If you hate the not-so-”Fresh” theme of the new WordPress, why don’t you try Fluency Admin plug-in? It’s compatible with the latest WordPress 2.5 and offers a cooler look-and-feel Administration color themes and panels for you. You simply activate the plug-in and that’s it!
Fluency Admin is too easy to install, so even if you don’t like it, you can simply deactivate it and remove the plug-in files. Since I’m using the OneClick plug-in, I simply upload it through the WordPress Admin interface and activate it straight away (don’t even have to unzip and FTP the files).
I actually like the new WordPress 2.5 Fresh theme, but after I try Fluency Admin, I think I’ll stick with this one! I always like dark gray-ish interface, so this is probably one of the reason why I like Fluency Admin 
Fluency Admin is not just about a new color theme to your Administration panel, though. It overhauls the Administration user interface a little bit. Navigational menu on the left instead of on top, buttons and roll-overs look sexier now.
Fluency Admin will satisfy your eyes. It won’t bring any new features to your Administration panel. So, unfortunately, if you hate the new WordPress 2.5 Administration layout, Fluency Admin can’t do anything to change that. Trust me though, if you write posts every day, you’ll find that the new WordPress 2.5 changes are really for the better! You just have to get used to it before you decide to like it or to hate it.
Some screenshots:
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Hello, I have been using the fluency admin for a few weeks now, and presently under the new WP-2.5. I would be curious to know if you are able to administer widgets under wp-2.5/fluency/firefox? I am completely locked out of widget admin with that configuration
Hi Pablo,
Sorry I don’t really understand the question.
If you are asking whether I can access the widget admin (Design-Widgets) with Fluency+WP2.5+using Firefox, then yes I can. I don’t use widgets but I just tried going to the screen and it’s accessible on my end.
If you deactivate Fluency (or use a different browser), does it work?
Yes, deactivating it works, but I understand the v1.1 updates to fluency have to contend with many plugin conflicts. It is a superb admin replacement. I just now discovered the cause is the nextgen gallery widget.
Ah..well I don’t have the NextGen gallery plug-in installed. Glad you find out the culprit. We can only hope a fix will be made to make it compatible.
I’d suggest you to turn off Fluency instead, as it’s just for cosmetic purposes. Unless if you are not planning to use the NextGen gallery anymore
The widget fix is to add “.wrap:after,” at the end of the last line of the fluency.css file.
The nextGen gallery is very popular and widely used. Unfortunately it does not to appear to be updated with ambition.
The one fact: this was released during the alpha/beta stage of WP 2.5 because many people hated the new admin page. hehe..
Thanks for sharing this..
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Ahehe… I agree with Vince. Gotta try fluency. i hope they release another plugin with customizable admin panel colors.
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@michael I also like the new WP 2.5 Admin page. It’s simple and easy to use.
@glitch I think some site has posted a guide on how to change the admin’s color scheme.. i think bloggingpro was the site…
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ya……..feel this wp more “fresh”!!!!!!
can consider to download…..but will it make my wp slow down?
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Well I don’t experience any slowdown whatsoever on mine
I’d usually say give it a go!
Hmmm, it is a bit like tiger administration panel, I will try to use it, thanks for sharing.
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Mike,
Great post bro! Thanks for sharing as always! I see the traffic meter going red-line.
I’m still using Wordpress 2.3
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Quite the discussion here
I am still using the free blogger platform. I know, I know WP rocks, but I invested some time in my current URL, so I wouldn’t want to get a custom domain and move my blog to WP.. YET!:)
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I was previously using the Tiger Admin theme but went back to the default one after upgrading to 2.5. So far, I like the layout and its much more easier to manage. I might try to use an admin theme again maybe in the near future.
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