Meh! Whatever...

Offline Blogging Software

Spellcrafter — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:09:10 +0000

As is typical of my nature, whenever I start a new hobby, i tend to go a little crazy. It’s not enough to simply start blogging. I have to examine every possible aspect. So today was spent testing a few different offline blogging options. The decision…

Although posting blog entries via the web will typically be the primary method for most bloggers, there are times when life gets in the way. You might be on vacation and unable to get internet service, (although this is becoming increasingly unlikely) or perhaps you just want to do a lot of writing without the distraction of the browser grinning evilly at you. (Mine does this… tell me I’m not alone in this)At these times, an offline blog editor can be just what you need. The capability to write your posts, preview how they will appear, and save them as drafts for later publication can streamline your work process significantly.

Using the following reviews, I tested 3 of the most commonly used editors. All 3 possessed the basic functionalities most blogger would consider useful, and selection of any one will be strictly blogger preference. I won’t go into too much detail, since Michael Garmahis did such a fantastic job already. Be sure to check out the rest of Michael’s site Design Live. You won’t be disappointed.

BlogDesk

BlogDesk is a fast blog client with a simple neutral interface which leaves more space for the actual post and helps to focus on the content. Blogdesk is especially suitable for inexperienced users providing them with Intuitive WYSIWYG Editor. Dictionaries in 14 languages are available for the integrated spell checker. BlogDesk can access all systems that support the MetaweblogAPI or MovableType interface.

Pros:

reach image editor (drop shadow, crop, rotate)

read more option

Technorati tags generator

notebook (save draft text for later use)

frequently used phrases (easy insert of often used phrases, sentences, acronyms or complex formulations)

automatic upload of local links files (mp3,pdf) to blog

Cons:

no ability to use html tags in source view

no integration with photo sharing sites like Flickr

Score: 8/10

Summary: BlogDesk is in the middle between Semagic and w.bloggar forn the one side and BlogJet and Windows Live Writer from the other side. It needs a few features to be added to be more competitive.

BlogJet

BlogJet is a blog client developed by Coding Robots for managing multiple blogs. BlogJet supports all leading Blog Services: WordPress, TypePad, Movable Type, Blogger, MSN Live Spaces, Blogware, BlogHarbor, Squarespace, Drupal, Community Server.There is choice to use WYSIWYG Editor producing clean html code or edit html tags manually in html view. Easy and quick work with pictures implemented as well. Since BlogJet stores posts in the cache, there is access to all of your posts even with no internet connection. I was impressed by BlogJet autodiscovery feature, after installing I need to enter only blog address and password; the rest of configuring BlogJet did itself.

Pros:

Integration with browsers and RSS readers

nice, userfriendly interface with different themes

file attachments

adding tags option

quite rich image formatting options

Youtube video embedding support

Cons:

paid 29.95 euro

Score: 9/10

Summary: it could be ideal blog client if it would be free.

Windows Live Writer

Windows Live Writer is a new tool from Microsoft which nice looking and userfriendly interface is very similar to BlogJet. Besides integration with Windows Live Spaces, there is support for Blogger, LiveJournal, TypePad, WordPress. Windows Live Writer reads your blog’s template and let preview your content while creating it as though it is real preview on your blog. You can create and format posts using your blog’s visual style, including headings, fonts, colors, margins and paragraph styles. When you insert pictures, you’ve got extra options: you can resize the picture, add a nice shadow, adjust brightness and contrast, add some simple effects like sepia, watermark, sharpen. Windows Live Writer also lets you insert maps using Windows Live Local and embed videos.

Pros:

very reach image editor

option to use no follow tag by inserting links

quick video embedding

plugins

automatically save drafts

four different post edit view presets: normal, web layout, web preview, HTML code

Cons:

problems with installation of final version (Windows Live Writer 2008)

no integration with photo sharing sites like Flickr

only Windows Live maps integration

WYSIWYG editor not always produce clean code

Score: 9/10

Summary: Recommended for most users, especially to beginners. Windows Live Writer looks like most promising blog client and candidate for winners since it gathered best features from other blog clients. In my opinion, it needs to be more polished before taking 1st place. The next releases of paid clients have no chances if Windows Live Writer would be a little bit btter.

My own research mirrored the listed reviews and I finally settled on Windows Live Writer. Setting aside the visually appealing interface, my primary purpose for choosing this one over the others is the added functionality of plugins. Anyone who has seen my Firefox installation can attest the I love plugins. One download… and i had added the capability of auto-generating tags for my posts. Another download gave me a large collection of emoticons for jazzing up my posts, but the absolute top reason for selecting this one?

What can i say? We all get a bit forgetful and being reminded to add title, tags, and categories is a necessity, especially for anyone new to blogging. Also be sure to check out Dustin Wax’s most excellent post on making Windows Live Writer sit up and beg…

9 Ways to Get More Out of Windows Live Writer

Lastly, one word of caution for those of you using Firefox 3, the Firefox plugin “Blog This” included in the install, will not work for Firefox 3. Instead you can find the Firefox 3 version at:

Blog This in Windows Live Writer

The addon is still in the experimental stage, but seems to be pretty stable.

Happy Blogging!

Technorati Tags: BlogDesk,Blogjet,Live,Writer,offline,blogging

First post from the Blackberry

Spellcrafter — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:59:55 +0000

One of the things that most intrigued me about Wordpress was the multitude of methods for posting. In particular, I liked the idea of posting to the blog via email from my Blackberry, thereby enabling me to “report” from the road.

photo credit: Dushaun

While Wordpress has a native capacity for this, like most functions, there are available plugins that enhance the built-in capability.

I chose to go with Postie. In part for the enhanced ability for media uploads, but also because it automates the checking of the email account. This is very helpful for anyone unfamiliar with setting up “cron” tasks. (If cron is greek to you, trust me… Get postie)

While I had an issue or two, set up was pretty simple. My primary problem consisted of only one category showing up for email post default. This was frustrating, but the culprit was narrowed down to the category being empty (created solely for blackberry posts, *shrug*)

In all, I highly recommend this plugin for anyone who doesn’t want to be stuck behind the computer while blogging…

Postie can be found at:

http://blog.robfelty.com/plugins/postie/

New platform, new host. Long live Wordpress!

Spellcrafter — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:53:49 +0000

Well, I lasted only about 2 days on Typepad. After attempting to customize a few things, I discovered that I like to fiddle with things more than the average Typepad user. I still think Typepad was a good solution for anyone interested in getting a blog up with little hassle, but as i like to be able to control every aspect of my site, it just wasn’t for me…

It started with a local install of Wordpress on one of my laptops, just to see what the fuss was about. I was intrigued by the 5-minute install claim. Suffice to say, I was impressed. After installation, while nosing through the dashboard, I was won over completely. To have such a powerful blogging platform and yet be so user friendly, what more could you ask for?

It will be a little while before the site is to my liking, but in the long run, I don’t think i could have made a better choice… (except to have made it before even looking at typepad)

Welcome to “Meh! Whatever…”!

Spellcrafter — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:34:49 +0000

Having recently retired from the Air Force, I have a bit more time on my hands nowadays. Since I have spent the last 20 years as the guy in the office to ask about tech and computer issues (be careful though, cause he’ll talk your ear off if you let him), and having enjoyed this immensely, I now seek to move on to a larger audience. If I’m lucky, that is.

I have spent innumerable hours researching products, tech, gadgets, software, hacks, etc. and have had it rough, from time to time, tracking down answers without tearing out my hair. I hope to make things a bit easier for others by consolidating information and providing a starting point for their research.

I may not be a card-carrying expert, but as a tech-savvy fellow, I hope to provide an “average geek on the street” viewpoint for anyone who simply wants the nitty-gritty, hold the confusion.

As for the title, well, what some may find interesting, others may not. At the end of it all, it’s up to the reader to determine if the info is worth the read…

or only “Meh! Whatever…”