Windows Live Writer

So Microsoft has this cool new desktop application called Windows Live Writer. It makes blogging as easy as creating documents in Word, and incorporates a few unique features. I wasn’t going to be blogging about for a few days, but it appears the embargo was broken by an unprofessional blogger and I might as well add my two cents while the buzz is still building. First a few pictures of installation and configuration.

What interests me most is the ability to easily insert maps into your posts, and the SDK that lets you add support for other services to Windows Live Writer. With maps you can choose from road views, aerial views, or my favorite: bird’s eye views. Bird’s eye views are only available for certain locations.

Microsoft campus

Here you can see a resized part of the Microsoft campus in the bird’s eye view. You can then modify the layout by clicking on the map. You can specify whether or not text wraps around the map, you can set a caption, and you can set margins so that your text isn’t right up against the map. Another nice feature is being able to resize the maps, which crops the photo instead of distorting it with a real resize that keeps the current aspect ratio.

Adding images is a snap. You can set sizes, and add effects. You can even add watermarks like I have in the screenshots above.

I have to say that the nicest feature is being able to work on your posts in a What You See Is What You Get view. No longer will you have to keep saving your post updates in order to see how they will look. The Web Preview is supposed to be able to show you exactly how your post will look on your site. Though for me it it wasn’t working because it’s creating local copies of the blog’s files but they are all 0kb in file length.

Windows Live Writer is a welcome addition to the publishing arena, and will compete with Performancing for Firefox for my affection. Primarily because Microsoft has made publishing photos to my blog so easy. And I can always create an addon using their SDK to add any features I wish they had.

You can check out the newly published Windows Live Writer team blog. I wonder if they use it to post.

Coverage Elsewhere:
Windows Live Writer: First Impressions at InsideMicrosoft
Windows Live Writer at Coolz0r