WordPress 2.0 offers a new feature in the “quicktags” menu- instead of just creating a link to a url you now are presented with 3 options.

Link URL is just like before- where you add the full link that you want to link to. Note: in WordPress 1.5 the default box for this had “http://” leading your entry- now you either have to paste an entire link in- or remember to add “http://” before you put your link in.
Target: gives you the option of either having the link open in the same window, or opening a new window. A lot of people will misuse this option opting to always open an external site in a new window- this is really tough for people using screen readers (blind people) who use the back button on their browser to navigate to the previous page- so please, think about accessibility when choosing this option.

The “Title” option is brand new to WordPress and is another key part of code compliance for the blind- and can be a big help to those of us who want to know where we are linking to. This creates the text that displays when you hover your mouse over a link popping up an explaination of where that link will take you.

An example: If I write “my favorite blog on advertising is www.thenextwave.biz/tnw” and make it a link, it is clear to everyone where I am sending you (and will be valuable for your readers that might print out your page)

However, I could also do the same by saying “you can check out this brilliant blog on advertising by clicking here.”

Both link the same way- but the second example is a mystery to those who may want to know where the link will take them before they click.
By hovering over the link you get this pop-up title which can tell a reader where the link will take them.

(click on images for enlarged view)

One last thing about the link tool- is how to make a link to an e-mail message. If I want an e-mail address to launch the default e-mail client (hopefully Thunderbird) you just type: mailto:[email protected] in the URL data entry field (where you would normally type: http://domainname.com) and you will have an e-mail window ready to go. It’s that simple.

WordPress Development Blog › WordPress 2

We announced WordPress 2.0 on the 26th and installed it on the Blogosopher.com site. So far, it’s been wonderful- you can read the feature list and see if it’s right for you. We’re offering to upgrade your existing installation and test it for $49- you can even pay us online in the sign-up section.
The ability to customize your admin environment is nice as is the WYSIWG editing- although the code view is still an option. The new roles are much easier than the old levels- and the way it handles pictures is the way it should be.

It takes time to customize a WordPress theme to make it “your own.” From simple color changes and replacing the header image- to massive rewrites of the CSS file, you can pretty much do what you want.
The theme switching plugin was built out of necessity for the theme review pages- so the host could upload all the themes into the theme folder- and then let the viewer switch from one to another to see what they liked.

Theme review sites:
http://www.alexking.org/software/wordpress/theme_browser.php
http://www.bloggingpro.com/wordpress-theme-gallery/
http://themes.wordpress.net/
http://www.emilyrobbins.com/how-to-blog
and this site which dissects the themes

Quickly, people started putting the code on their sites- allowing the user to chose how to view the site- here is an example: http://www.cafe789.com/kyles_eyes/
One note- make sure you install the switcher in every theme’s sidebar- or people will switch and get stuck.
I generally wrote off theme switchers- until the massive rewrite of one of my favorite news sites- www.macnn.com. The designer who rebuilt the interface is one of the most talented coders I’ve seen. His use of the themes switcher is what prompted me to rethink the value of this tool. He has provided a user “toolbox” to choose how to present the site- as a portal, news articles or headlines only- with your choice of type sizes.

The theme switcher seems to be built into the 2.0 interface so adding the plug-in will no longer be needed- but, the way you use it is up to you.