As we get ready to usher in the new year, it is only fitting that we take a brief look at 2007, before spending to much time looking forward to 2008. Weblog Tools Collection recently took a look back at 2007 for us by creating a 2007 WordPress timeline. If you’ve been with WordPress for most of 2007, you will probably enjoy looking back over the year and seeing the progress that the software has made. It just makes the plans for 2008 all the more exciting for WordPress users.

2007 started with the release of 2.0.6. Shortly afterwards, WordPress 2.1 was released. On May 16, 2007, we were given WordPress 2.2, which introduced widget integration into the base software. Then on September 25, 2007, we were given probably the biggest release of the year with WordPress 2.3, which introduced a tagging system and notification of WordPress plugin updates. Click over to check out all the details!

If you haven’t already noticed, at some point yesterday the WordPress team released a crucial security update to the WordPress software.

If you are someone who schedules posts ahead of time, you’ll want to read this post explaining why your future-dated posts may be at risk.  Here is some more information about the release:

• Performance improvements for post sanitization when raw content is required (#5325).
• Changes to is_admin() to ensure that it is only true for admin pages thereby protecting against exposing draft posts. (#5487).
• Suppression of database errors unless WP_DEBUG is true (#5473).
• Check for valid database connection information during install and display and error if the install fails due to database rights (#5495).
• Support for a custom database down page to be displayed on database connection errors (#5500).
• Changes to make sure we are more selective in what we make clickable, this introduces different rules for different uri types ([6450]).
• Changes to wp-mail.php to escape the error messages when displaying them to avoid a possible XSS attack (#5484).
• Changes to ensure that the post password is only exposed by the xmlrpc method metaWeblog.getRecentPosts to users with rights to edit a post (#5535).
• Changes to the information exposed the wp.getAuthors xmlrpc method to reduce the information exposed and add a capabilities check (#5534).
• Addition of extra capabilities checks to xmlrpc methods ([6504]).
• Addition of extra capabilities checks to APP server ([6508]).
• Changes to validate_file() to improve its traversal attempt detection when running on windows ([6521]).

[Last Updated: April 29, 2008]

In the past we’ve devoted a lot of time to creating and maintaining our various free WordPress theme galleries in the hopes that people will find them useful when searching for that perfect theme for their website that they are about to launch.

Over the past few months, a new trend seems to have developed where bloggers and small business owners are bypassing paying a web designer a lot of money and instead purchasing a premium WordPress theme. These themes feature a unique look and lot more functionality than the free themes available. Magazine style themes seem to be the most popular premium themes right now, but pretty much all content management system (CMS) themes seem to be selling really well.

There is some great work out there, and more and more web designers are release premium WordPress themes each day, so I figured this was a good time to put together a premium WordPress theme gallery to help people looking to purchase a unique and highly customizable WordPress theme. In order for this post to maintain its relevance, it is updated regularly with new premium WordPress themes as they are released. When possible, I’ve also provided feature descriptions for the theme and links to purchase the theme from the author.

Revolution Pro Media Theme

• Featured homepage tabber area
• Featured photos from Flickr
• Featured YouTube video
• Other featured areas using custom fields
• Google AdSense integration in between posts and comments
• Section, Archive, Blog page templates

Single-Use ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($199.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Revolution Pro Business Theme

• Featured homepage with section for recent company news
• Featured section page with area to focus on latest blog posts
• Blog sidebar to accommodate 125×125 advertising banners
• eNews & Updates section configurable with Feedburner
• Google AdSense integration in between posts and comments
• Section, Archive, Blog page templates

Single-Use ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($199.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Mimbo Pro Theme

• Control panel options for Google Analytics and Feedburner, logo and header image management, homepage categories, optional color schemes, and advertisement management
• Custom templates for categories, archives, authors, sitemap, search results
• Auto-resizing for images
• Built-in contact form
• HTML controls for comments (bold, italics, blockquote, link)
• Print-friendly options on single-post pages
• Two widgetized sidebars with optional advertising
• Tabbed and separated comments/trackbacks
• Built-in gravatars and author highlighting
• Cookie crumbs on single-post pages
• Print.css stylesheet
• Optional microformats in the footer

Single-use ($88.95), Multiple-use ($199.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

WP-Magazine 1.0 Theme

• Widget-Ready, User-Friendly, and Optimized for Wordpress Versions 2.2 and Above
• Five Different Home Page Layouts
• Four Different Category/Archive Page Layouts
• Home Page Featured Article Glider Box
• Built-In Banner Ad Blocks
• Built-In Site Guide in Right Sidebar
• Customized Recent Comments in Sidebar With Gravatar Support
• Author Bio Information and Gravatar Included on Single Post Pages
• Alternating Color Comments With Gravatar Support
• XHTML Valid

Basic (Single License $99.00), Premium (Multiple Use $199.00), Developer ($299.00)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Essence Theme (6 Color Combinations to Choose From)

• 7 inside page layouts
• Elegant look and feel of traditional website
• Static home page
• Integrated blog templates
• Two header options: Text or graphic

Single-Use ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($249.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Omni Theme

Single-Use ($79.95, Multiple-Use ($199.99), 4-1 Pack ($299.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Fresh News Theme

• 6 Different Colors to Choose From
• Automatic Image Resizer (requires PHP GD Library to work)
• Custom Page Templates for Archives, Sitemap & Image Gallery
• Built-in Gravatar Support for Authors & Comments
• Author Profiles & Archives
• Featured news section
• Video Panel (for use with Flash videos)
• Traditional Blog Layout (for homepage)
• Integrated aside / sideblog section within the sidebar of the theme (optional)
• Navigation Dropdown Menu’s
• Sidebar Tabbed Box
• 2 different homepage layouts (featured section)
• Widgetized sidebars
• Integrated Banner Ad Management
• Integrated Flickr & Feedburner

Single-Use ($99.95), Developer’s ($249.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

WP-Glory Theme

• Widget-Ready
• Drop-down navigation for sub-pages.
• Tag support for WordPress 2.3.
• Tabbed top content box.
• Featured article functionality.
• Built-in archives page.
• Drop-down boxes for categories and monthly archives.

Personal ($49.00), Developer ($159.00)

Source/Demo | Purchase

WP-Remix Theme (for businesses)

Personal ($55.00), Multiple-Use ($155.00)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Revolution Real Estate Theme

• Featured listing section, about me section and recent blog posts on the homepage
• Drop-down navigation menu
• Short contact form in the sidebar
• Page template for real estate listings

Single-Use ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($199.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Blogging Experiment Theme (Blue/Orange)

Multiple-Use $75.00

Source/Download | Download

Blogging Experiment Theme (Blue/Green)

Multiple-Use $75.00

Source/Download | Download

Deep Order Theme

• Web 2.0 look and feel
• 4 Pre-built Color Schemes
• Change header images easily — upload a new header graphic straight from WordPress with our new Custom Image option!
• Drop-down menus
• Integrated blog component

Single-Use ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($249.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

eCommerce Theme

• Easily customizable – Make it your own by tweaking the CSS stylesheet and your own images (includes 6 pre-built color styles)
• Search engine optimized — We’ve built our themes to get the most search engine benefit for you and your products
• Manage your store online – WordPress is an online software program; you log in and edit your store from the web
• Use your own domain name — Most online shops require you to use their domain name, with Ecommerce Themes, you can install the template on your custom domain name and hosting account

Single-Use ($49.00), Multiple-Use ($199.00)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Deep Stack Poker Theme

Blog Package ($99.95), Personal Use ($249.95), Developer’s Package ($499.95)

Source/Purchase | Demo

Industrial Series Themes (Includes 6 Different Colors)

• Drop-down menus
• Front page feature section (Tabber)
• Bread-crumb interior navigation
• Archive Page Template
• 6 Pre-built Color Schemes
• Two sidebars
• Website look and feel

Single-Use ($49.95), Multiple-Use ($99.95)

Source/Purchase | Demo

Live Wire 2.0 Theme

• Auto Image Resizer - No more do you need to upload various sizes of images to make the featured posts and thumbnails look great - instead you now only upload one image of any size and our back-end does the rest.
• Author Profiles - We focused a lot of attention and making the author profiles and archives in this theme, really, really pop. This feature makes the Live Wire theme perfectly suited to multi-author blogs. We also included our built-in Gravatar support to display author thumb images.
• Built-in Gravatars - As mentioned above, we’ve included Gravatar functionality into the theme and it works without you having to install a plugin. The use of Gravatars can also be easily switched on and off.
• Custom Page Templates - The theme now includes custom page templates for General Archives, a Sitemap and Image Galleries.
• Color Schemes - Every theme also includes 4 different color schemes to cater for everyone’s taste!
• The Rest - Featured panel, video panel, drop-down menu’s, a tabbed box in the sidebar, integrated banner ad management and lastly easily integrated Flickr & Feedburner.

Single-Use ($99.95), Developer’s ($249.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Live Wire Edition Theme

• Auto Image Resizer - No more do you need to upload various sizes of images to make the featured posts and thumbnails look great - instead you now only upload one image of any size and our back-end does the rest.
• Author Profiles - We focused a lot of attention and making the author profiles and archives in this theme, really, really pop. This feature makes the Live Wire theme perfectly suited to multi-author blogs. We also included our built-in Gravatar support to display author thumb images.
• Built-in Gravatars - As mentioned above, we’ve included Gravatar functionality into the theme and it works without you having to install a plugin. The use of Gravatars can also be easily switched on and off.
• Custom Page Templates - The theme now includes custom page templates for General Archives, a Sitemap and Image Galleries.
• Color Schemes - Every theme also includes 4 different color schemes to cater for everyone’s taste!
• The Rest - Featured panel, video panel, drop-down menu’s, a tabbed box in the sidebar, integrated banner ad management and lastly easily integrated Flickr & Feedburner.

Single-Use ($99.95), Developer’s ($249.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Live Wire Style Theme

• Auto Image Resizer - No more do you need to upload various sizes of images to make the featured posts and thumbnails look great - instead you now only upload one image of any size and our back-end does the rest.
• Author Profiles - We focused a lot of attention and making the author profiles and archives in this theme, really, really pop. This feature makes the Live Wire theme perfectly suited to multi-author blogs. We also included our built-in Gravatar support to display author thumb images.
• Built-in Gravatars - As mentioned above, we’ve included Gravatar functionality into the theme and it works without you having to install a plugin. The use of Gravatars can also be easily switched on and off.
• Custom Page Templates - The theme now includes custom page templates for General Archives, a Sitemap and Image Galleries.
• Color Schemes - Every theme also includes 4 different color schemes to cater for everyone’s taste!
• The Rest - Featured panel, video panel, drop-down menu’s, a tabbed box in the sidebar, integrated banner ad management and lastly easily integrated Flickr & Feedburner.

Single-Use ($99.95), Developer’s ($249.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Tauren Pro Theme

Single-Use ($69.00), Multiple-Use ($128.00)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Chimera Theme

Single-Use ($59.00), Multiple-Use ($109.00)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Killian 1.0 Theme

• Widget-Ready
• Drop-down navigation for sub-pages.
• Tag support for WordPress 2.3.
• Built-in archives page.
• Drop-down boxes for categories, monthly archives and site tags.
• Gravatar integration on comments.
• Gravatar integration for author photos.
• Multi-author blog functionality.

Personal ($49.00), Developer ($159.00)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Solostream 3-Column 1.0 Theme

• Widget-Ready
• Drop-down navigation for sub-pages.
• Tag support for WordPress 2.3.
• Built-in archives page.
• Drop-down boxes for categories and monthly archives.
• Tabbed top content box.
• Featured article functionality.

Personal ($49.00), Developer ($159.00)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Revolution Theme

Single-Use ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($199.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Revolution Magazine Theme

Single ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($199.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Flash News/Magazine Theme

Single-Use ($99.95), Developer’s ($249.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Premium News: Gazette Edition

Single-Use ($99.95), Developer’s ($249.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

NewsPress Theme

Single-Use ($99.95), Developer’s ($249.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Premium News Theme

• Uses jQuery technology to allow readers to display/hide the posts.
• Built-in Video Player to publish your YouTube easily and seamlessly.
• Integrated Banner Management script to display randomized banner ads of your choice.
• Widget-ready
• Color Scheme (7 different color schemes are included with the standard package)
• The layout of your homepage
• The amount of posts being displayed on your homepage
• Which categories to display in the highlighted areas of your homepage
• Integrate your Flickr & Feedburner accounts
• Banner Ad Management

Single-Use ($99.95), Developer’s ($249.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Revolution News Theme

Single ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($199.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Revolution Sports 2.0 Theme

Single ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($199.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

Revolution Tech Theme

Single ($79.95), Multiple-Use ($199.95)

Source/Demo | Purchase

News Friendly Theme

• WEB 2.0, W3C Valid XHTML / CSS / DIV markup.
• Wordpress 2.5 supported (2.3 as well)
• 2 column theme with left widget sidebar and Ajax widgetized Tabs block.
• Hot Ajax Tabs block features support of widget spots for news, recent comments, your favourite YouTube videos, yours or random Flick community photos, list of blog categories.
• Custom templates for front page, single post, pages, archives, search.
• Front page layout featuring recent post with custom large image (custom field) and 2 columned posting of specified categories.
• Easy ads implementation, 125 x 125 banners on left side, other sizes are supported.
• Top header, widget spot for keywords, short description or adsense unit links placement.

Multiple-Use $65.00

Source/Demo | Purchase

Have a quality premium WordPress theme for sale that is missing from this list? Let us know!

With the release of WordPress 2.3, users now have access to a built-in tagging system that previously required the use of a WordPress plugin, such as Ultimate Tagging Warrior (UTW) or Simple Tagging.

Unfortunately, both of these plugins offered some functionality that is not yet available in the default tagging system. If you are missing features such as getting recommended tags, auto addition or subtraction of a pluralized tag (examples include mentioning Vista but your tag is Windows Vista or your post mentioning download, but your tag is downloads), and a type-ahead auto completion feature, then Ryan of CyberNet has a solution for you!

This WordPress plugin is called Recommended Tags, and it was built only for the tagging system in WordPress 2.3 or above. Simply upload and activate the plugin, then begin using it to assist you with your tagging!