For the few people who do not know, Total Miner will be updated soon.
The update is still under testing but should be finished soon.
Here's a comprehensive list of all the new features and additions in the 1.8 update. This list does not include improvements made to existing mechanics and is not necessarily complete.
Version 1.8 (Current):

New Memory Model.
New Lighting Engine.
New Save system.
Anti-modding encryption.

Survival Game Mode (Alpha).
Day/Night Cycle.
Seasonal Changes.
HD Texture Packs (All seasons).
New Biome Based Terrain (Desert, Grasslands, Semi-Alpine).
Dig Deep map size increased.
Top View Map with Markers.
Player Ghosting.
Economy (Player shops).
Sleeping on beds.
Copy/Paste.
Components (Sharing enabled).
Camera/Photo Album (Sharing enabled).
Teleport Channels.
Creative Flooding.
Field Of View Slider.
BookCases now have storage.
Controller Sensitivity range increased.
Sound effect improvements.

27 Keys.
Rare Items.
Gold Block.
Cactus Block.
Porticullis Block.
Rock Wall Block.
Steel Plating Block.
One Way Glass Block.
Proximity Mine Block.
Terracotta Tile Block.
Ambient Sounds Block.
Guilded Wood Panel Block.
Snow and Snow Layer Block.
Scaffold Block (Climbable).
Climbing Ivy Block (Climbable).
Half Block (16 textures).
Sign Block (16 textures).
Stairs Block (16 textures).
Ramp Block (16 textures).
Table Block (16 textures).
Fence Block (16 textures).
Multi-Texture Block (16 textures).
Wall Paintings (16 player pictures).
Books (players can write stories in them).
Placeable Water and Lava blocks

You can discuss the 1.8 update [ Register or Signin to view external links. ]