px or lower monitors in mind. All in all though, it’s definitely a notch above of the cookie cutter themes that seem to be released on daily basis these day.
Alex King
Twitter seems all the rage(though I’ve not touched it), so it was inevitable that a WordPress plugin would follow. Fortunately, the first offering I’ve come across is from Alex King, so the quality is sure to be solid.
As I’ve stated, I’m not familiar with Twitter, so I won’t even begin to decipher the functionality (what is a tweet?), but I’m guessing it is one more way to get connected.
Miklb’s Mindless Ramblings
A semi shameless plug, but I’m in the process of upgrading my quasi-popular blank theme. Basically it’s a set of templates and a CSS sheet, without the style. A great (I hope) way of creating your own theme, or just a way to get under the hood. The difference between this version and the first is that this one is attempting to be based solely on my own attempts at a bit more simple, semantic code. Thus the beta, as I’m quite open to suggestions, critics, and feedback.
Keep in mind, it was released in the spirit of sharing, and the fact that the original is still the single most sought after search item on my site. Collaboration is not out of the question, to say the least.
pomomusings
Well, I tried this post once, and for some reason it didn’t go through (if anyone is having an issue with WP 2.1.2 and getting a “are you sure you want to edit this post” page coming up when posting a new post, let me know).
Cleaker is one of the better WP themes I’ve seen in some time. It is a three column design, fixed width, with a two column sidebar to the right of content. Subtle blues and tans, it also includes as download of the header file in Photoshop format, as well as the author offers a download of the main graphics in the same .psd format.
I can not stress enough how “fresh” this theme is in comparison to the kubrick like factory that seems to flood the theme repository at themes.wordpress.net