WordPress has named version 3.7 "Basie" to honor the legendary William James "Count" Basie, a bandleader, jazz pianist, composer and organist. Learn more about Count Basie .
So what's new in WordPress 3.7?
Good question.
First of all, Automattic has put more emphasis on updating the WordPress architecture with this update.
Now here's a list of what's new in version 3.7:
Background maintenance and security updates that happen without the user having to do anything Password meter that recognizes common mistakes and helps you create more secure passwords for your WordPress site Localized support for wherever you are on the globe
According to founder Matt Mullenweg in a blog post about the 3.7 release on WordPress.org:
"...is our first release using the new plugin-first development process..."
To learn more about the plugin-first development process, read about it on the make/core blog .
To learn about any of the new features in more detail, you can read WordPress 3.7 "Basie" on the WordPress blog.
Here are a few tips before updating:
Make sure to back up your current content! Don't skip this step thinking everything will be okay. Do a backup! A good plugin is WordPress Database Backup . It allows you to send the backed-up file to your email or save it on your server. Also consider backing up your theme, plugins and image uploads with the UpdraftPlus plugin. These things do not reside in the MySQL Database, which is why you need a different plugin to back them up. Update all your plugins first and then disable all plugins before upgrading to version 3.7. Don't worry about losing your plugin settings. As long as you don't delete any plugins, your settings will remain intact and be available when you reactivate. That's if there's no major issues with the platform upgrade, which is why you should perform a backup before upgrading the WordPress platform. Make sure you have a copy of your current WordPress version, which should be version 3.6, readily available in case you have issues with version 3.7 and need to revert back until you can deal with any compatibility issues. If your theme isn't compatible with the latest version of WordPress, it is strongly recommended that you find a different theme.
Hopefully, these tips help. If all else fails, please leave a comment on this post with the issue(s) you're having and help will be on the way!
via Examiner National Edition Gadgets & Tech Channel Articles http://www.examiner.com/article/update-to-wordpress-3-7-now-for-new-functionality?cid=roadrunner