As we mentioned in our original post on Text Formatting, we hoped that Text Formatting plugins would make it easier for non-technical users to author and format weblog content. We released 2.6 just last week, and already plugin developers have implemented some exciting new Text Formatting options:

• Timothy Appnel released a beta of his TikiText text formatting.
• Brad Choate released version 1.1 of his Textile plugin.
• Gregor Purdy released a POD text formatting text formatting plugin.
• And, since we forgot to mention it previously, Adam Kalsey released MovableJive, a "port of some classic text filters".

We've posted seven new language packs, along with updates to the existing language packs that provide translations for the changes in Movable Type 2.6.

The following language packs have been added: Persian (Aziz Ashofteh), Hungarian (Pintér Zoltán), Italian (Gianluca Neri), Dutch (Ab Stammeshaus), Portuguese (Sérgio Nunes), Russian (Rostyslav Siryk), and Taiwan Chinese (Jedi and Kevin Fyure).

The Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, and Spanish language packs have all been updated for 2.6.

Thanks to the translators for their hard work!

Now that version 2.6 is released, we're pleased to announce that Movable Type Pro is in development for a summer 2003 release. Since our first release of Movable Type in October 2001, we've planned for a more deluxe version of the software -- a version with the features that power users require.

A small sampling of some of the features that will be in Movable Type Pro:

• Improved author management
• Remote publishing
• Custom entry fields
• Integrated spellchecker
• Registration for comments and posting

For a list of additional features and more information, please read the press release about Movable Type Pro.

Movable Type Pro will be a for-pay version, but as we always stated, donors will be offered discounted rates based on their donations. See the FAQ for more information. This is our way of saying "thank you" to all our users that have allowed us to continue developing during this past year and a half.