The legal clash between WP Engine (WPE) and Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, has taken a sharp turn, with WP Engine escalating its federal lawsuit. The updated complaint centers on a controversial website—WP Engine Tracker—which WPE claims exposes customer data, undermines its business, and leaves its clients vulnerable to cybercrime. Why WP Engine is Taking Legal Action WP Engine accuses Automattic and its CEO, Matt Mullenweg, of creating and promoting…
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The WordPress Design Team has unveiled a cutting-edge WordPress Design System library for Figma, the go-to design tool for creating mockups and prototypes. James Koster, an Automattician and contributor to WordPress, shared the motivation behind this new resource: “The intention of this resource is to streamline the design process for those working in the WordPress ecosystem.” What’s in the New Library? The Figma library is packed with features to simplify…
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WordPress has unveiled its latest update, version 6.7, nicknamed “Rollins.” Released on November 12, this update brings a host of new features, a sleek default theme called Twenty Twenty-Five, and major enhancements designed to elevate the user experience. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new in this pivotal release. --- New Features in WordPress 6.7 1. Twenty Twenty-Five Default Theme The new default theme is built with adaptability and user creativity…
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The popular WordPress plugin Happy Addons for Elementor—used by over 400,000 websites—has recently patched a security vulnerability that previously left many sites at risk. This flaw, known as a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability, allowed attackers with minimal permissions to inject harmful scripts onto a site, potentially compromising site visitors and owners. Background on Happy Addons for Elementor Happy Addons is a plugin that enhances the Elementor page builder with…
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Get ready for what promises to be one of the most exciting moments in the WordPress world this year! Matt Mullenweg, WordPress co-founder and CEO of Automattic, will deliver his highly anticipated annual address—State of the Word—from Tokyo, Japan on December 16, 2024. Here's everything you need to know about tuning in and what hot topics are expected to be on the agenda. Why 2024’s Address Stands Out Mullenweg’s annual…
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A recent study highlights the power of video on LinkedIn, revealing that video posts consistently achieve three times the reach of text-based content, particularly when they’re posted in the morning and kept under five minutes. This insight comes from marketing strategist Caroline Giegerich, who conducted a 90-day analysis to test LinkedIn’s claims about video performance. Key Takeaways from the Study Giegerich’s analysis, published in Adweek, aimed to verify LinkedIn’s claim…
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The online world is changing, and new rules are emerging to give publishers the power to control if and how AI bots use publicly available content for training purposes. These guidelines, still in the proposal stage, suggest new additions to existing internet standards like the Robots Exclusion Protocol and Meta Robots tags to enable publishers to block AI crawlers from scraping their websites. Crafted by Krishna Madhavan, Principal Product Manager…
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Google has launched its highly anticipated November 2024 core update, a significant adjustment to its search algorithm that impacts search rankings worldwide. This update aims to refine how Google evaluates and ranks content, ultimately shaping what users see at the top of search results. Here’s what the average site owner and consumer need to know about this update, how it works, and what it means for website traffic and visibility.…
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HeroPress, a platform founded by Topher DeRosia to elevate voices within the WordPress community, has just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Initially created to shine a light on individuals who overcame personal and professional challenges through their connection to WordPress, HeroPress has grown into a unique storytelling hub. For a decade now, it has featured inspiring narratives from diverse individuals who have leveraged the platform for new opportunities and successes. The…
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WPGraphQL, a popular plugin that brings powerful GraphQL functionality to WordPress sites, is gaining a new level of endorsement within the WordPress ecosystem. Its creator, Jason Bahl, recently joined Automattic, aligning WPGraphQL with WordPress’s parent company and positioning it to become an official “canonical plugin” on WordPress.org. What is WPGraphQL? WPGraphQL introduces a GraphQL API for WordPress, allowing developers to query WordPress data more efficiently and flexibly compared to traditional…
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Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, recently found its WP Engine Tracker website blocked by Cloudflare, flagged as a "suspected phishing" site. This temporary block sent ripples through the WordPress community, particularly on Reddit, where some users enthusiastically cheered Cloudflare’s move. Adding a twist to the story, a new domain similar to Automattic's site—WPEngineTracker.com—was registered, sparking even more interest. Background on Automattic's WP Engine Tracker Site Automattic, believed to be operating…
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Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, recently experienced a massive financial surge, adding $15 billion to his net worth in a single day following the 2024 U.S. election. This 11,538 percent return on investment, from the estimated $130 million he poured into Donald Trump’s campaign, signals that Musk is looking at this victory as much more than a political shift. But what does Musk, and his various ventures, actually stand…
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Google is rolling out some big changes to its search engine—especially around AI-powered shopping results—which could shift what you see first when you search online. If you’re an online shopper or business owner, these updates might change how easily you reach your favorite products or new customers. Ads and AI: The Big Changes Google has been ramping up the presence of ads and shopping features in its AI-powered search results,…
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Understanding how and when to use the "nofollow" attribute is essential for anyone managing a website, especially if you’re aiming to maintain a strong SEO foundation. Let’s break down what "nofollow" means, when to use it, and how it fits into the larger SEO ecosystem. What Is the Nofollow Attribute? Introduced in 2005 to combat spam in blog comments, the “nofollow” attribute allows website owners to tell search engines, “Don’t…
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