Since I’m following Durian open movie project updates, I’m pretty excited what’s in store for 2.5, namely:

• Updated GUI – the significance of this is that it is completely customizeable, with Python scripting.  Also an overhaul of the GUI has made it better organized and easier to navigate.
• Custom Keyboard Shortcuts – I have to admit, using Blender in the past sometimes overwhelms me due to the number of keyboard shortcuts. At least with this, I can assign keys which would be easier to remember.
• A new Tool System and Data Access architecture.
• 64 Bit versions are now available for OSX
• Almost everything is now animateable.
• Nice additions to the physics engine such as smoke simulation and particle systems.
• Rendering Improvements and Additions

It is really catching up to commercial software, as it is, and it’s also a small package too (Just 18Mb)!

Look to the blender site for the release logs and the downloads.