The video and notes to Andrew Eddie's presentation to the Joomla User Group Brisbane (7 July 2009) on current state of Joomla 1.6 are now available.
This presentation outlines the good news (new, desperately wanted features) and the bad news (some things have to change) with regard to how Joomla 1.6 is shaping up between the alpha and beta releases.

Download presentation notes: lifting_the_lid_on_joomla_1.6.pdf

Template Styles

Joomla 1.6 includes a new feature called template styles. This gives you the ability to use a single template in many different ways by saving different sets of options as a style. Watch the Joomla 1.6 video on template styles to find out more.

Modules

Joomla 1.6 includes several new features for modules. You can time a module to be published between two dates, and you can set modules to be excluded from particular pages. Watch the Joomla 1.6 video on modules to find out more.

Administrator Menu

The Joomla 1.6 Adminstrator menu has undergone some changes.  Users now has its own menu that includes adding groups and access levels for viewing content and other features have been moved around.  Watch the Joomla 1.6 video on the Administator menu to find out more.

User Groups

The ability to add your own user groups is new in Joomla 1.6. You can also add users to one or multiple user groups. Watch the Joomla 1.6 video on user groups to find out more.

Content Access Levels

Joomla 1.6 now includes the ability to customise the access levels by which you can view content. Watch the Joomla 1.6 video on content access levels to find out more.

Categories

In Joomla 1.6, sections and categories have been combined into a single category tree. In addition to this, there is no limit to the depth of categories you can define. Watch the Joomla 1.6 video on categories to find out more.

Toolbars

There are a number of changes to the toolbar in the Joomla 1.6 Administator, particularly in edit screens, to bring button names and behaviour in line with what you are familiar with in a desktop application. Watch the Joomla 1.6 video on the toolbars to find out more.

Here is an overview of the toolbar changes on edit screens in Joomla 1.6.
The Apply button has been renamed to Save. This button will save the current page then return to it so you can continue to work on it.
The Save button has been renamed to Save & Close. This button will save the current page then return you to the list managing that content.
The Save & New button is new. This button will save the current page, then return you to a new blank item, avoiding going back to the list in between.
The Save as Copy button is also new. This button will save the current page as a copy of the original, then return you to that copy so you can continue to work on it. The original content is not changed in the process.
The Close button simply returns you to the list managing the content without saving.

Trash

Joomla 1.6 now supports integrated trash management for all content. Watch the Joomla 1.6 video on trash management to find out more.

source: www.theartofjoomla.com
Provided under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0.