Beta-2 Plugins (ex mambots)

Here's a side-by-side of the plugin type selection (filter) in the Manager:

left in red is 1.0: 4 types / Right and below that in blue is 1.5: 8 types, twice as many!

Notice:
the new authentication options,
the XMLRPC addition (now what I'd really like to know is how to use the Blogger API !!!),
the Legacy plugin which allows you to use 1.0.x extensions on 1.5
[Warning: users reported publishing this disables your site: only blank pages!]

Beta-2 vs 1.0 toolbar comparisions

Here's some side by sides of toolbars, you'll quickly notice major differences.
Red is 1.0, green is 1.5

Main Admin Menus:
much simpler: 7 items instead of 10!


Article edition/creation:
note the "upload" is no more,
as this is now handled in the image pop-up modal window directly!


Menu Manager toolbar:
a direct link back to the menus, the new "default" button as you now can use any item as homepage (no need anymore to move it to the 1st position of the mainmenu items)!

Media Manager configuration back in Global Settings

Lacking a few explanations and improved layout (how can you expect a "normal" user knows what number to use for the max file size (in bytes!)?!, but:Media Manager config is back in Global!? Strange moving back'n'forth..

1.5 Media Manager Bulk Delete

It's a small change in the interface, but a major usability improvement:
you are now able, thanks to the checkboxes you'll notice next to each file, to bulk delete media from Media Manager! Thanks Louis ;)

Joomla! 1.5 UI elements I do NOT like

The menu item parameters (not shown in full here) are a mess!
No real visual separation (like fieldsets), way too many options
all in one place, not enough explanations as to what all these settings will do
(try to explain Category Order + Primary Order results to someone..),
this really needs some work still (and is not final, I know) -it's a beta, baby :)


Already requested, not (yet?) done:
change the meaningless date selector button graphic above [...]
to something visual like this:

or anything else that looks like a calendar / date selector.


The Copy icon is much too pale, almost invisible on my laptop!
Just boost the edges / outlines slightly?!

The mix of underlined text and yellow warning icons in Configuration.
How is the user supposed to know he can rollover these icons to get a tooltip about the warning? The tooltip should be provided by the text label, same as for all other settings.

Personally, I don't like the grouping in the Configuration screens into just 4 items:
Site, Users, Content and Server.
It is NOT clear where to look for certain things, what would each of Site, Content or Server include?
Why is Statistics not under Content?
Why are Feeds considered Content, and not Site?
There's room enough in the submenus to provide a few more links to settings such as
SEO: Metadata and SEF URL usage or not..

Joomla! 1.5 beta Frontend editing

New cleaner look of frontend article editing.
Note the missing image tab / details..

Joomla! 1.5 beta User details

Screen when you edit user settings in admin.
Notice the options on a per-user basis to select
* backend language
* frontend language
(depending on installed lang. packs)
* the WYSIWYG editor! this is often overlooked:
you install (as admin) a new editor plugin,
set it as default in global config, and nothing changes
when you edit an article? => enable in your own profile!
* Help site lets you access Help content in other languages.