WP Weekly 151 - Think - AI for Images, Payments on Free WP, Figma to Blocks

Got a lot to think about, be it: not supporting free plugins on WordPress forums, finding a new name for the command center feature, and brewing ideas for the next generation of WordPress events. Plus tracking new things with Elementor AI, Fluent Forms, Give WP, Gravatar, and more.

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• Big Product Updates… not just text, now you can also use Elementor AI to generate new images, enhance or customize existing with the power of AI in the Elementor editor. Also, Fluent Forms v5.0 is a big update introducing a new user interface along with the new framework for faster response and dedicated developer docs.
  
  
• Interesting, Caught Attention… Yotako plugin’s new release promises to enable editing of your Figma and Adobe XD designs as WordPress Gutenberg blocks. Also, ShopWP 8.0 update has introduced a new layout builder to visually design your shop products and collections in many custom ways.
  
  
• New Releases… the Tasty Recipes plugin has introduced an easy rating system where visitors can simply on the recipe’s star rating to view the rating form and share feedback. Also, GiveWP has released a new Webhooks addon allowing you to integrate and connect your donation forms with the tools in your organization’s tech stack.

1. Let’s Learn… WP Now is a new WordPress Playground powered application to launch local WP environments; here is a detailed post by Danish Naseer to get started with this. Also, Google Analytics 4 is replacing old Universal Analytics on the 1st of July, 2023 – here is how to prepare for GA4 for continued analytics data collection.
   
   
2. New Integrations… MainWP has announced integration with Pressable Hosting (by Automattic), where the Pressable Extension will help you manage various hosting tasks in your MainWP panel. While MemberPress has added integration with Quaderno, an international tax compliance tool.
   
   
3. Payments Support… now you can perform money making activities like selling products and memberships, accepting donations even on the free WordPress (.)com website plan. Also, after nine years Gravatar service has a new update in the form of a payment service feature allowing others to send you money.
   
   
4. Dev Focus… Michael Burridge has published how to navigate the Block Editor Handbook to make it easy to explore tons of content in this handbook. Also, worth following up on this proposal by Matias Ventura to connect blocks and custom fields.
   
   
5. Web Hosting Buzz… the 20i Managed WordPress Hosting has been recognized as a ‘High Performer’ by the G2 business solutions review platform. While Liquid Web has launched Next-Gen VPS Hosting promising the back-end of powerful blade servers with AMD processors, blazing-fast SSDs, and a faster 10GB network.
   
   
6. WP Milestones… Xaver shared that his free Local Google Fonts plugin, released one-year back, has reached 100K active installs. While Imran Siddiq at Web Squadron has reached the milestone of 25K subscribers on the Youtube channel.
   
   
7. WP Events & WordCamps… the call for sponsors is open for WordPress Accessibility Day, a free 24-hour virtual conference. The tickets for WordCamp Malaysia, scheduled for Sep 09, 2023, are now available along with the open call for speakers and sponsors.

• ❤️ The WP Awards 2023: Call for Sponsorship is now open for your support. Many Thanks to InMotion Hosting, 20i Managed WordPress Hosting, and Slim SEO Link Manager for the support.
• Free Resource: Website pricing matrix for web proposals by Imran.
• Good: 18 free plugins to help troubleshoot and debug WordPress.
• Submit feedback on current system of notices in WP dashboard.
• See winning agencies of The WooExpert Awards, Europe, 2023.
• Tools Page update, 13 new tools and resources added (which ones?)

WordPress, got to think about this!

Cristian Raiber has decided to stop supporting their plugins on the WordPress org free forums, “In 7 years of supporting FREE users, we’ve been called names, accused of “stealing,” threatened, and, least but not last…”.

Still in the feedback gathering mode; is Wayfinder a better name for the proposed command center feature? Also brewing is the idea of next generation WordPress events; here is the latest update on it: 64 ideas were shared, and 8 pilot events have been confirmed – out of which 6 will happen in 2023!

Tracking New Updates to WordPress Products

Builder & Block Addon… the latest Brizy update has added custom Webhooks to extend the functionality of the Brizy contact form by integrating it with other systems or services. While the Otter Blocks v2.3 update has added select, checkbox, radio, URL, and file upload fields to the form block and the ability to store form block submissions to the dashboard.

More Updates… AB Split Test plugin has added a CSS Split Test feature allowing you to test between different website style variations. While the WPML Multilingual Plugin 4.6.4 has added PHP 8.1 compatibility and enhanced support for Elementor’s new loop carousel and loop widgets.

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Upcoming Events...

July 08, 2023: WordCamp Iloilo 2023, Iloilo City, Philippines.
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By
Davinder Singh Kainth
A creative who Loves to Create Online Spaces powered by WordPress.

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