WP-DB-Backup allows you easily to backup your core WordPress database tables. You may also backup other tables in the same database. By default, the plugin backs up the core tables from a predefined list hard coded in the plugin file. Other tables may be added to the list manually.

The plugin’s last version, 2.2.2, came out just after WordPress version 2.7. However, in WordPress version 2.9 a new commentmeta core table was added. This new table is not in the plugin’s list of tables so, by default, it is not being backed up and a manual selection is needed.

If you are using this plugin make sure you select the commentmeta table or you might face a problem when in need for a backup restore.

<?php
function new_blogs_setting( $blog_id )  {
//set your options here:
add_option('gmt_offset', 2);
// stop editing here
return;
}
add_action('populate_options', 'new_blogs_setting');
?>

Download here.

WP TagAds is a new way to display ads on your WordPress blog. WP TagAds is an advertising solution tailored for WordPress bloggers, ads are displayed based on the post tags you assign to a post in your WordPress blog. This is different then say Google Adsense where the page is crawled then ads are displayed based on the findings.

With WP TagAds you are served eBay products based the keywords you assign to a post. Don’t like the ads your are seeing, just change the keywords around a little to get the ads you are looking for.

Ads are displayed via a sidebar widget that is included in the plugin and you can place the widget where you like inside your template. You will need a eBay Campaign ID to start making money. A eBay Campaign ID is issued to you free by the eBay Partner Network.

See it action here (top right)

Content Pay by Zong allows you to monetize your blog content using Premium text messaging. Your reader sends a text message using his mobile phone and he receives a code that gives him access to your content for a determined duration.

Here is the clickable image that appear for paid content:

and  the window’s information which tell the user how to pay and get access to the content:

The plugin uses the ‘stylesheet_directory_uri‘ filter to set the stylesheet uri (css file). In turn, the stylesheet uses the ‘url‘ method to call the image files of the theme so they get the same base url as the stylesheet. Most themes uses the ‘stylesheet_directory‘ call correctly so you will not run into trouble but if a theme uses it to call a php file you should change the call to use ‘template_directory‘.

Download: themes-s3.zip

Usage:

1. Signup for an Amazon-S3 account.
2. Create a bucket for your files. Since you have to select a globally unique name for your buckets I call it s3.domain.com were domain.com is my wpmu installation.
3. To point s3 to your bucket setup a CNAME record: s3 -> s3.domain.com.s3.amazonaws.com. (don’t forget that extra dot at the end).
4. Load your themes css and image files to your bucket keeping the exact directory structure for each theme (/wp-contents/themes/… ). You can use the excellent S3 FireFox Organizer to mange your files.
5. Edit the plugin to include your bucket name.
6. Place the plugin in the mu-plugins directory.
7. Test, test and test all your themes!

Whats next? The next step I’m planning is to off-load the Java Scripts in the wp-includes folder. Also planned is an option to serve the users files from S3. If you are interested in helping in any way please leave a comment and we can take it from there.