Windows Live Writer evolves to your needs
The Windows Live Writer blog announced today that they have a new version of Windows Live Writer Beta 2 ready for download. Not only that the new Windows Live Messenger 8.5 and Windows Live Mail Desktop is available for downloads so if you are using the leaked version of Windows Live Messenger time to get the genuine one.
I have been using and playing around with quite a few desktop publishing tools for quite some time and have always been missing few key features in Live Writer like these:
- No Inline Spell Check.
- Was not able to add in new categories.
- Could not add excerpts to posts.
- Adding keywords to posts did not work.
But the new Beta release 2 is just awesome and has all the above features and more. The new Windows Live Writer Beta 2 adds more features;
Authoring Features
- Inline spell checking
- Table editing
- Ability to add categories
- Page authoring for WordPress and TypePad
- Support for excerpts and extended entries
- Improved hyperlinking and image insertion
- Paste Special
Integration Features
- SharePoint 2007 support
- New APIs enabling custom extensions by weblog providers
- Automatic synchronization of local and online edits
- Integration with Windows Live Gallery
- Support for Blogger Labels
And finally the new plus that is a complete new look and feel and availability in 6 languages. Overall I am quite excited to use the new features as I said I always had a sore point on missing them in Live writer.
Do you publish from your desktop too? If so which platform do you use to publish to your blog. Do let me know through your comments,
Kyle Eslick
May 31st, 2007 at 8:03 am #
I used version 1.0 for awhile but couldn’t stand it after awhile. I’m not sure if I prefer posting within Wordpress or if it was just lacking some features.
I will probably be giving version 2.0 a try soon. It definitely looks like they’ve addressed a lot of the reasons people weren’t using it.
keith
May 31st, 2007 at 8:19 am #
I have been using it as a primary tool for quite some time. I used BlogDesk too which was a bit buggy and used to flicker and lose focus from the writing area weirdly so I gave up on it.
I tried Post2Blog when it became free but again was not comfortable using it. So this release definitely is on top of the list with the additional features.
Madhur Kapoor
May 31st, 2007 at 9:40 pm #
The first version gave me some problem with posts containing images . Lets see if this new version helps .
TechZilo
June 1st, 2007 at 4:06 am #
I have been looking for something like this - Scribefire and Zoundry were my previous experiences. This promises to be better.
Kyle Eslick
June 1st, 2007 at 5:04 am #
What advantages do you enjoy over writing the posts directly in the Wordpress Dashboard?
I didn’t mind it to much, but it didn’t really seem any better than writing in the Dashboard for me, plus I write from several different computers.
keith
June 1st, 2007 at 7:20 am #
There are several advantages like I do not need to worry about uploading pictures to the site and can directly add pictures from my desktop. The writer will directly upload it to the server.
Other than that its just the ease with the editor nothing more, I am more comfortable writing and saving drafts on live writer which I publish when I have completely checked it out.
keith
June 1st, 2007 at 7:23 am #
I don’t seem to have any problems with the images, you can give it a try though
Jon
June 6th, 2007 at 5:40 am #
How do you add an excerpt using the new beta?
keith
June 6th, 2007 at 10:32 am #
@Jon to add a excerpt you have to click on the down arrow near the categories and add it in the field that is provided there.