Getting Lucky with WordPress Plugins
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Getting Lucky with WordPress Plugins
John's Intro:
It's Episode 583 and we have plugins for Image Attributes, Copyright'ing, Getting Lucky, Spying Logins, Dynomite Images, Banner Bears, Organizing Dashboards… and ClassicPress Options. It's all coming up on WordPress Plugins A-Z!
– ‘good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you happen to be hiding out there on the globe today! Coming to you LIVE from …'
Amber's Rant:
Welcome to Episode 583 – Getting Lucky with WordPress Plugins – This is Episode 43 for 2022! Winter has come… it's a gonna be a cold one for sure. Be sure to double check the little things on your vehicle like window wipers – had to pull my whole wiper setup apart to replace the bushings 'cause my bushings were so old the arms that move the wipers for you just kept popping off so although the motor was going fine, the arms couldn't move. Little things like this – get your vehicle checked over. You're going to wish you had when we get another dump of snow and something decides to break down on you – better safe than sorry!
ADDITION: During our live stream, one of our regular listeners mentioned something else: make sure you have a blanket in your vehicle for if your vehicle stalls. Get a good one, like a wool blanket to keep yourself warm for the ‘just in case'!
Do you have any more suggestions on this? If so, send it in and I'll mention it on the show next week!
A Message from your AtoZ Plugin Worker Bee's – This is a Value for Value show, meaning any value you find here, offer that same value back! We accept all currencies including time and talent currency! Chocolate is always good too…
Remember, don't skip the end of the show – you never know what kind of amazing life altering advice you might catch! Like how to fill your site as full of spam as possible…
A special note to our New Listeners: Don't be shy to ask your questions. No such thing as a dumb question!
…When you see this in the notes, this means we didn't read this on the show, and that the only way to find this information out is to read our Show Notes!
…You can send any questions/suggestions or notes saying ‘hi' over to me at amber@wppro.ca, or hit up our site wpppluginsatoz.com/contact – Be creative with the title so that the spammer eater doesn't eat your note though!
Let's start the show with this weeks Featured Artist:
Artist this week:
Angel Lemus — http://www.koadigital.com
We are lacking in new art, so we went digging deep into the archives – and we found THIS beauty!
Personally, I LOVE dice. I think that dice are probably the best part of DnD, pretty sure it's what drew me in, although the game itself is what made me stay. Loving the way this is set up and how it looks – kinda neat re-using older art, gives the artists a second chance to shine as well!
Feeling Inspired? Hit up our site at https://wppluginsatoz.com/artwork/ and submit some artwork of your own!
…We can NEVER have too much art!
Or check out allll the artwork at: https://wppluginsatoz.com/artwork/
Breaking News in the WordPress World at large!!
…If I missed something, shoot me a link at amber@wppro.ca – it may show up on the next show!
News this week:
– WordPress Vulnerability Report – November 30, 2022 (https://ithemes.com/blog/wordpress-vulnerability-report-november-30-2022/) – There have been a lot of fixes this past week with only Popup Manager and Menu Item Visibility Control plugins to worry about. Nice short list for the week!
– WordPress Versions 3.7-4.0 no longer get security updates (https://wptavern.com/wordpress-versions-3-7-4-0-no-longer-get-security-updates) – A reminder for everyone out there using WordPress that versions 3.7-4.0 have been dropped from WordPress Support as of December 1st, so if you are running these be aware of this. Might want to take on that huge effort of moving up to a more modern version.
– Open source software host Fosshost shutting down as CEO unreachable (https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/technology/open-source-software-host-fosshost-shutting-down-as-ceo-unreachable/) – Not technically WordPress News, although this may be something people out there need to know – Open source software hosting and cloud computing provider Fosshost will no longer be providing services as it reaches the end of life. Fosshost project volunteers announced the development this weekend following months of difficulties in reaching the leadership including the CEO. Users are being urged to immediately backup their data and migrate to alternative hosting platforms. This is an abrupt and immediate shutdown, so if you or anyone you know uses Fosshost, be aware of this and get to backing up your information.
– UK publishers file €13.6 billion lawsuit against Google alleging market abuse (https://wptavern.com/uk-publishers-file-13-6-billion-lawsuit-against-google-alleging-market-abuse) – A group of 120,000 businesses publishing around 1,750,000 websites and applications in the UK have filed a lawsuit against Google and its parent company, Alphabet. The reason is: “Google abused its dominant position in the market for online advertising, earning super-profits for itself at the expense of the tends of thousands of publishers of websites and mobile apps in the UK” – this is going to be an interesting case! Worth taking a peek at over the next while as it unfolds.
– The WP Community Collective launches a nonprofit to fund individual contributors and community based initiatives (https://wptavern.com/the-wp-community-collective-launches-nonprofit-to-fund-individual-contributors-and-community-based-initiatives) – WP Community Collective has launched this, dedicating its funding to individual WordPress contributors and community led initiatives. This was founded by Se Reed, Katie Adams Farrell, and Courtney Robertson. This was created to address some of the challenges of contribution, where larger companies tend to have more resources to sponsor contributors, while individuals and smaller companies may struggle to balance their ability to volunteer with the need to make ends meet.
This is interesting, and hopefully it will stick around long term now that has been officially launched! Worth checking out to learn a bit more about it.
– Take the 2022 WordPress survey (https://wptavern.com/take-the-2022-wordpress-survey) – The 2022 Survey is now open to anyone using WordPress – from beginners to professional developers and everyone in between! This annual survey helps project leaders and contributors learn more about how and why the software is being used.
So if you have something to say, get on there and say it out loud and let the creators know what needs fixing/revamping/nothing at all!
– Shh! Self-Destructing Messages (https://blobfolio.com/shh/) – I thought this was kind of cool, a site dedicated to self destructing messages! This site is a free message sharing service that hides your message behind a unique, self-destructing link. The messages are encrypted and decrypted in the browser, making it impossible for them or anyone else to read the contents without the magic link. Very similar to Threema messaging app for phones and tablets, although this is for computers.
There is a full and in depth explanation on how their messaging service works, and since it is free you can test it out to see for yourself! Perfect for getting around nosy tech savvy teenagers to chat with your partner and family about what you want to get them for Christmas. 😉
ClassicPress News:
…Our News Section really isn't complete without ClassicPress News…
There is a new Blog Post available on the ClassicPress site!
New at ClassicPress: Security Release, GitHub Issue Templates, And More https://www.classicpress.net/new-at-classicpress-security-release-github-issue-templates-more/
ClassicPress has projects they are looking to have some support with. They have a page with these projects listed and who the contact is for the project. Check out the following page if you are using ClassicPress and are interested in helping them move forward! https://forums.classicpress.net/t/currently-active-projects/3630
They also have some petitions posted check them out!
…For some up to date news on ClassicPress check out the ClassicPress Blog.
The Extras – check out our Facebook, or Twitter page for even more!
…Here you will find news on tech in general, and some random things I think are pretty nifty! If you come across something you think should be added, send me a link at amber@wppro.ca
– Rackspace: ongoing exchange outage caused by security incident (https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/technology/rackspace-ongoing-exchange-outage-caused-by-security-incident/)
– European MRI study provides experimental evidence indicating our brains are quantum (https://thenextweb.com/news/european-mri-study-provides-experimental-evidence-indicating-the-human-brain-quantum)
– Google Chrome emergency update fixes 9th zero-day of the year (https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-chrome-emergency-update-fixes-9th-zero-day-of-the-year/)
– Secere AMI MegaRAC flaws impact servers from AMD, ARM, HPE, Dell, others (https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/severe-ami-megarac-flaws-impact-servers-from-amd-arm-hpe-dell-others/)
– If European SMEs are going to survive, they need tech now more than ever (https://thenextweb.com/news/if-european-smes-are-going-to-survive-they-need-tech-more-than-ever)
– OpenAI's new ChatGPT bot: 10 coolest things you can do with it (https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/technology/openais-new-chatgpt-bot-10-coolest-things-you-can-do-with-it/)
– Android malware apps with 2 million installs spotted on Google Play (https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/android-malware-apps-with-2-million-installs-spotted-on-google-play/)
– Hackers use new, fake crypto app to breach networks, steal cryptocurrency (https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-use-new-fake-crypto-app-to-breach-networks-steal-cryptocurrency/)
…Some random entertainment in the World of WordPress!
…Matt's Famous Quotes
https://www.idrlabs.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg.php
…The hall of shame via Automattic:
transparency.automattic.com/tag/hall-of-shame/
Let's have a peek at our Contests for this week…
Firstly we want to thank Simple Giveaways for being totally awesome and providing us with their Premium Version for our contests!
Secondly we want to thank Steve Goodtime & Brant Matthews for creating our amazing jingle we still use!!
And we want to thank Charlie for coming to our aid and rescue yet again with another fantastic contest!
Generally the contest only runs for 2 weeks, but for this one we are extending it for one more week! So hurry up and get your names in to win the prize of an unlimited lifetime license with WP Go Maps!!
This weeks contest is for: WP Go Maps Plugin!
Enter for your chance to win WP Go Maps – Unlimited Lifetime Licence Giveaway valued at $199
WP Go Maps
WP Go Maps
Manage Multiple WordPress Websites Effortlessly
The all-in-one solution for your WordPress maintenance service.
The most comprehensive WordPress Map Plugin, ever. Build simple to advanced maps in seconds.
Click here to visit wpgmaps.com
To Enter, head on over to wppluginsatoz.com/giveaway and enter for your chance to win!
Remember, this is YOUR show! We are just the Worker Bee's here – Don't be afraid to jump up and down and demand a turn at the wheel to help guide the show to where YOU want it to go!
That goes for all the Developers out there too – this is YOUR show! by supporting us with your Plugin donations you are helping to guide the show to where you want to see it go! A GIANT Thank You is owed to the Developers who have been supporting us this whole time, we honestly could not have even gotten this show started without you!
If any Developers out there listening right now are interested in adding to the show by donating a Premium License for our Contests, you can do so by going to WPPluginsAtoZ.com/PluginContest!
Time for the Good Stuff! …
Off we go into the meat and potatoes of plugin depravity…..
WordPress Plugins
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John's Plugin
Custom Image Attributes
https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-image-attributes/
The Lowdown:
Custom Image Attributes is a lightweight WordPress plugin which allows you to add custom attributes to images on your website. You can add attributes to single images or all images.
You can use this plugin to add attributes to images as required by some other plugins, such as for lightbox, analytics and seo purposes. Add any attribute you like.
Rating 4 Dragons
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Amber's Plugin
Monitor Login
https://wordpress.org/plugins/monitor-login/
The Lowdown:
This is a helpful plugin if you need to see who is logging in and out and changing things up – for instance in a ‘sandbox' where there are a few people working.
You will find the dashboard under Settings -> monitor Login. Here you can decide which email the alerts notifications go to, whether or not you want notifications on plugin activations/de-activations/deletions, and whether or not you want notifications when themes are switched.
That's all there is to this fine little plugin, quick and easy, simple to use, and helps to keep you in the loop on who is doing what. Oddly enough though, it doesn't seem to really monitor who is logging into the site, just what they are doing…
Monitor Login, worth giving a go to help keep tabs!
Rating: 4 Dragons
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John's Plugin
Media Copyright
https://wordpress.org/plugins/weltenretter-media-copyright/
The Lowdown:
Plugin to handle media copyright data in a tool. Therewith you can edit – copyright requirement – copyright expiration date – copyright-text – copyright-url.
If copyright is required and any information is missing, there are admin-messages in dashboard an tool-page with hints what is missing.
Rating 4 Dragons
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Amber's Plugin
Generate Dynamic Images – BannerBear
https://wordpress.org/plugins/bannerbear/
The Lowdown:
If you have a BannerBear scale or enterprise account, this is a great plugin for you! This plugin creates an easy interface between BannerBear and your site – you will find the dashboard on your left hand side.
If you are looking for an easy banner plugin just for your site, this is not the right choice.
In order to use this, you will have to bring your API over from your account at bannerbear.com and add it into your plugin – although if you are a user of BannerBear, everything you have in your account there will automatically populate in your plugin, making it easy to use on your site!
Worth checking out if this is what you need!
Rating: 4 Dragons
We Interrupt the Meat and Potatoes of Plugin Depravity Edition to bring you our Donations Segment and to thank our Producers!
Remember, this is YOUR show! We're just the Worker Bee's here. Don't forget to restock the show's larders with some Time, Treasure, or Talent Donations! Need more info on how to do that? Check out our site wppluginsatoz.com – right up in the menu you will see each one under ‘Donations'!
Special thanks goes to:
Free-Lance Producers popping in and out:
Though always showing up at unexpected times, these Producers are surely part of the reason our name is getting out there! Thank you!
…If you have listened to even 10 minutes of this show, or shown up a single time to one of our live shows on YouTube, you are one of our many Free-Lance Producers! Although you guys are always popping in and out at unexpected times, we appreciate your support and periodic help with one thing or another – thank you!
Back Room Producers hanging-out in the Lounge:
Always about the place consuming all the coffee and donuts, these Producers earn it by helping out with our contests, artwork, site organization, notes, questions, suggestions, licenses, and by hiring us! Your Time and Talent Donations are equal to your Treasure Donations of under $50, and we would not be here without you – thank you!
…Back Room Producers, if you ever notice something that needs some work feel free to reach out to us and let us know – you can offer to take it up yourself, or just let us know and we will add it to our list.
War Room Producers:
With their donations of $50 or more these Producers receive a few extra perks – an official AtoZ Handle of their choice, a spotlight in that weeks show for a short speech, an official Executive Producership Credit, and seeing the ‘Magic' as it happens up in the War Room before we send the show out into the netherworld of the internets! Thank you for sticking by us and helping to keep the Back Room Producers stocked in coffee and donuts!
…**If you prefer to stay anonymous, please let us know at the beginning of your note to us regarding your donation! We are more than happy to keep you anonymous from the world – nobody is ever forced out of the tender embrace of the shadows on this show!**
…To receive your Official AtoZ Handle, think up an original name, and send it into us! Be sure to note down the show number and title of the show so that we know when to log it!
…Your spotlight can be an elevator pitch for your business, a note, or you can just skip it!
…The Producership Credit we offer is REAL! When you send your donation in to us of $50 or more, please be sure to note down the number and title of the show your donation shows up on, and we will back up your right to claim Producership!
…'Seeing the Magic Happen' refers to being part of the show – if you are interested in taking up a larger part in the show, reach out to us and let us know! We will be happy to discuss the options!
…War Room Producers, same as for the Back Room Producers, reach out to us if you notice something that needs work! Whether you are wanting to take up the job yourself or just inform us and leave it, we will add it to our list!
Thank you, now back to the Meat and Potatoes of Plugin Depravity Edition!
John's Plugin
Lucky Wheel for WooCommerce – Spin a Sale
https://wordpress.org/plugins/woo-lucky-wheel/
The Lowdown:
Lucky wheel spin and win attract customers to subscribe through spinning the lucky wheel and gain prize. Lucky Wheel Spin and Win will encourage customers to come back your website to purchase, increase traffic and improve sales and revenue.
WooCommerce Lucky Wheel is a WooCommerce extension that helps you to convert your site traffic into customers or at least, an email subscriber. It takes you a lot of work and money to have traffic to your store, so don’t waste it. Lucky Wheel Spin and Win offers visitor entering their email address to spin the lucky wheel. Then the plugin will send a discount coupon to the subscribed email address. The subscribed email addresses from Lucky Wheel Spin and Win will be saved in the back-end.
Rating 4 Dragon
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Amber's Plugin
Dashboard Organizer
https://wordpress.org/plugins/dashboard-organizer/
The Lowdown:
This is a cool idea – organization for your dashboard!! You will find the options under Settings -> Dashboard Organizer.
Here you can decide what shows and what hides, making it a lot easier to navigate through your site – you check-mark the menu items you want to hide under the ‘by items to hide' menu option, and choose what shows under the ‘by items to show' menu option. Very straightforward and easy to use.
This plugin does not mess with any other plugin so it plays well with others. The only thing saved in the database is a list of menus you want to hide – and it uses CSS classes and Javascript to hide or show the WordPress Admin Menu items.
If you are looking for a little more organization, this is a great way to go!
Dashboard Organizer – the creator is looking to expand so perhaps reach out and offer ideas!
Rating: 5 Dragons
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ClassicPress
We have sadly neglected ClassicPress… we are working to remedy this.
…A little about ClassicPress for those who aren't sure: ClassicPress is WordPress frozen at version 4.9. Once WordPress moved to 5, they added in a whole lot of new folders, and the experimental additions to the Core started in earnest. ClassicPress is literally the Classic version of WordPress. A few plugins have been made over the years for just ClassicPress, though all Plugins compatible with WordPress 4.9 should work for ClassicPress.
To any ClassicPress user listening right now: I challenge you – yes YOU – to write a review of your favourite, or least favourite ClassicPress plugin, and send it into us! You can do so by hitting us up at https://wppluginsatoz.com/submit-plugin-review/!
…And feel free to add more to this section by reaching out to me at amber@wppro.ca.
ClassicPress Resource Section:
This information is like Fruit Cake! It doesn't wither away and will still be good years down the road so it's great for learning! Go and check this section out in our Show Notes if you have an interest!
…We have thrown some ClassicPress Resources in here for you – and they appear to have stuck like well cooked pasta! Glad you made it to this part of the notes since we only mention it lightly on the show – If we missed something, let us know!
…Learn more about ClassicPress 1.4.0 RC2:
…https://forums.classicpress.net/t/classicpress-1-4-0-rc2-release-notes/3785?fbclid=IwAR3wGK5IW8ssJ-XC4k7IiZMBtSjUTVN2pexk6ATCRvuMN-Fn-McOy-XJJv8
…ClassicPress Tutorials on their site:
…https://www.classicpress.net/category/tutorials/
…ClassicPress's “Must Have” Plugins List:
…https://forums.classicpress.net/t/must-have-plugins-list/1163
…ClassicPress Repository!!
…https://directory.classicpress.net/plugins They now have 71 plugins (and counting!) available.
…WordPress Plugin Section compatible with ClassicPress:
…https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/classicpress/
Questions, Notes, and Feedback from our Producers out there:
…Send us your thoughts and opinions, but most of all send us your questions! No such thing as a stupid question people! I was new not too long ago, and I know how overwhelming it can be stepping into this world at this stage – I know for a fact that questions you have are the same questions others out there have!
Good morning Amber and John,
December is upon us and I am wondering if you will be doing a show on Boxing Day??? It is the holiday's so I understand if you won't be but I want to mark it in my calendar if you are.
Thanks,
An Avid Listener
How to be part of your own production!
Interviews – get yourself out there using us as your tool!
…Looking for a way to get your name and work out there? Use us as a stepping stone! Hit us up at https://wppluginsatoz.com/interview
Send in Plugin Reviews, or suggestions for Plugin reviews!
…Have a plugin you love? Or one you really think people should avoid? Reach out to us and get your words and opinion out into the world by hitting us up at https://wppluginsatoz.com/submit-plugin-review/
Send in questions and/or comments!
…Have a thought to share? Send it in! You can stay anonymous or belt your name out in all caps!
Stuff and reminders about Stuff:
Meetups:
Nothing new has been set out yet, it all depends on how moody our island is going be this winter and how much snow/rain we get – no sense having a meetup if the main highway gets washed out again!
Keep an eye here for the next Meet Up, eventually we will get it going!
Random:
Remember you can check out our Show Notes on our site wppluginsatoz.com! There is extra information to grab up there that we don't even speak out loud on the show!
Today's Plugins we covered were:
John’s Plugins: Custom Image Attributes – 4, Media Copyright – 4, Lucky Wheel for WooCommerce – Spin a Sale – 4
Amber's Plugins: Monitor Login – 4, Generate Dynamic Images – Bannerbear – 4, Dashboard Organizer – 5
Ways to support the show!
You can support us by Subscribing to our Newsletter, Donating, or reviewing us on Stitcher Radio, Google Play, or the iTunes Store.
Join us on our Facebook, and hit the *Like* button on our YouTube Channel!
…Just showing up to our YouTube Channel and joining us live every Thursday at 11am PDT is a FANTASTIC show of support! So is joining our FaceBook page and hitting *Share* on our posts every once in a while!
…Giving a review of us on any of the platforms listed above would be super helpful too!
Want to get ahold of us???
If you still do Snail Mail, you can send an actual, physical letter or item to this Brick and Mortar address:
…(Pssst! I love receiving things that are not bills! Especially art if you enjoy drawing – no matter what age!)
WP Plugins A to Z
C/O John Overall
20-754 E Fairview Rd.
Victoria, BC V9A 5T9
Canada
OR, you can email us!
Amber: amber@wppro.ca
John: john@wppro.ca
Q & A Time with Amber – Catch this info on our YouTube Channel
If you have questions you would like to have asked on the show, send them in to me at Amber@WPPro.ca – let's see if we can stump my dad!
- Do you think it would be possible to create something like Shh! Self Destructing Messages for WordPress?
- What would have to go into making something like that as a plugin?
- This question was asked by a listener live on the show and replaced the question I was going to ask originally – listen to the youtube or the stream on your favourite podcast app to get the answer!!
Hemdian?:
Non-dumb question: A professor I know wants his own little personal website to rank highly on Google. The problem is his name is listed on his university site AND is also attached to some academic
Hemdian?… papers that are hosted on other major sites. So he's competing against them for his own name. Is there anything he can do?
Questions asked after closing credits:
- What causes vulnerabilities in Plugins? Can you explain in basic terms?
- What are ‘patches' that take away vulnerabilities? Can you explain in basic terms?
One more time for the ways to contact us!
Our Brick and Mortar Address – just in case you decide to send along a gift!
(Especially art if you enjoy drawing – no matter what age!)
WP Plugins A to Z
C/O John Overall
20-754 E Fairview Rd.
Victoria, BC V9A 5T9
Canada
Fastest way to contact us:
John:
- My website: http://www.johnoverall.com/
- WordPress Emergency Support: http://wppro.ca/wpemergency
- email: john@wppro.ca
Amber:
- email: amber@wppro.ca
