Clearly, this new release from Six Apart is monumental. Massive changes to both the interface and the innards make this a drastically new product for them.

Action Oriented Interface

Movable Type 3.x was primarily object oriented: entries, comments, templates. Movable Type 4, on the other hand, is very action oriented: Create, Manage, Design. It’s much more content-centric as well. When you land of the dashboard, you’re presented with dynamic content like “Most Recent Comments” or “You have 13 drafts”.

Most everything is where you’d expect it to be. Vital information shows up on the right hand side with relevant links (imagine that). There are still some common-sense items that didn’t make it in, like a rebuild option on the entry list action menu; but overall it’s much easier to navigate that the previous incarnations.

And as I understand it, the application interface is much easier to change; what that means is a plethora of plugins that let you customize the UI to your hearts content. Kevin’s Bookmarks plugin gives you a bookmarks menu for your most frequented MT pages. Arvind’s Template Shelf creates a sidebar widget to the app that lets you quickly browse templates in your blog. Arvind’s even created a retro plugin called “My Blogs” (not to be confused with My Humps by The Black Eyed Peas) that makes your MT4 install look like MT3. And with the launch of the new Plugin Directory, I think it’s safe to assume we’ll be seeing more in the same vein.

Common Tasks

The new workflow takes a little getting used to, and I’m sure it won’t work for everyone; but common tasks like reviewing comments and creating entries seems considerably faster. I know many will balk at the new interface, but it really is much clearer. There is a much more structured placement of information: System wide information at the very top, blog selection on the next level, then a blog related action menu below that. It flows well.

There have been some concerns raised about the menus. First, clicking versus hover. Six Apart chose to make the action menu expand on hover and the blog menu expand on click. I think it’s a fair compromise as most people won’t be furiously switching blogs (compare this to the jump menu at the top of the old interface, two clicks instead of 3). Second, disabled items graying out versus disappearing. Six Apart chose to leave them in and just gray them out when they’re not available. Having worked tech support before, I know how maddening a thing disappearing menu items (Microsoft called them personalized menus) can be. The human brain builds habits or pathways when using an interface; when those constantly change, it can end up taking a considerable amount longer while generating frustration. (But there is a plugin out there for those of you who just have to have it that way.)

One essential technique that speeds up my work is opening new parts of the app in separate tabs; those 1 or 2 second loads can add up quickly. Just hold down Ctrl or Apple as you click a menu item.

Javascript Heavy

The new interface relies on quite a bit of javascript wizardry, which seems to cause quite a bit of drag, especially using Firefox, one of the slowest browsers at processing javascript. The template editor with code highlighting and line numbering is not just a nice touch, it’s really helpful. Unfortunately, something funny would happen once or twice over the course of a day and I couldn’t edit my templates without a full reboot of the system. The scripting is really great, but they need to tighten the belt before they release 4.1.

New User Controls

If you’re a lone blogger, you may never touch this feature, but poke around in there. The ability to define custom roles and permission sets and then assign them to different users makes MT4 the platform of choice for community blogs. Movable Type can even build a profile page with author information.

Code Base

I’m not a developer, but I follow the developer lists; several of the more well-known MT developers were really frustrated with some of the new changes to the code base. Whether that’s just a normal response to a major code overhaul or because the plugin documentation was scarce up until just a few weeks ago, I can’t say for sure. It had me shaking in my boots when Tim Appnel threw up his hands in frustration when trying to port his Tags.app plugin; but a recent boom in MT4 plugins has slaked some of those concerns.

Templates

Aye, there’s the rub. It’s a bittersweet thing. The Movable Type templating language used to be so simple and easy to figure out; but with this release, templates are becoming less like templates and more like a programming language. This has it’s advantages and disadvantages. The current template structure works much like TypePad’s setup: every chunk of template is stored separately and the included based on conditionals. So much nicer than hunting through six different templates to make a tiny change in the html header; but along with power comes complexity. Might be daunting for newcomers. That being said, the old templates work just fine in MT, if that’s how you want to roll.

Also, I’ve been wanting template packs ever since we started The Style Archive, and even though it’s not in this release, Byrne assures me it’s coming in 4.1.

MT4: Satisfied?

I’m really pleased with Movable Type 4. It’s made several large jumps forward in blogging. It’s going to take some time to get used to the new workflow, so I may be able to give a better review then. It didn’t solve all of my image handling concerns (nor has any online software out there, except Flickr). But the overall feel and functionality of the new MT makes it really fun to use; and with an open source release of it on the horizon, that settles it for me.

More to come…

So, I came up with a list of ten ways the new Movable Type will rock your blog:

1. Simple install. No, no, really. The hardest part of installing MT will be uploading the files to your server. Now, when you run MT for the first time, it walks you through setting up your database, your first user and even LDAP support (if you're running Enterprise). None of this "Edit your mt-config.cgi, adding blah-blah-blah", ad nauseum.

2. Brand New Dashboard. A slick new UI, a much more intuitive context switcher and all of your pertinent information right there to greet you when you first log in. There's even more flash-based blog reporting to come (a la Google Analytics) in upcoming releases.

3. Built in WYSIWYG. Oh, and I'm not talking about those crappy WYSIWYG editors that create tag soup. Six Apart took all the good things they learned from the user interface in Vox and brought them to Movable Type. For instance, if an entry goes long, you don't have to copy and paste to another "Extended Entry" field. Simply drag the divider line between the entry and the extension.

4. Love Your Assets. File management has been the bane of most web apps. But the new Asset Manager makes keeping track of what you've uploaded really simple and using what you've got up on your blog even simpler.

5. Community Revival. There are some amazing things happening in the MT community, not the least of which is a brand new MovableType.org. I can't say too much about it yet, except to say that contributing to every part of the community will be so much easier and the machanics of updating things like new plugins, new themes, new tutorials, ad infinitum will be automated. Simply put, there's solid roots beneath all this beta buzz.

6. Simple Plugin Development. Now, I can't say much about this firsthand. Those who know me know that they don't want to meet me in a dark alley with Photoshop, but I couldn't develop my way out of an distributive array. But for all the times Arvind shouted for joy on IM (you know, capital letters), I got a pretty good sense that he was a happy developer. He also sent me over code from a redux of one of his most complex plugins, and it was so short and simple that I GOT it. What's even cooler about MT 4 is that not only are plugins easy to develop, but they've introduced "Components". Components are plugins only bigger; they change deeper levels of the application itself and don't get turned off or on. So for instance, before, MT Enterprise was basically a fork of the MT code. You had MT 3.35 and the MT Enterprise 1.5. But now, all the enterprise stuff is sold as a Component for MT4. It makes perfect sense. Let the enterprises pay for the components while still keeping the MT base relevant (and free!) for the little people.

7. Theme Packs. Ok, so this isn't coming out in 4.0, but it's been slated for a 4.1 release, so I'm going to get a head start on anticipation. Right now, StyleCatcher only allows you to package up images and CSS files to apply to your blog. This was a major pain when we ran The Style Contest because what if someone wanted to offer a theme that featured a horizontal nav bar with an about page? Well, the default templates were the default templates. But Theme Packs will change all of that. Now, as an MT designer, I'm not relegated to template boredom. I can create my own packs of templates, complete with stylesheets, archive setups and index template customizations; then I can share it! Better still, as a freelance designer, I can create a library of Theme Packs suited for different customer needs that I can install instead of needing to customize the templates each time. Lots of potential there. There's another revolutionary feature slated for 4.1 that will further loose MT from the bonds of a common blogging platform, but my lips are sealed.

8. True Community Blogging. Blogs used to be about individual expression, but more and more we're starting to understand the need for community. Movable Type gives the freedom of true community cooperation. It's had multiple user support for a while now, but MT 4 allows you to create author profile pages and display information relevant to that particular author. The Enterprise component goes one step further and gives you the ability to create groups and assign them highly specific roles, making workflow headaches a thing of the past.

9. Infinitely Customizable Back End. The Movable Type app structure used to be powered by HTML::Template, which was a real pain to customize because it required you to master a whole new language set to make any detailed changes. Even learning to create Transformer plugins was not for the faint of heart. Now, however, the back end is powered by the same templating language that your blog is using, so customizing your MT app is as simple as tweaking your blog! And better yet, the plugins that are available to your blog are now available to the application as it generates your interface. This makes me dizzy just thinking about the possibilities.

10. It's Open Source! This will make your blog feel so much happier, improve it's self-image and ultimately love itself again.

Go ahead, try it out. You can pick it up at movabletype.org.

The orders started coming in, especially with her connections to military families. People wanted special ways to remember their loved ones. She knew that in order to reach a greater audience, she would have to go online. It was far less costly than traditional advertising venues, and, in many ways, far more flexible. What she imagined was an online tool that would let you build your own jewelry. That's where PlasticMind Design came in to the picture.

Lori had heard about our work from Chaplain Jon Fisher, so she gave us a call and asked for help orchestrating an easy-to-use online store.

Through the magic of CSS and Photoshop, we took the 'feel' of Lori's current in-home business and created it digitally. Using bright, colorful scrapbooking elements and images that pop off the page, we created a warm, welcoming site that made ordering Beloved Keepsakes easy and fun.

Lori can now update her testimonials and the rest of the content on her site through Movable Type. And with some powerful back-end coding, choose-your-own jewelry designs and prices are passed seamlessly to PayPal, making the ecommerce solution complete. You can find out more about her site in our portfolio.

Lori's had this to say about PlasticMind Design:

"You are a website genius. I'm not sure how you were able to do it - but it is like you read my mind. The website is unbelievable. It was EVERYTHING I wanted and more than I ever expected. My customers rave about the professionalism and ease of the site itself."

Affordable. Flexible. GOOD. That's our philosophy.

Be sure to stop in and say hello. Maybe buy a bracelet or two.

I climbed aboard the MT boat about a year and a half ago, so I'm a bit of a latecomer to all of this. A few thoughts from an avid MT supporter who hangs out with avid WP supporters:

First, there will always (?) be the divide between MT's and WP's pricing. I completely understand Six Apart's reasoning behind charging for the business platform: investment capital. Companies support a team that in turn supports a product and enhances that product. The drawback however is that as all our web design younglings get their hands on free copies of WP, they become familiar with it and--you know the drill--you often use (and suggest to customers) what you know.

Second, I agree that MT's install is difficult. I can do it now in about 7 minutes flat, but most people I know could not do it on their own. We throw around 'chmod' and 'set up databases' like they're out of a children's book. But remember from whence we came; we were not always so smart. So we realize that MT requires a bit more know how, but is the payoff worth it?

It has been in my case. Typical scenario: Client A asks me to design a site. I suggest MT to power it. I install, I customize, I tweak until updating the site is easier than spitting watermelon seeds and the client never has to look at the templates. Thus PROGRAM INTERFACE takes precedence, and thus the native hue of WordPress is sicklied o'er with a pale cast of difficulty. In fact, despite that the MT interface is much easier to get around in, I still think there's much further to go towards making it easier, especially with the current explosion of Ajax-rich apps. If they can do it with TypePad, they should at least offer plugins to do it with MT.

Finally, there's the Six Apart factor. If a problem comes up with a WordPress installation, Company A rants to Web Designer Jones, the guy who installed it. Jones then turns to the WordPress community for answers. Now, in a perfect world, we'd all hold hands, dance naked with flowers in our hair and respond to a community need at the drop of a hat. But in the real world, a company is more likely to look for support from a company that gets paid to do what they need, rather than from a volunteer effort. Most decent sized companies don't mind throwing down a few hundred bucks for the peace of mind that comes with a company-backed product. (e.g. MS Office vs. OpenOffice)

I have not sworn allegience to any side, but I've really been satisfied with MT's community as well as the company. I guess I'd sum it up like this: WP may be easier to slip on and get comfortable in, like a pair of jeans you wear around the house; but when it's time for the business meeting, you take the extra time to shine the shoes, iron the shirt, knot the tie...

Basically, it's a chance for web designers to get paid for doing what they love (except for me, who volunteered to help put this together and thereby disqualified myself). We got some amazing judges, like Jason Santa Maria, mastermind behind the new A List Apart look, and we got some premier sponsors, like Six Apart (obviously) and Adobe. But the really cool part is that if you're the grand prize winner, you get $4000 in cash and Adobe Creative Suite (how much is that going for these days). And if you're a category winner, you get $1000 in cash and your choice of a single Adobe product. So you know you're not going to win (realism is good), don't worry--all qualified entrants get sweet discounts on design products. More info about that at the site.

Anyhow, if you're artistic, by all means, stop by. This is your time to shine (and get sweet moolah). If you're a leech, you're welcome here too. Lots of great resources and pretty soon lots of great designs.

What's this? *designers poke heads from cubbies like prarie dogs* A Style Contest? Oh yes, I should have said. Many months ago, Arvind and Elise approached me with the brilliant-yet-obvious idea to fill a great need in the MT community--style. Don't get me wrong, there's a great deal of talent in the MT community, but it's never really been brought together in one place, and that bugged us. So with the hard work of a few volunteers and the gracious help of 6A, things are on the move.

What I can say at this point is: designers, start familiarizing yourselves with the default templates. There are going to be some serious prizes handed out for designs in several different categories (everything from technology to crafts). And we're not talking the $50 gift certificates that the other style competition hands out.

You'll all know more in a few weeks. Until then, start your engines!

Several people have asked about hosting their website with PlasticMind Design, so we've partnered up with Site5 to bring you PlasticMind Hosting, a full web hosting solution that has all the stability and affordability of a large, international hosting company coupled with the individual customer service we're famous for.

We've got several great hosting plans. No matter the size of the site and how many visitors you get, you'll find we've got what you need (with a month free if you pay a year up front for any plan). And it comes with quite a lot... you can visit our new hosting section for more information. And all accounts come with cPanel, a web control panel where you can check your statistics and see who's downloading what, check your email from any computer with internet access and if you really want to jump in with both feet, we've got Fantistico, a set of free programs (Mambo, phpBB, phpWiki, Gallery) that can be installed to your site with a click of a button.

Finally. We've gone with a new look. It's the one we've wanted to put into play since we started. The site finally matches the business cards! As you may have noticed, there's only a few new features, but that's just because we didn't want to take the site down for long. You'll see quite a few advancements in the resources sections and keep your eyes peeled for a brand new PM blog specifically for web design tips and tricks.

If you find anything that doesn't belong, please let me know.

One of the things that's been keeping us busy lately is our participation in a newly formed artist community called PizelZion (art with purpose). Almost every visual art discipline is represented in the community, and the Monday night podcasts are chock full of great information and discussion. I encourage you to hop over there and look around.

And if you're feeling bold, check out our lively podcast...

Stay tuned...

First on the checklist was a logo, something that summarized Everitz Consulting and was flexible enough to function as both header and favicon. After a few drafts, the gear/wrench logo finally answered all the needs of the company. Combining Chad's initials with the gear and the wrench (both closely associated with Movable Type, Everitz's forte), we created the "we're ahead of the problem" look that Chad was looking for.

We also provided a great deal of versatility with the style sheets, providing classes and modules that could be used for multiple purposes and that could be seamlessly integrated with Movable Type to make managing content both simple and beautiful.

But it's not just the code that shines--clean, functional design that makes sense. The important information is easy to find. That's our goal here after all--uniqueness and usability. It's just nice to finally fix our own sink.

And for everyone wondering where all the content from the old site went, don't worry. All of the important stuff will be back in one form or another. You'll find links to my personal sites across the top above the header. I also plan on incorporating a dynamic feed list here of sites affiliated with PlasticMind Design. More information to come.

Unlike some of the other blogging software available, Movable Type has so much flexibility that it can power anything from a simple online journal to a full-blown ecommerce site. It's basic enough that a beginner can be up and posting in minutes, yet powerful enough that every day new uses are invented for its versatile system of content tags. It's done everything from push button publishing on Chaplain Fisher's weblog to dynamic job listings on Advanced Medical Resources website.

For more information about Movable Type, check out their website or dig around in their online support forums.