Version 7.5 is currently in development. We've started a changelog that you can use to track the development here.

You can use this topic to discuss the upcoming changes.

>> FEATURE: Added a vistor comments section to the profile page.
Please make sure user can turn on/off these comments.

>> FEATURE: Added a UBB Buddies box to the profile page which will show who as added that particular user to their friends list.
I am not sure what it is , but I hope for a privacy option. Some user may be reluctant to let others know who is in his buddy list.

When browsing to the forum summary page the newpost.gif indicates unread posts in each forum.
When you open the forum and view only one of many new posts then browse to another forum. The indicator shows all posts read(nonewposts.gif) for that forum. Even though all new posts have not been read.
I know this is not a bug but I think it is a design flaw that leads to many missed posts. Causing members to add bump posts to bring attention to their topic.
I would prefer to have the newposts.gif to always appear in the summary page when there are unread posts or replies in a forum. A user can always use the "mark all as read" option.

Old search engine.
As promised we are to get the old search engine option in the next release. HERE
I hope this makes it in this release.
I would also like to see a default date range search in the control panel. The newer than older than date is to confusing for my people. I would like to see start with all dates and then refine the search with a less than greater than option to drill down to a topic result.

So, will blogs be added in 7.5? Remember that we had a poll on what to add on the next major version. Blogs won.

Anyway, if blogs are added in 7.5, the next version afterward will include a redesign of the GUI. However, Rick has stated that it may be split into two releases, with the first being a redesign of the administrator UI, and the second being a redesign of the user UI. If this is the case, the new admin UI should be in version 7.6, and the new user UI should be in version 8.0.

Rick - could you kindly clarify (as I have got confused LOL) - are blogs or UI now going be included in 7.5?

7.5 is going to have a bit of a user profile update and then I'll put a few more things in, maybe a couple of the UBBDev mods and fix a few more lingering issues.

At that point, we'll split off a branch and start working on 8.0. Updates for the 7 series will still be put out as needed to fix any bugs during the time 8.0 is being developed.

Originally I was going to split the control panel and then ui rewrite into 2 versions. After spending some time in the planning stage that isn't really feasible. If I did the control panel first, I'd be writing it for the way the front end currently is done, so once the front end was done, the control panel would have to be changed again. So we'll end up tackling these together.

And just for clarification, this won't just be a new face. We'll be adding plenty of new features along with it and I'll keep the changelog updated as things are added.

Thanks - but you did not mention blogs at all - when do you see these as being added?

Sorry, these WILL be in version 8.0. If they aren't you have my permission to come to my house and flog me. I'll even pay for your flight

okay - next question that many users will ask is.... When do you envisage version 8 (i.e. which quarter?)