I haven’t spent much time with the .ORG version of WordPress recently but now have a couple of projects, on that platform, in need of attention. So, I returned last night to Whitehall.CO.NZ – neglected for the past 10 months – and had a play. Updating to WordPress (Version 3.0) – the version released in the past few days – is now fully automated, as is the bulk updating of installed plugins (a new feature). BTW I make the point, when asked (well, so does everyone else); WordPress.ORG (selfhosted) is the more flexible, the more exciting, and if you have the time, the more extendible – while WordPress.COM (WordPress hosted) is, for the content provider who doesn’t want to be bothered with too much computer geekery, the safe, cuddly, secure choice. There is a third way, I have only become aware of recently, which sort of sits between the two – here is a good example Waihi East Primary School. I have only had a cursory look at this and their web host provider – but it appears to be the best of both worlds (while you are there you had better get your head around this). There are bound to be others offering a version of this service. If you are tossing up between the various WordPress options have a look here first: About WordPress. If you want to go down the self hosted track read this: WordPress hosting. If not rock on over to WordPress.COM and create an account (you will want to create a .COM account whatever you decide – to handle spam and stats.) and have a play, it’s free and you can’t break anything. Anyway back at Whitehall.CO.NZ;  I had a play with a grid theme to come up with this for a front page:

I’m fairly certain I could have done this with WP2.9 but never got around to it. Also, in my rush, I have over looked the fact that this theme is not listed as being 3.0 compatible – and that it appears to be based on code that is most probably much more flexible than I have the time to delve into. It is not quite what I want but the idea is there. Oh, and if you haven’t heard about WordCamp then check this out. I’m going to WordCampNZ in August.