Theme Customizer Feature in WordPress 3.4 Beta 1

WordPress 3.4 Beta 1 with Customize Theme Option

When I logged in into my dashboard this morning, I saw the latest update from WordPress.org about the first beta release from WP 4.1.

I have managed to download it from this page, and installed it in localhost using WAMP server.

Since I’m using a Lion Operating System, I have posted how to install wordpress on Lion tutorial.

If you’re using Windows 7, you can follow this tutorial, or with Leopard, and Windows Vista, even Ubuntu.

When you visited the download page above, you will see there is a bold font sentence, that recommend you not to install this beta version to your live site, or your online web server.

This is because in beta version, there should be a few bugs here and there, that will be improved and released perfectly in WordPress 3.4 version.

However, you can always test this development version in your local machine, or offline to experience the new coming WP.

After I installed this beta release, as a non developer, I couldn’t see other features, except the “Customize” option of themes in the dashboard.

Also, an important note, Twenty Twelve theme is not included in the coming version, 3.4 but likely will be added in the next version which is 3.5.

Back to “Customize” option, I found it’s a very nice option, but it’s quite limited. There are basic options, but the most used options, such as displaying thumbnails by default, and showing sidebars on the posts and pages, are not there.

Also, this option should be added in the “admin bar” on the top front end so the user can click from there too, instead have to go back to the dashboard, appearance and themes.

Enough with my ranting 🙂 at least it’s a few steps nicer now with the customize option.

Here is the video about this option

Screenshots:

As you can see in the screenshots or in the video, you can directly view your modifications with your theme, and other themes you have in your dashboard.

Another note is, when you customize a non active theme, and you click the “Save” button, you will not be notified first, but your theme will be replaced with the new modified one automatically.

I wish it would have a notification to make sure we want to activate the theme, and also there is no “restore” option where you can restore your modifications with the “Customize” button.

There is a time when you want to go back to the default theme options or colors, but you have to remember the color it once had..

But this is still the beta version, and as a WP fan, I am really looking forward for the final release of it, I guess everyone is!