The developer community has been working hard during the past several years to build the updated framework and work out all of the bugs.

Among the most eagerly anticipated features are a new access control levels (ACL) system for viewing and editing content, and a new user-defined category structure giving site administrators the capability to set up complex multi-level content categorization.

A short list of new features includes the following:

◦    Finer access controls for viewing and editing content with configurable user groups and viewing levels
◦    A user-defined category structure, from simple one-level to complex multi-level categories
◦    Installation improvements allowing for multiple extension installations in one package, updatable with a single click
◦    Expanded language support for easy production of multi-lingual sites
◦    Start and end publishing times for modules with more control over where they display,
◦    Fresh new templates and semantic markup to please the eye as well as the search engines
◦    More creative control through template styles
◦    Hundreds of additional features, streamlining workflow and productivity

We're looking forward to offering this great new version of Joomla to our clients and are currently putting the new CMS through its paces on our testing sites. When we're satisfied, we will begin building client sites in version 1.6.0 and contacting existing Joomla site owners regarding planning for eventual migration to this new system.

Clients running Joomla 1.5.x version sites will still receive the same top tier support for their sites. We expect developers of Joomla extensions to continue to support their 1.5.x compatible extensions for the 2011 year and will keep you informed of any end-of-life announcements regarding your installed 1.5.x extensions.

Please contact Azurelink if you have any questions or concerns about this new version of Joomla and its possible repercussions on your Joomla site.