If you haven’t upgraded your WordPress installation to the latest version WordPress 3.3.2, stop what you’re doing and upgrade now! If you can’t do the upgrade right now, don’t delay and do it as soon as you can. WordPress 3.3.2 which was released a few days ago is a security update which makes it mandatory if you want to keep your blog/website safe and running smoothly.

Here are the affected libraries that received security updates:

• Plupload (version 1.5.4), which WordPress uses for uploading media.
• SWFUpload, which WordPress previously used for uploading media, and may still be in use by plugins.
• SWFObject, which WordPress previously used to embed Flash content, and may still be in use by plugins and themes.

WordPress 3.3.2 also includes the following fixes:

• Limited privilege escalation where a site administrator could deactivate network-wide plugins when running a WordPress network under particular circumstances.
• Cross-site scripting vulnerability when making URLs clickable.
• Cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in redirects after posting comments in older browsers, and when filtering URLs.

Users can download WordPress 3.3.2 to upgrade manually or do it automatically via the WordPress admin panel – Dashboard > Updates. Don’t forget to make it a habit to backup your WordPress database and deactivate all plugins before upgrading.

Since I was pretty busy during the weekend, I was only able to upgrade my WordPress installation earlier today. The upgrade process went smoothly and so far, there’s been no problems or compatibility issues with any of the plugins that I’m running on the site.

Aside from WordPress 3.3.2, the dev team has also released WordPress 3.4 Beta 3 which includes about 90 fixes/changes since Beta 2. Again, please take note that WordPress 3.4 Beta 3 is only for testing purposes and shouldn’t be used/installed on live sites. For those testing the software, please make sure to report any bugs that you find.

Download WordPress 3.4 Beta 3

Anybody else upgraded to WordPress 3.3.2? Did you experience any problems or issues during and/or after the upgrade? Anyone trying out WordPress 3.4 Beta 3? Please share your thoughts?

That’s exactly what Joost de Valk aka Yoast, a WordPress/web developer and one of the well-known figures in the WordPress community did. With the help of Experian Hitwise and Design by Soap, Joost has created and released this detailed and very informative infographic on WordPress stats.

click here to view full size version

As a WordPress user and advocate, it’s wonderful to see how far WordPress has come, to see its rapid growth the past few years and how more people are benefitting from using the software not only as regular users but also as web developers or theme/plugin developers. Thanks to Joost for creating and sharing this awesome infographic.

Quick note for beta testers, theme & plugin developers and other users who would like to try out and test the upcoming version of the WordPress software. WordPress 3.4 Beta 2 was just released earlier today, it comes just a week after the Beta 1 version was released and contains over 60 bug fixes and feature adjustments based on user testing and feedback.

WordPress theme and plugin developers are encouraged to start testing their products with the 3.4 Beta to make sure that they work when the stable version gets released some time next month. Parties who try out and test this version are also encouraged to submit and report bugs.

Download WordPress 3.4 Beta 2

WordPress 3.4 Beta 1 was released earlier today by the WordPress dev team. If you’re a web developer, theme/plugin author and would like to try out the upcoming version, then go ahead and get a copy. This version is still in development stage you shouldn’t install it on a live/production site. Rather, install it on a test site, play with it and report any bugs you find.

Here’s some of the new features on WordPress 3.4:

• Theme Customizer with Previewer
• Flexible Custom Header Sizes
• Selecting Custom Header and Background Images from Media Library
• Better experience searching for and choosing a theme

And some of the changes made under the hood:

• New XML-RPC API for external and mobile applications
• New API for registering theme support for custom headers and backgrounds
• Performance improvements to WP_Query by splitting the query (Please test!)
• Internationalization improvements (improved performance and locale support)
• Performance and API improvements when working with lists of installed themes
• Support for installing child themes from the WordPress Themes Directory

The final and stable version of WordPress 3.4 is scheduled to be released in May and if more people help in testing and reporting/fixing bugs, the sooner the final version will be released. Those who want to be beta testers should check out this Codex article.

WordPress theme and plugin authors are encouraged to start following the WordPress 3.4 development cycle so that they can update their themes & plugins and have them compatible with the newest version of WordPress.

Download WordPress 3.4 Beta 1

Blogging

• How to Create a Website and Sell it for $200,000
• Blog Engagement: Follow These Simple 10 Commandments
• Why Your Google Search Traffic is Dropping (Its Not Panda)
• Unemployed? Try Blogging!

WordPress

• 10 Million hits a day with WordPress using a $15 server
• Prevent WordPress to compress your jpg images
• Security Alert: Dean’s FCKEditor With pwwang’s code plugin for WordPress
• How to Avoid Duplicate Post Display with Multiple Loops in WordPress

SEO

• Google’s Social Search Patent Application
• To Underline or Not Underline Links
• How to Unoptimize Your Content for Maximum Rankings
• Advanced SEO Practices for 2012

Social Media

• The Rules of Social Media Debunked
• Social Media Ethics: Why You Should Have a Policy
• How to Generate Leads from Social Media
• When to Thank Your Social Media Fans

Technology

• Mozilla Releases HTML5 MMO BrowserQuest
• A Hybrid Car With Detachable Engine Proposed
• U.S. Outgunned in Hacker War
• How Law Enforcement Cracks iPhone’s Security Code (Video)

Gadgets

• Novatech 14″ Ultrabook
• Soundlazer Audio Speakers
• AzTtec PC Case Mod
• World’s Fastest E-Bike

Pinoy Blogs

• Sony Xperia S Review
• Boostcase Hybrid Review
• Answer the Puzzle and Win $500.00 via Paypal!
• [Rumor] PlayStation 4 “Orbis” up for 2013

JaypeeOnline Weekly Recap

• Bump Pay – Exchange Money By Bumping Smartphones
• Temple Run Now Available on Android
• Phishers Target WordPress Plugin Authors

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or would want to share your article or any interesting story that you found in the Internet and have it featured in the next Weekend Roundup, feel free to leave a comment or send me a message via the contact page.