Merge pull request #8740 from Couchers-org/na/spring-blog-post

Spring Release Blog Post

Author: nabramow

app/backend/templates/v2/activeness_probe.mjml

@@ -19,12 +19,12 @@
 <mj-section padding="0px">
   <mj-column>
     <mj-text>Since you logged in last, we've had some really exciting new updates.</mj-text>
-    <mj-text>In our latest release (v1.2), we launched dark mode, profile photo galleries (you can now upload multiple photos!), a communities search feature, and the ability to duplicate events. We also opened our official merch shop where you can get Couchers.org hats, hoodies, stickers, and more! Plus, we're getting close to releasing a mobile app for iOS and Android — you can sign up to be a Beta tester! Read about all the updates here:</mj-text>
+    <mj-text>    In our latest release (v1.3), launched our mobile app on iOS and Android, improved the dashboard, overhauled messaged and added event features! Read about all the updates here:</mj-text>
   </mj-column>
 </mj-section>
 <mj-section padding="0px">
   <mj-column>
-    <mj-button background-color="#00a398" color="white" border-radius="5px" href="https://couchers.org/blog/2026/02/05/couchers-v1.2-release">
+    <mj-button background-color="#00a398" color="white" border-radius="5px" href="https://couchers.org/blog/2026/05/25/couchers-spring-release">
       <b>Read more on our blog</b>
     </mj-button>
   </mj-column>

app/backend/templates/v2/activeness_probe.txt

@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ These check-ins help surfers find active hosts more easily and keep response tim
 
 Since you logged in last, we've had some really exciting new updates.
 
-In our latest release (v1.2), we launched dark mode, profile photo galleries (you can now upload multiple photos!), a communities search feature, and the ability to duplicate events. We also opened our official merch shop where you can get Couchers.org hats, hoodies, stickers, and more! Plus, we're getting close to releasing a mobile app for iOS and Android — you can sign up to be a Beta tester! Read about all the updates here:
+In our latest release (v1.3), launched our mobile app on iOS and Android, improved the dashboard, overhauled messaged and added event features! Read about all the updates here:
 
-https://couchers.org/blog/2026/02/05/couchers-v1.2-release
+https://couchers.org/blog/2026/05/25/couchers-spring-release
 
 
 Best,

app/backend/templates/v2/generated_html/activeness_probe.html

@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@
                               </tr>
                               <tr>
                                 <td align="left" style="font-size:0px;padding:10px 25px;word-break:break-word;">
-                                  <div style="font-family:Ubuntu, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1;text-align:left;color:#333333;">In our latest release (v1.2), we launched dark mode, profile photo galleries (you can now upload multiple photos!), a communities search feature, and the ability to duplicate events. We also opened our official merch shop where you can get Couchers.org hats, hoodies, stickers, and more! Plus, we're getting close to releasing a mobile app for iOS and Android — you can sign up to be a Beta tester! Read about all the updates here:</div>
+                                  <div style="font-family:Ubuntu, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1;text-align:left;color:#333333;">In our latest release (v1.3), launched our mobile app on iOS and Android, improved the dashboard, overhauled messaged and added event features! Read about all the updates here:</div>
                                 </td>
                               </tr>
                             </tbody>
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@
                                     <tbody>
                                       <tr>
                                         <td align="center" bgcolor="#00a398" role="presentation" style="border:none;border-radius:5px;cursor:auto;mso-padding-alt:10px 25px;background:#00a398;" valign="middle">
-                                          <a href="https://couchers.org/blog/2026/02/05/couchers-v1.2-release" style="display: inline-block; background: #00a398; color: white; font-family: Ubuntu, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; margin: 0; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; padding: 10px 25px; mso-padding-alt: 0px; border-radius: 5px;" target="_blank">
+                                          <a href="https://couchers.org/blog/2026/05/25/couchers-spring-release" style="display: inline-block; background: #00a398; color: white; font-family: Ubuntu, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; margin: 0; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; padding: 10px 25px; mso-padding-alt: 0px; border-radius: 5px;" target="_blank">
                                             <b>Read more on our blog</b>
                                           </a>
                                         </td>

app/version

@@ -1 +1 @@
-v1.2
+v1.3

app/web/dashboardNews.json

@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 {
+  "2026-05-25": {
+    "title": "Couchers 1.3 Spring Release: What's new in v1.3?",
+    "link": "/blog/2026/05/25/couchers-spring-release"
+  },
   "2026-05-15": {
     "title": "Couchers.org mobile app out on iOS and Android!",
     "link": "/blog/2026/05/15/mobile-app-release"

app/web/features/dashboard/Dashboard.tsx

@@ -42,6 +42,15 @@ export default function Dashboard() {
 
             <PageTitle>{t("dashboard:welcome")}</PageTitle>
 
+            <Alert severity="info" sx={{ marginBottom: theme.spacing(2) }}>
+              <Typography variant="body1">
+                New blog post:{" "}
+                <StyledLink href={dashboardNews["2026-05-25"].link}>
+                  {dashboardNews["2026-05-25"].title}
+                </StyledLink>
+              </Typography>
+            </Alert>
+
             <Alert severity="info" sx={{ marginBottom: theme.spacing(2) }}>
               <Typography variant="body1">
                 New blog post:{" "}