World of Xoops (WOX): WOX (World of XOOPS) Newsletter # 10 (July 2008)

Another month, and another issue of  the WOX (World of XOOPS) Newsletter (see here previous versions). We are glad that you enjoy reading this newsletter and we appreciate your feedback!

1) XOOPS 2.3 is coming soon. After our latest Alpha release, we expect the first Beta release in the next week or two, and then the official release not that far after that. In the meantime, we would like to focus on Marketing campaign preparation for the XOOPS 2.3 Release via a Competition for XOOPS 2.3 Marketing Materials.  

2) We continue with the XOOPS Innovation Award - for people who create something very unique and innovative for XOOPS. 
This time the award goes to Andrew McCabe (XGarb) for his Image Manager

3) The "XOOPSer of the Month" is Mowaffak Ali (Mowaffak), for his endless support for XOOPS, his XOOPS Web Tools, his News Block, and his teamwork and collaboration on modules of other authors, and his support for Arabic XOOPS users.  

In this issue:

New XOOPS developments
AWARDS/Recognitions
XOOPSer of the Month
XOOPS Innovation Awards
New Modules
New Hacks
Security Issues/Alerts
YAXS - Sites Using Xoops!
Tutorials/Add-ons
New/Updated Themes
News from around the World
Xoops International Support Sites
How to contribute

New XOOPS developments:

Competition for XOOPS 2.3 Marketing Materials.
Xoops API documentation upgraded
Xoops developers for paid projects


Current Releases

XOOPS 2.0.18.1 Released
XOOPS 2.2.6 RC released
XOOPS 2.3 is being worked on - check out the Alpha 3 code
XOOPS goes PHP5
Xoops documentation for developer

XOOPSer of the Month

This month we would like to recognize Mowaffak Ali (Mowaffak), for his endless support for XOOPS, his XOOPS Web Tools, his News Block, and his teamwork and collaboration on modules of other authors, and his support for Arabic XOOPS users.  

Where are you from, and where do you live now?
I'm from Libya, I was born and grown up in a small beautiful city called Derna, but now I moved to work in the capital,Tripoli.

How long have you been programming?
I started learning PHP in 2004 but mainly I'm a web designer and I began developing and making xoops modules in 2007, so I like what my friend trabis said: "You can call me a : wanna be developer".

What is your expertise?
Though I got my BSc degree in completely different area (Laboratory Medicine),I had a great interest in computing and IT for more than 10 years ago, so my expertise is years of experience.

What got you to XOOPS?
My first experience with XOOPS was about 4 years ago, A friend of mine from Libyan Linux Group recommended XOOPS to me when I asked him to move from PHP-NUKE to other CMS, and really I enjoyed what I am doing with XOOPS!

What do you like the most about XOOPS?
XOOPS gives me what I want and it is the effective reason of the most of progress and success in my life.

In what area of XOOPS do you contribute and why?
Making new hacks and Improving modules, this is what I always do, and also to support new XOOPS members.

What you you major achievement in programming that you're most proud of?
As I said programming isn't really my main area, but I have many ideas crossing my head and I am planing to join new work team to do it. Mainly, I will release some simple usefull modules and hacks.

What are your hobbies, when you're not coding?
Drawing, travel and listening to Quran.

You favorite dish and drink?
Fish dish and Mango juice.

What about movies and music?
I love watching Lion of The Desert (Omar Almokhtar ) movie, Tom & Jerry and classic music.

Since your birth date matches this mont,what was your last achievments to celebrate it?
Well, I just finished update new version of latest news module, I participated in supporting Mydownload module, and finally, I just came back from ECIA Conference at Sharm Alshaikh, Egypt where I gave speech about online payment and XOOPS.

If you would have a chance for a 30 seconds commercial with a message to the world, what would you say?
Love and Peace for all.

If you could choose a place and time to live, what would it be and why?
It could be anywhere, just plug me to high speed internet !

Who is the person that you would like to meet and why?
Marcello Brandão (Suico) to play GTA4 game.

XOOPS Innovation Award

This month we are giving again the XOOPS Innovation Award. It is given to people who create something very unique and very innovative for XOOPS! We are clear that XOOPS can only succeed, when we push the limits of our creativity, imagination, and innovation to "infinity and beyond" . And therefore we would like to recognize people who create this "WOW!" effect, when we see what they've done. The XOOPS Innovation Award is not a monthly award, i.e. theoretically, there might be a month where we won't give one, but we certainly hope that this will never happen

This month the award goes to Andrew McCabe (XGarb) for his Image Manager

Andrew McCabe (XGarb)

Where are you from, and where do you live now?
From the UK (near London) and still living here.

How long have you been programming?
Off and on since I was 12 but I don't consider myself that good at it!

What got you to XOOPS?
Needed a CMS for a site I was working on and it was the best solution

What do you like the most about XOOPS?
The group permissioning system

In what area of XOOPS do you contribute and why?
Like to add bits and pieces into the mix when I can

What you you major achievement in programming that you're most proud of?
The new Image Manager!

What are your hobbies, when you're not coding?
Photography and sailing

You favorite dish and drink?
Probably something Moroccan with cold beer

What about movies and music?
Films with beautiful women and sunshine. Mostly dance music

If you would have a chance for a 30 seconds commercial with a message to the world, what would you say?
Please stop being so stupid

If you could choose a place and time to live, what would it be and why?
Somewhere in the Med in the late 60's. Nice weather and less stress in the world

New/Updated Modules

Dr. Usage - 1.4 
Framework 1.35 - Release
Customize your latest news in powerfull block
MyDownloads 1.5
ThAdmin: New Version 1.1 for Testing
x-Torrent 1.47 - New Release 
eXtCal 2.2.0 is out
92)this.width=92" />
Flash I..." href="https://xoops.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=64665&forum=29">Ipod mp3 Player Module
Coder or killer??

New Hacks:

ImageManager - Replacement
 

Security Issues/Alerts

Bug in the Image Manager discovered/solved by Dugris

Sites using XOOPS:

Tutorials/Add-ons

Tools and XOOPS on USB from Kris
 

New/Updated Themes

xoops-theme.com presents the milk theme
M-Flower Theme 
isw_skyblue
 

News from around the World:

XOOPS Spanish Support: New Theme, New look!
New theme for Admin panel

XOOPS China:
xarshop v0.3 released!

This month we've added another local support site to our International XOOPS Family:

  XOOPS Indonesia open

It is definitely very exciting to see that XOOPS is growing and winning new friends and supporters all over the world!!! So please welcome our new XOOPS friends in Indonesia and wish them Happy XOOPSing!!!

Xoops International Support Sites

   Arabic Support
   Brazilian Support
   Brazilian Support (Paraná)
   Chinese Support
   Croatian Support
   Czech Support
   Danish Support
   Dutch Support
   Francophone Support
   German Support
   Greek Support
   Hungarian Support
   Indonesian Support
   Israel Support
   Italian Support
   Korean Support
   Malysian Support
   Mexican Support
   Norwegian Support
   Nordic Support
   Persian (Farsi) Support
   Polish Support
   Russian Support
   Russian 2 Support
   Spanish Support
   Turkish Support
   Vietnamese Support

How to contribute
-----------------------------------
Bug report: http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=41586&atid=430840
Patch and enhancement: http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=41586&atid=430842
Feature requests: http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=41586&atid=430843
Release announcement: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/xoops-announcement