diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/maintainers-release.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/maintainers-release.md
index 1bc8be515..3875f3daa 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/maintainers-release.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/maintainers-release.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ assignees: enricoros
 
 ---
 
-Release checklist:
+## Release checklist:
 
 - [ ] Update the [Roadmap](https://github.com/users/enricoros/projects/4/views/2) calling out shipped features
 - [ ] Create and update a [Milestone](https://github.com/enricoros/big-agi/milestones) for the release
@@ -31,3 +31,31 @@ Release checklist:
 - Announce:
   - [ ] Discord announcement
   - [ ] Twitter announcement
+
+## Artifacts
+
+1) first copy and paste the former release `discord announcement`, `news.data.ts`, `changelog.md`, `README.md`
+2) then copy and paste the milestone and each indivdual issue (content will be downloaded)
+3) then paste the git changelog 1.2.2...1.2.3
+
+### news.data.tsx
+
+```markdown
+I need the following from you:
+
+1. a table summarizing all the new features in 1.2.3, which will be used for the artifacts later
+2. after the table score each feature from a user impact and magnitude point of view
+3. Improve the table, in decreasing order of importance for features, fixing any detail that's missing
+4. I want you then to update the news.data.tsx for the new release
+```
+
+### GitHub release
+
+Now paste the former release (or 1.5.0 which was accurate and great), including the new contributors and
+some stats (# of commits, etc.), and roll it for the new release.
+
+### Discord announcement
+
+```markdown
+Can you generate my 1.2.3 big-AGI discord announcement from the GitHub Release announcement, and the in-app News?
+```
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index feb827d3e..90ffa0ef3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,7 +21,17 @@ shows the current developments and future ideas.
 - Got a suggestion? [_Add your roadmap ideas_](https://github.com/enricoros/big-agi/issues/new?&template=roadmap-request.md)
 - Want to contribute? [_Pick up a task!_](https://github.com/users/enricoros/projects/4/views/4) - _easy_ to _pro_
 
-### What's New in 1.5.0 🌟
+### What's New in 1.6.0 - Nov 28, 2023 🌟
+
+- **Web Browsing**: Download web pages within chats - [browsing guide](https://github.com/enricoros/big-agi/blob/main/docs/config-browse.md)
+- **Branching Discussions**: Create new conversations from any message
+- **Keyboard Navigation**: Swift chat navigation with new shortcuts (e.g. ctrl+alt+left/right)
+- **Performance Boost**: Faster rendering for a smoother experience
+- **UI Enhancements**: Refined interface based on user feedback
+- **New Features**: Anthropic Claude 2.1, `/help` command, and Flattener tool
+- **For Developers**: Code quality upgrades and snackbar notifications
+
+### What's New in 1.5.0 - Nov 19, 2023
 
 - **Continued Voice**: Engage with hands-free interaction for a seamless experience
 - **Visualization Tool**: Create data representations with our new visualization capabilities
diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index e82ab4579..bc1b9aa5d 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -5,12 +5,22 @@ by release.
 
 - For the live roadmap, please see [the GitHub project](https://github.com/users/enricoros/projects/4/views/2)
 
-### 1.6.0 - Dec 2023
+### 1.7.0 - Dec 2023
 
 - work in progress: [big-AGI open roadmap](https://github.com/users/enricoros/projects/4/views/2), [help here](https://github.com/users/enricoros/projects/4/views/4)
-- milestone: [1.6.0](https://github.com/enricoros/big-agi/milestone/6)
+- milestone: [1.7.0](https://github.com/enricoros/big-agi/milestone/7)
 
-### ✨ What's New in 1.5.0 👊 - Nov 19, 2023
+### ✨ What's New in 1.6.0 👊 - Nov 28, 2023
+
+- **Web Browsing**: Download web pages within chats - [browsing guide](https://github.com/enricoros/big-agi/blob/main/docs/config-browse.md)
+- **Branching Discussions**: Create new conversations from any message
+- **Keyboard Navigation**: Swift chat navigation with new shortcuts (e.g. ctrl+alt+left/right)
+- **Performance Boost**: Faster rendering for a smoother experience
+- **UI Enhancements**: Refined interface based on user feedback
+- **New Features**: Anthropic Claude 2.1, `/help` command, and Flattener tool
+- **For Developers**: Code quality upgrades and snackbar notifications
+
+### What's New in 1.5.0 - Nov 19, 2023
 
 - **Continued Voice**: Engage with hands-free interaction for a seamless experience
 - **Visualization Tool**: Create data representations with our new visualization capabilities
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index fc1f3615a..bb478a9a0 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "big-agi",
-  "version": "1.5.0",
+  "version": "1.6.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "big-agi",
-      "version": "1.5.0",
+      "version": "1.6.0",
       "hasInstallScript": true,
       "dependencies": {
         "@dqbd/tiktoken": "^1.0.7",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 0491da422..2f825d4e5 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "big-agi",
-  "version": "1.5.0",
+  "version": "1.6.0",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "next dev",
diff --git a/src/apps/news/AppNews.tsx b/src/apps/news/AppNews.tsx
index 56b034fdb..750199cd6 100644
--- a/src/apps/news/AppNews.tsx
+++ b/src/apps/news/AppNews.tsx
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ export function AppNews() {
                 </Typography>}
 
                 {!!ni.items && (ni.items.length > 0) && <ul style={{ marginTop: 8, marginBottom: 8, paddingInlineStart: 24 }}>
-                  {ni.items.map((item, idx) => <li key={idx}>
+                  {ni.items.filter(item => item.dev !== true).map((item, idx) => <li key={idx}>
                     <Typography component='div'>
                       {item.text}
                     </Typography>
diff --git a/src/apps/news/news.data.tsx b/src/apps/news/news.data.tsx
index a4d58c212..fddcc77d1 100644
--- a/src/apps/news/news.data.tsx
+++ b/src/apps/news/news.data.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import * as React from 'react';
 
-import { Box, Button, Card, CardContent, Grid, Typography } from '@mui/joy';
+import { Box, Button, Card, CardContent, Chip, Grid, Typography } from '@mui/joy';
 import LaunchIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Launch';
 
 import { Brand } from '~/common/app.config';
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import { clientUtmSource } from '~/common/util/pwaUtils';
 
 
 // update this variable every time you want to broadcast a new version to clients
-export const incrementalVersion: number = 6;
+export const incrementalVersion: number = 7;
 
 const B = (props: { href?: string, children: React.ReactNode }) => {
   const boldText = <Typography color={!!props.href ? 'primary' : 'warning'} sx={{ fontWeight: 600 }}>{props.children}</Typography>;
@@ -57,12 +57,28 @@ export const newsCallout =
 // news and feature surfaces
 export const NewsItems: NewsItem[] = [
   /*{
-  // https://github.com/enricoros/big-agi/milestone/6
+  // https://github.com/enricoros/big-agi/milestone/7
   // https://github.com/users/enricoros/projects/4/views/2
-    versionName: '1.6.0',
+    versionName: '1.7.0',
     items: [
+    // multi-window support
+    // phone calls
     ],
   },*/
+  {
+    versionName: '1.6.0',
+    text: 'Surf\'s Up in Chat Waves:',
+    items: [
+      { text: <><B href={RIssues + '/237'}>Web Browsing</B> support, see the <B href={RCode + '/docs/config-browse.md'}>browsing user guide</B></> },
+      { text: <><B href={RIssues + '/235'}>Branching Discussions</B> at any message</> },
+      { text: <><B href={RIssues + '/207'}>Keyboard Navigation</B>: use Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right to navigate chats</> },
+      { text: <><B href={RIssues + '/236'}>UI fixes</B> (thanks to the first sponsor)</> },
+      { text: <>Added support for Anthropic Claude 2.1</> },
+      { text: <>Large rendering performance optimization</> },
+      { text: <>More: <Chip>/help</Chip>, import ChatGPT from source, new Flattener</> },
+      { text: <>Devs: improved code quality, snackbar framework</>, dev: true },
+    ],
+  },
   {
     versionName: '1.5.0',
     text: 'Enjoy what\'s new:',
@@ -126,5 +142,6 @@ interface NewsItem {
   text?: string | React.JSX.Element;
   items?: {
     text: string | React.JSX.Element;
+    dev?: boolean;
   }[];
 }