An Awards Accolade

Plus, a look at the latest AI chatbot. [View in browser]( The WhiPISSUE 1226 In-House Awarding Merit In a world where deep fakes are the new reality and awards can come a dime a dozen, understanding which hold the most weight becomes fairly important. After all, anyone can write a review, and reviews can be manipulated. So how do you sort the sordid from the substantial? [This post provides the lowdown on one of the highest honors that can be bestowed online: the G2](. Find out why these prestigious awards are held in such high regard, and how the numerous wins WPMU DEV has received (in 3 product categories) are a true indication of our commitment to providing the best in WordPress. WPMU DEV WordPress News March Madness In like a lion, out like a…. dolphin? Oh, my bad, that’s Dolphy 🙂(named after a jazz musician), WordPress’s newest core version released this month – the first of 2023. [Find out what else is new in the World-o-WP in this recap]( of current headlines for the month, including the highlight features of v6.2 (with a download link), two “NuGu” (new Gutenberg) updates, and the WP Developer Blog launch. Plus, new celebratory updates and commemorative swag for the upcoming 20th anniversary. WordPress.org Reviews and Opinion Subpar Shakespeare? ChatGPT’s much-heralded arrival was destined to be quickly followed by an onslaught of tech-giant-specific versions. Microsoft's Bing Chat came first, and now Google’s Bard has rolled out. In her journey to find “the “best and most ethical AI”, this writer[shares insights after putting The Bard through its paces](. She includes some backstory on Google’s AI program, results of the tests she ran, and how she feels it compares to current competitors. MasterWP Themes, Plugins, and Resources Unscented Plugins With over 60K offerings in the WordPress repository, it’s clear that WP core is best and most often used in combination with adjunct plugins. Plugins are a great way to personalize your sites to fit very specific needs, without bogging down or loading the base CMS with a ton of extraneous features. [This article looks into the various elements of plugins on the whole]( what makes them a value add, and then focuses on free vs pro models, including pricing considerations – not only how paid versions can better help you, but how you better help them with your monetary support. Speckyboy Tutorials, Tips, and Tricks Over Easy After a good six year run, Alphabet’s long-standing, split-testing variant tool, Google Optimize, will be retired this September. If this solid, much-used tool was your go-to, now is a good time to start looking for a replacement. [Themeisle has put together a collection of 6 alternatives]( that they feel more than live up to expectations, with top features and pricing options for each – leading with the popular breakfast food staple namesake. A link to A/B testing plugins is included as well, if you prefer to go that route. Themeisle Off Topic, Random Stuff A Breath of Dragon Fresh Air Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves opened in theaters this past weekend, coming in higher than expected with a $71.5M global box office. I can say that having no personal experience with the game the movie is based on didn’t affect my ability to enjoy it. DnD-ers, I’m sure, will get boatloads more with the easter eggs and in-depth lore sprinkled throughout. [Catch this review of the film]( with commentary on the overall storyline, visual effects, character development, and actor's portrayals. While it doesn’t give away the ending, there are some sequence spoilers, so avoid reading if you want to go in with no foreknowledge of events to unfold. Digital Trends --------------------------------------------------------------- Psst, down here! Keen to tell us how funny/offensive/boring/wrong we are today? Bug the social media team on [Twitter]( -- #TheWhiP takes no responsibility for anything said or implied in this newsletter (own butt, saved ✔️). Also, help us share the love! Forward this edition to someone you think might get a kick out of it. [And tell them to sign up here.]( Until next time. THE DEV'S PIXELS Tech Support for the Next Big Thing Check out our full collection of [hand-crafted WP comics here](. Share or embed any comic, anywhere, for free! [Link to WPMU DEV Home page]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( INCSUB PO BOX 548 #88100, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35201, UNITED STATES You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.