WordPress.com Opens for Free Registration
Nov 22nd, 2005 by Neo
WordPress.com is now open for free registration. Previously you will need to get an invitation or at lease use a Flock browser to register with WordPress.com. Now no more. So, for those of you who are waiting for this moment, what are you waiting for? Head on to Signup
The write post’s screen; with an Upload image feature built-in. Much easier than installing your own plugin.
I myself have used the Flock browser to register with WordPress.com not too long ago. I find that WordPress.com’s admin panel has much more features than the 1.5.2 release of the downloadable WordPress.org package.
Of course, if you choose to use the hosted method, you lose a bit of ability to customize the themes, not able to add new plugins and etc.
Happy blogging 
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Actually…you can customise your Wordpress dashboard. I do. Using the standalone 1.5.2 version. I have two plugins that do the job either way. X-Dashboad and WP-Dash. Both do a good job in making the Dashboard more functional.
Personally I like WP-Dash because I can customise my RSS feeds directly into my Dashboard. Sadly it doesn’t work yet with the new Version 2.0. It’s being fixed though.
I did try out wordpress.com. there’s one feature they removed, where you can insert flickr picture directly from the wordpress control panel, which is totally cool. I think they removed it because it is buggy.
Edrei, yes, I know that we can customize the standalone version of Wordpress. Although I have not tried X-Dashboard and WP-Dash, but from your description, they sound great.
However, on Wordpress.org, their admin will most likely do the upgrades when there is a new feature/version available, and we no need to worry about those so much. This is for those that are not so cutting edge like me lar
GeminiGeek, hmmm… I am not a flickr user myself. I just use Gallery2 for my photo album, and thought it is nice too
Haha…it’s not whether I worry or not. Of course I take part in that as well. Since the devs for Wordpress.com are the devs for Wordpress.org too.
We are one whole family who makes sure everyone gets the best out from it. Hell…I’m so glad I discovered 5 bugs in Wordpress to date which have been fixed in Wordpress 2.0 and consequetively on Wordpress.com as well.
Though I won’t be making the switch anytime soon, thanks for the heads up nonetheless!
Take care.