A lot has been done since the last release but still long way till the new 0.5 version but some of the new features already include API like system, Searchable Modules, Members Only option for Photo gallery and Shopping also Digital Goods for shopping (Download Store system). Read more to view the detailed list of upcoming features and win a Google AdWords promotional code worth of $50.

The bar for the 0.5 release has been placed high as I wanted to make most of the core features that would satisfy our client needs and start working on some new modules, so in the next releases hopefully the core won't change to much just fixes and some small enhancements will be added.

Right now the current detailed list of the features implemented is:

  • Code cleanups for better API support
  • Add possibility for the search module to search within other modules too
  • Fix username links to open in new window in comments when clicked
  • Fix double start rating if item shown twice on the same page
  • Add popular, active, rated, discussed and top items to Shopping module (using content codes)
  • Partial content picture links to read more in both Shoppingitems and posts
  • Add Box Slider, HowerFlow, RoundAbout, FeatureList, GoogleMaps jquery plugins
  • Show item picture when item added to Shopping cart
  • Shopping orders show order status also payment status and let user complete the payment if they missed it at checkout.
  • Security fix, make sure valid order method selected at checkout
  • Fix search module to work with SEO_FRIENDLY_LINKS turned off
  • Fix search module Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability (already available for 0.4 as update/fix)
  • Add class "rounded-corners" to make any block cornered
  • Fix valid XHTML header for partial content posts and shopping items
  • Enable "em", "blockquote" and "code" tags in comments
  • Strip html tags from emails
  • Trim spaces when generating seo friendly links
  • Add option to limit Shoppings and Photogalleries to members only
  • In Filesharing module changed the way we check for Members Only (it's a lot faster now)
  • Add Downloadable/Digital Goods support for the shopping module
  • Full API implemented for every jCore class (will provide you with a separate page on how to use it and examples)
  • Default locale can be changed in Global Settings
  • Enable login with email adress too (besides username)
  • Virtual keyboard for the login system (just activate jQuery keypad plugin)
  • Simultaneous and resumable downloads implemented to attachments
  • Block cahing works in admin too except for Main Content
  • When commenting in the admin point links outside of the admin and also show titles in the letters and comments can be searched from admin.
  • Count picture views and download will force picture download (Save as dialog)
  • Allow limits for content codes, for e.g. would only show 2 posts from "menu", also works for shopping, search keywords
  • Added Slideshow to Lightbox (picture preview)
  • When uploading flash ad, get size and write ad code automatically

Planed features/modules for 0.5

  • Show Items counter on admin icons just like iPhone icon notifications (thanks for the idea Dave)
  • Keywords cloud for posts and shopping items
  • Password trading and Brute force protection admin to unban ips/users
  • Create our own Image/File browser for CKEditor with lightbox links for thumbnails
  • Use module paths for SEO Links as we do with menus and posts (it may be pushed to 0.6, we'll see).
  • Upgrade to jQuery 1.4 (remove delay plugin as already implemented), recompile all plugins using Google's closure compiler
  • XML Sitemap to use at Google's webmaster account
  • Payment methods Google Checkout, Alertpay and 2Checkout
  • Submit site to major search engines module
  • Audio/Video gallery module
  • Voting Module
  • Possibility to edit own Comments

As you can see the list is still long but once the features are done I will test the new system for a few weeks and may even release it without the modules as those can be added later on too but I will try to do them while the testing phase is running.

Howto win the Google AdWords Promotion Code

A few days ago I got a Promotion Code worth of $50 for Google AdWords and as you need to have a new AdWords account to use it I decided instead of creating a new account I would give it to jCore members so you can promote your new sites build with jCore :)

To win the promotion code just login with your account (or register if you don't have one) and leave your comment below by letting me know what do you think about jCore, what would you change or what feature would you like to be implemented in the next releases. Everyone who posts a comment till 1st February is eligible to win the code which will be given to a comment owner chosen randomly.

UPDATE: The winner is phlackee. Congratulation! You should have already received the promotional code, if you haven't please contact me asap.

Winner found but you can still comment :)