I have been a fan of Windows Live Writer (WLW), Microsoft’s desktop blogging tool, for quite some time. It allows me to blog from the desktop and relieve myself of the cumbersome web interface. With the release of its newest incarnation (WLW 2011), it is also a good time to provide a review of its features.

WLW now has a Ribbon

WLW is a blog-publishing application featuring WYSIWYG and media editing. One of the greatest strengths of WLW is that it integrates with your blog, so when you are editing a post or creating a new one it does not feel like you are using an alien application. The newest version of WLW incorporates Microsoft’s much lauded ribbon feature which dynamically changes as you select different items on the page.

When text is selected:

When images are selected:

Integration with WordPress.com

To get started, you have to first add your blog detail to WLW. To add a new blog you must first click on the “Add blog account…” button under the “Home” tab on the ribbon.

This will launch the WLW wizard for adding a new blog.

Microsoft has recently partnered with WordPress, so if you select Create a new blog, you will be directed to the WordPress.com website to create a new account and blog.

If you are using other blogging platform, such as Blogger or self hosted WordPress, you can select one of the other platforms to connect it with WLW. For example, when I first added my technology blog TechComet to WLW, I selected the “Other services” link as TechComet is hosted on Google’s Blogger platform.

On the next page you will have to enter the URL of your blog and its username and password. Since, all Blogger blogs are linked to your Google account, simply enter your Google username and password here.

Once you have entered your account details, you will have to create a nickname for your Blog.

That is basically all it takes to add a new blog. Once WLW downloads all the technical information from the Blog, you can start writing and publishing your posts immediately.

Posting

WLW has a number of unique features, and my favourite is its ability to download the theme of your Blog.

As you can see, the theme of my blog has been downloaded and this is an useful visual indicator of how a post will look after publication.

Once you have completed a post you either hit the “Post draft to blog” button if you want to make further edits to your post before publishing, or you hit the “Publish” button to immediately have your new post appear on your blog.

Media Management

WLW’s most powerful feature is its ability to manage videos and pictures as though you were editing a local document.

Along the ribbon you have the option of adding picture or video files from a variety of sources.

Pictures

You can add pictures directly from your computer hard drive, or from the web.

Alternatively, you can add pictures through the “album” function, which allows you to use Window SkyDrive service to create a virtual slideshow of your images.

First select the “Create online album…” or “Add online album…” option.

Next add as many pictures you want into your album and select “Publish” from the ribbon.

Once published, WLW and Windows Live Services will automatically create a slideshow of your images on your blog.

Next, you can use SkyDrive to view these images as a slideshow.

Videos

The video options also allow you to add videos from external video sources such as YouTube.com.

Conclusion

WLW has eliminated the need for me to use Blogger’s, sometimes frustrating, web interface when creating a new post. I believe it will be useful to you too.

WLW is free for download and use. WLW is Windows only.

Download Windows Live Writer 2011

A couple weeks ago I gave some reasons why Hotmail is worth another look. Piggybacking off that post, here is another way Microsoft is listening to what people want.

Skydrive basics

For starters, you get 25GB of web-based storage. This is a very good size for the average user. You have a little extra space so you do not need to worry as much about how many pictures you are uploading.

Skydrive is linked to your Hotmail/Live login. This means when you want to share a picture, file or link, you send it right from the email account you are already using.

Because it is online, you can access things from anything with an internet connection, including mobile devices.

If you think that 25GB is too much for you, here are 5 ways to help you fully utilize your Skydrive account.

1. Backing up of files

While Skydrive is web based, you can easily access it on your Windows desktop with Gladinet. Having a 25GB of online storage for backing up of files is definitely much better than a 2GB Dropbox account.

On thing though, for uploading of any file, you will need to make sure the size of the file is at most 50MB.

Alternatively, you also can sync up to 5GB using Live Mesh.

2. Docs backup and edit docs online

If you are using Microsoft Office 2010, you can easily upload/sync your documents to Skydrive. No addons required. The best thing is, Skydrive is also integrated with Microsoft Web Office, so you can access and edit your documents anywhere with a computer and Internet access.

3. Picture storage

If you are a Picasa user, you know 1GB is not a lot of storage for all of your precious moments. Having 25GB would be a whole lot better wouldn’t it? Loading all of your images on your Skydrive gives you a lot of room and the option to share your pictures with friends. Make sure the permissions allow others to see your albums.

Uploading images is super easy. Simply drag and drop into the upload window.

Once you have all of your images uploades and into folders, you can share them several ways.

4. Links to your favorite sites

Skydrive has other social aspects too. You can store and share links to your favorite sites. You can create a link with description easily accessable and ready to share from anywhere.

At first this may seem like a waste of time since there are other methods to sync and share sites with people. However, if you start a folder for each grouping of favorites, you can share the link to the entire folder with a friend or client. This way, you won’t need to keep sending them emails with links to add to their bookmarks.

5. Accessing Your Photo Gallery From Windows Live Writer

If you use other Live services such as Windows Live Writer, you have access to your photo albums. This means if you have a blog and have an album full of pictures from your latest trip or conference, you can add the album directly to the post you are writing with Live Writer.

Conclusion

These are a few basic uses for the extra space you have to use compared to the 2GB Dropbox and others offer. Skydrive is a really good option for those users who fully embrace the Live services because of the way Skydrive is a common storage and accessable from most of them.

What will you use the extra 23gb for?

Image credit: viagallery.com

With the release of Microsoft Office 2010 in June, let us explore how you can use your Word 2010 as an offline blog editor.

Note: Microsoft Office 2010 beta is available for free download and testing.

1. Open Word 2010. Click on File -> New -> Blog Post

2. If this is the first time you are using it as a blog editor, it will prompt you to register your blog account.

3. Choose your blog provider from the dropdown field. Word 2010 supports a variety of blog platforms, including WordPress, TypePad, Blogger, Windows Live Space, Sharepoint server etc.

4. Enter your blog’s URL and login detail. If you are using WordPress, you will need to enable the XMLRC protocol in your Admin Settings.

5. You will see a Warning prompt that your blog username and password is getting transmitted and could be visible to others. Click Yes to continue.

Once done, you will be able to use Word 2010 as a blog editor.

Word 2010 as compared to Windows Live Writer

Word 2010 is not meant to replace Windows Live Writer. At the moment, it can only serve as a simple blog editor and does not has the full functionality of WLW. It does not supports/allows:

• the use of plugins
• viewing your post in HTML mode
• scheduling of posts
• tags

It does have cool features like:

• the ribbon toolbar
• capture screenshots of existing open windows
• able to insert shapes, charts and word art
• a new feature known as Format painter that allows you to copy one formatting from one place to another

If you are looking for a powerful offline blog editor, WLW is the one to go for, but if you just want a simple editor to edit your posts and not be bothered with installing of extra software, Word 2010 will be able to do the job well.

Have you used Word 2010 as a blog editor? Tell us how you feel.

1.  Twitter Notify Plugin

The Twitter Notify Plugin provides a way for you to tweet your blog post to your followers when publishing using your Twitter account. You are able to customize the format of the tweet in the Options area, or when you press the Publish button. In addition, there is a built-in URL shortener in the plugin. If you are a Twitter user, then this is a must-have plugin for your Windows Live Writer.

2.  Delicious Notify Plugin

The Delicious Notify Plugin allows you to notify Delicious whenever you publish a blog post. In the Options, you are able to enter your Delicious userid and password, and check if you want to automatically publish your blog posts to the service.

3.  TweetMeme Plugin

The TweetMeme Plugin lets you add the TweetMeme button into your blog posts. The Options allows you to add your Twitter name, use an URL shortener, and position the button on the top or bottom. When you publish your blog post, the TweetMeme button will appear. This allows your readers to tweet your blog post, so definitely a plugin to add.

4. DiggThis Plugin

The DiggThis Plugin adds the Digg button to your blog posts, so your readers are able to Digg it, if they want. In the Options, you are allowed to decide on four different types of button styles: badge, compact, button, or the little guy.  You are also able to choose the alignment to be either to the right or left.  Digg users will love this plugin.

5. WLW Bit.ly Plugin

The WLW Bit.ly Plugin lets you shorten all of the URLs in your blog post using the Bit.ly URL shortener. If you have a Bit.ly user account, you can enter it in the Options area. This allows you to use the Bit.ly statistics to view information like how many people clicked on a certain link.

6. Twitter Inserter Plugin

The Twitter Inserter Plugin provides a way for you to add your tweets into your blog post. You are able to select the number of tweets in the Options area.  It’s great to use once in awhile. However, if you use too much, you might alienate your readers.

7. Flickr4Writer Plugin

The Flickr4Writer Plugin lets you add Flickr images from your albums or any image that is allowed to be blogged. You are able to select the image size, spacing, positioning, and alignment. It’s a way to add images to your blog without stealing images. One of my favorite ones, and I use it often. Definitely a must.

8. Zemanta related articles & images Plugin

The Zemanta related articles & images Plugin provides a way for you enter add links, related articles, and images to your blog posts. It is on the side of the Windows Live Writer window, so it provides easy access in allowing you to save time in finding items for your blog posts. Another one of my favorites.  It helps you save time and enriches your blog posts.

9. Amazon Book Linker v1.3 Plugin

The Amazon Book Linker v1.3 Plugin lets you add book information to your blog posts. You are able to modify the image size and the template, which is how your readers will view the Amazon item. If you have an Amazon Associates ID, you are able to add that as well, so you can make profit on the books you add.  Great for people who reviews books or want to share a great book with their readers.

10. xPollinate – Cross Post Plugin

The xPollinate – Cross Post Plugin allows you to cross-post a blog post, or a snippet, to your other blogs and post to Ping.fm when you are publishing.  Ping.fm allows you to post to different social-media networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., so you are able to notify your followers of your blog post by using this plugin. I am starting to use this plugin more often now. Ping.fm is one of the social media tools that I use often, so this saves me plenty of time.

Which social media plugins do you use for your Windows Live Writer?

I am not a lover of Microsoft (especially Windows), but if there is any application from MS that I love, it has to be Windows Live Writer.

Other than its user-friendliness and great integration with the various blog platforms, the thing that attracts me most is its ability to extend its functions with plugins (that seems to be the trend nowadays). With plenty of useful plugins available at the Windows Live Gallery, I have no doubt that this is the most powerful blog editor around. The ten plugins below are my favorite and in my opinion, a ‘must-have‘ for all WLW lovers.

1. word count plugin — This feature is included in the technical preview of the latest version of WLW, but as of the current version, you have to use this ‘Word Count‘ plugin to count the number of words in your post.

2. Insert video plugin — Inserting video into your blog is now make easier with this plugin. Simply paste the video link and the plugin will automatically convert it to a presentable format.

3. code snippet plugin — This is a useful one for techies, geeks or  web developers who frequently have to place code snippet on their blogs. While there are several other ‘insert source code‘ plugins, I find this to be the best.

4. Flickr4Writer plugin — Tired of searching high and low in Flickr for the picture to place in your blog? Flickr4Writer will definitely make your life much easier. Simply input the tag and it will fetch you all the images from Flickr with that tag. All you have to do is to select the images and insert into your post.

5. Insert Wikipedia link plugin — Highlight some text, click the link and you can turn it into a Wikipedia link. A simple plugin, but definitely an useful one.

6. SnagIt Capture plugin — Do a screen capture of your system and insert it into your post.

7. Website capture plugin — As its name implies, this plugin do a screen capture of a website (specify by you) and insert it into your post.

8. Insert Quick link plugin — Instead of having to click on the Insert Link in Live Writer, you can now bring up those options just by pasting a link into Writer with this plugin.

9. Amazon Book lookup plugin — Search for a book in Amazon within WLW and insert the image and affiliate link into the post. You can save the trouble of going to and fro Amazon and WLW.

10.Template plugin — A simple plugin that allows you to create template of links, scripts, text, or snippets that you can reuse it again and again.

Other plugin that should have make the list:

Blog This For Firefox — This plugin adds a button to Firefox which starts a new blog post prepopulated with content and title from the current web page. It allows you to blog quickly when you find something of interest on the web. (Reason for exclusion: This plugin is not compatible with Firefox 3)