Here we'll post snapshot information as it comes, and discuss the upcoming additions to minecraft! I'll post the last 3 for now;
12w32a
Villagers will now react positively on new trades, and negatively if you hurt them
This effect only takes place if the villager recognizes nearby housing, most commonly with naturally spawned villagers
There is a third, unused particle effect added of a villager's face looking angry. Angry Villager Particle.png
Villagers will not remove trades, but trading something else may be required to renew the old ones
Zombies, Skeletons and Zombie Pigmen sometimes spawn wearing equipment including enchanted weapons and any type of armor, depending on the difficulty level.
Added Zombie Villagers
Villagers have a chance of turning into zombies after being killed by one.
Zombie spawn eggs may spawn zombie villagers.
Zombie villagers can naturally spawn.
Zombie villagers can be cured, becoming normal Villagers again.
To do this, first use a Splash Potion of Weakness on it. Then, right-click on it with a level one Golden Apple. After several minutes, it will turn back into a normal villager.[2]
Rarely, villagers can spawn in the nether near nether portals.
New "villages.dat" file in the data folder of world saves
Added the Command Block intended for adventure maps.
It can run server commands when triggered by a redstone signal.
You can use @player or @p as a placeholder for the nearest player.
This block will not be craftable and is currently not available in the creative mode inventory, but can be obtained via the command /give 137
New commands:
/difficulty <new difficulty>
/gamerule <rule name> [value]. Value can be defined as false / true. All rules except keepInventory are true by default. The available rules are as follows:
doFireTick (false=fire cannot spread)
mobGriefing (false=creeper explosions do not damage blocks)
keepInventory (true=keep inventory on death)
doMobSpawning (false=mobs do not spawn)
doMobLoot (false=mobs do not drop loot)
doTileDrops (false=blocks do not drop items when breaking)
/spawnpoint [player] [<x> <y> <z>]
/weather <clear/rain/thunder> [duration in seconds]
Added the Beacon Block (Named "Work in Progress" ingame).
By building a pyramid composed of storage blocks such as Blocks of Emerald or Blocks of Diamond and placing this block on top, the player gains access to several powers.
A full pyramid can provide level II powers, should the player select the level I variation in the primary powers section.
It can not be crafted, although a crafting recipe is planned.
It can be obtained via the "Miscellaneous" tab in the creative inventory, or with the /give 138 command.
The minimum range is 16 blocks
Gives off a light level of 15, as bright as Glowstone
Players within the blocks' range will be given the selected effects every 4 seconds
The best configuration of blocks requires 164 blocks
A working Potion of Night Vision is in the creative inventory.
Zombie Attack Animation shows when it's holding a weapon.
Iron Golems now attack Slimes and Magma Cubes.
12w34a
Added item frames.
Crafted like a painting but with leather instead of wool.
Added cobblestone wall and mossy cobblestone wall.
Added flower pot.
Added new Full-screen toggle to the Video settings.
Added new use Vsync toggle in the Video settings.
Improved maps
Maps now align to a grid, making it easier to create adjacent maps.
A Compass and Paper do now create an Empty Map
An empty map has no data on it until you right click on it. The point on your world where you right clicked it is the map's center
A map (with data) can be cloned. Cloned maps are stackable
Maps can be zoomed out (but not zoomed in)
Stairs now auto-arrange into corners. This is a test and may change based on feedback.
Mobs (and all other entities) can travel through portals.
Leather armor can be dyed.
The default color of leather has changed.
You can right-click a full cauldron with dyed armor to remove dye.
Tamed Wolves' collars can be dyed.
Removed the “Work in Progress block†from the Creative menu.
Added two new crops (carrots and potatoes) and associated items.
Carrots
Golden carrots
Potatoes
Baked potatoes
Poisonous potatoes
Carrots and potatoes can be planted in tilled soil.
Zombies have a chance to drop a carrots and potatoes.
F3+P will toggle the auto-pause when the window loses focus (mainly for debugging).
F3+H will toggle detailed item descriptions (also for debugging).
Added arrow-sensitive wooden buttons.
The particle effect when a trade with a Villager has been successful has changed.
Trapdoors can be placed in top-most position (based on cross-hair aim).
Added a mob called a Wither, only available through external modification such as editing mob spawners, mods, or hacks. It shoots exploding projectiles called Wither Skulls and destroys nearby blocks. It also has a boss health bar.
Added Potion of Invisibility.
Mobs do not attack you until you bump into them.
Potion also hides the player's name tag.
Fire spreads differently based on difficulty.
Brewing recipes for Potions of Night Vision and Invisibility added:
Potion of Night Vision is brewed by adding a golden carrots to a Awkward Potion.
Potion of Invisibility is brewed by adding a Fermented Spider Eye to a Potion of Night Vision.
Added an unused texture in gui/items.png.
Mob grinders now give less XP when you farm them continuously.
12w34b
Changed recipes for buttons. They now require 1 stone block/wooden plank to craft.
Leather and diamond armor textures slightly changed:
Leather armor sleeves are extended by one pixel.
Their item texture has been changed to match the new texture.
Diamond armor sleeves now have a notch on the inner side.
Tweaked the “hidden feature†(still not ready for release).
Removed "map_#/#" on the map and added "Map #" in the tool tip
Added boss names above boss health.
When taken down to half health, Withers will gain Wither armor, making them immune to arrows.
Zombies will now pick items up from the ground.
Zombies and Skeletons can now pick up armor and swords and wear it.