Joomla 2.5 is now released with multi-database support and easy update notification.

Joomla 2.5 is now release with multi-database support and easy update notification.

New Key Features :

• Multi-database support with addition of Microsoft SQL Server.
• Automatic notification when a Joomla or extension update is available. When logged into the control panel, site administrators will instantly have access to new notification buttons that allows them to see and act on the latest updates. In addition to updates for the Joomla CMS, a second button offers third party extension notification updates.
• A better natural language search engine to the Joomla core. Complete with auto-completion and stemming (for example if you type “running” in a search field you also see run), it is faster and more versatile than the standard search.

Joomla 2.5 is truly a collaborative community-driven software project developed with the feedback gathered from more than 2.5 million Joomla forum posts, 540,000 Joomla forum members and data from more than 8,800 Joomla extensions.  To download Joomla 2.5, go to http://www.joomla.org/download.html.

You can find the list of other new features in this release at New Features in Joomla 2.5

source : joomla.org