Well, it took a lot longer than I expected, but we're back. I hope that the wait was worth it.

Here is a quick list of the changes that were made while we were gone:

• Skinning Specs updated/cleaned up slightly. New BlogSkins-specific tags added.
• F.A.Q. expanded slightly, in part to explain some of the new features.
• My Blogs section added. Allows users to manually enter weblog information in case the Blogger API can't retrieve it for them. All users will need to enter this section to re-enter their list of weblogs. Blogger users can use an automated tool to speed up this process. My Blogs is also the place to enter personal information, webcam URLS, and navigation and external links for each of their weblogs, in order to take advantage of the new BlogSkins tags.
• Skin submission system now handles the new tags. It specifies that skins now must contain opening and closing "<BlogSkin>" tags, but it will automatically convert "<Blogger>" tags for you. I'm a nice guy. I also converted all existing skins to this format. By hand (kidding).
• Preview, Apply, Download, and Submission now treat all tags as case-insensitive (which is how it should be, I think)
• Skin information page now consolidates all three "skin actions" (preview, apply, download) into one location. Only blogs that have had the Blogger API enabled for them in My Blogs will show up in the Apply list. Info page also shows which features the skins support.
• Preview, Apply, and Download now all handle the new BlogSkins tags. If you Apply or Download a skin with advanced features, and you have the information necessary to support those features entered in the "info" section in My Blogs, the information is entered into the skin before Application or Download. Try it out.
• User signups no longer require a "user type" and therefore do not make use of the Blogger API. Meaning that anyone can get an account here now and signups will not crash (*crosses fingers*).
• Created a new skin to showcase the new features.
• Started a new poll.
• Did a bunch of little things and some other behind-the-scenes stuff that I can't remember now.

So what should you do first? If you're a Blogger user, go into My Blogs, click add a weblog, and click the link at the top of the page to auto-add your weblogs. Or click here to do it in one step. Then, go to your weblogs list in My Blogs and click "info" for each blog. If you wish, enter in some personal information, webcam URLs, and links to enable the advanced features. After that's done, check out the new skin to see the new features in action. Finally, get started on submitting or updating skins that take advantage of these features.

Me? I'm taking the night off. But if anything's broken, let me know.

Update: Whoops. Downloads didn't work. Fixed now.