Textpattern have announced the release of version 4.07. In case you don’t know Textpattern, it’s a lightweight and easy to use CMS with a nice XML-like template tagging system. The major new feature is a new tag parser, allowing for a lot more flexibility in site development. However, the admin interface still uses the fiddly design from previous versions, so I strongly recommend you install the restyled interface mod as soon as possible.

Mozilla’s Robert O’Callahan has posted a few hints about new features expected to land in the next version (1.9.2) of the Gecko layout engine.

Allowing use of SVG in <img> and background-image is high on the list, apparently, as are background-size, multiple backgrounds, and possibly text-overflow. These features have already been implemented between Opera and Safari.

I can’t find any information yet as to when Gecko 1.9.2 will land; I think it’s doubtful it will make it into Firefox 3.1, so are we looking at 4.0 or an as yet unannounced 3.2?

Steve Ballmer has said that Microsoft “may look at” using Webkit in future versions of Internet Explorer (contradicting Chris Wilson’s statement last year that they wouldn’t). I really can’t see it; at least, not in the near future. Perhaps for Windows Mobile, as Webkit is proving itself in the mobile space, but almost certainly not on the desktop.

With IE8 expected to be released in the near future, now’s a good time to make sure you know all about its new features; handily, the latest issue of Code Focus magazine is an IE8 special, with articles on subjects ranging from website compatibility to AJAX performance.