Yup 2.7 is out and it looks interesting.

Yes it is downloaded it last night and seeing a few helpful improvements

Yeah it look's like they are making it more and more user friendly. The tabs thing is just the kind of thing that will make it more apealing to new Blender peeps.

The new UI is an improvment, but I'm trying to teach myself enough Pyton to emulate Lightwave Modeler's interface in Blender.

The entire UI is in Python, and given all the power under the hood, I don't understand why no one has simple copied the interfaces of more popular software to make Blender more usable.

More power to ya Joe. I hope you fix it up. I tell ya one thing I found that doesn't work like it use to: Shift+F in camera mode use to let you steer an and zoom the camera but now the zoom doesn't work. When you are not in camera mode the zoom does work. Wierd :(

Quote - More power to ya Joe. I hope you fix it up. I tell ya one thing I found that doesn't work like it use to: Shift+F in camera mode use to let you steer an and zoom the camera but now the zoom doesn't work. When you are not in camera mode the zoom does work. Wierd :(

Never used Shift+F. I used the middle mouse button and the scroll wheel to move around and zoom.

My biggest problem is that after 20 years of using Lightwave3D, I have autonomic responses to do things, and a lot of time my instincts mess up my Blender work.

My real dream is to make an interface to compete with the entire Adobe Suite. Blender CAN do it all. It’s just about making it accessible.
That and a series of easy to use modules for simple things like a good ole’ character generator for titles. Pre-Fab Flying logos.

I’ll see in another 20 years. My python skills suck at the moment.

I know that there has been talk by other about further simplifing the interface. But as still a relatively new comer to Blender the changes from 2.49 to 2.50 and up to the current version has made learning Blender much easier. I started modeling with Hexagon and then Silo when developement for Hex stopped. Now with Blender as it grows I feel I have grown in my grasp of Blender. What I would personally like to see and not just for Blender but for applications across the board is more uniformity in toolsets names. Ok this may sound silly but lets say I am watching a tutorial for 3DS Max and they use the chamfer tool it can be frustrating to have to search for an hour or so on the web to learn that Cntrl B in Blender which is the Bevel tool performs the same function. Granted not saying the all applications are identical but the naming conventions could be a little bit easier. OK getting off the soap box

What has happened to the camera orbit? Middle mouse button used to orbit the scene around the selected item. How can I reset that?

OK found it in File > User Pref > Interface > Rotate Atound selection :)

Just downloaded the latest version and installed it.

Tomorrow I will give it a try.

I have a catalog from 3d world with a tutorial on making jewelry with cycles and I started it in another version of Blender.

When my laptop met it's fatal accident (oh how I miss a laptop), I lost all that but will try again now. :)

I'm still blown away by the video editor and the ability to do camera tracking.  I make short video clips for aircrew training that involve a lot of composting of dials and gauges and did my first one entirely in Blender.  It's not going to replace After Effects and Premiere Pro yet....but it's getting there.  The motion tracking beats the hell out of Premiere and Mocha.