Today is a good day - we're shipping Beta 2 of Windows Live Writer.
For the last 6 or so months, we've been hard at work improving Writer, splitting our time between feedback we've gotten from users, features that we believe need to be added to make the product complete, and improvements that make Writer available to more users. For a full rundown of the features, you can check out the Windows Live Writer blog.
I'm thrilled that we're finally getting this into user hands- I can't wait to hear the feedback!
Technorati Tags: Windows Live Writer, Beta
Thank you, straight from the heart.
Posted by: Amit Agarwal | May 31, 2007 at 01:55 AM
Trust me, you will be getting feedback on Writer. Just be sure to check my blog in a week or so.
I've been putting it through some testing, as well as heavy-duty use coding content for a site that is yet to be announced. Between those, I've put in several hours a day using Writer exclusively, on a WinVista box, a WinXP Pro box, and a WinXP laptop.
For the longest time, which working on static sites, I'd code everything by hand, using Notepad or Notepad++. Working on the one site, which is a major undertaking, and going to be hosting via a CMS-based platform, it was easier to use a blog editor to strip all the old garbage from the old content (we're revamping a site, basically, as well as giving it an update), as well as all the old HTML code. Most of it was valid, but sadly, because not everyone validated pages before publishing, not all were valid. So, while working on this site, I've found Writer to be handy.
At the start of this project, just over a year ago, I tested a few blog editors, including BlogDesk and w.Bloggar, and suggested some people, not really those who like to, or even want to give consideration to "hand coding," to check out BlogDesk or w.Bloggar. I told a few people about it, but at that point, wasn't sure Microsoft was going to do anything with it.
Now, with Beta 2 (finally! -- releases ever couple months would be nice -- hint, hint), it looks like Microsoft really is going to move forward with this tool.
Again, keep watching my site. Since you're also interested in OnFolio, watch abou that, as that's beein on my ToDo list for a review for months. I've actually stopped using a similar product because I fell in love with it.
Cheers,
Dave J. (Scoop0901)
http://blog.scoop0901.net/
Posted by: Dave J. (Scoop0901) | June 22, 2007 at 09:17 PM
Glad you're liking Writer. As a side note, Writer now supports creating and editting pages on Wordpress and Typepad- that lets you mix in more standard content with your weblog with minimal fuss. If you haven't tried it out yet, Wordpress is free, so you can give it a go there (http://www.wordpress.com).
Yeah, we at MS are definitely going to stick with Writer, no worries there. We hear you (*many of you*) about that gap between releases. We're hoping to avoid the big lags like that in the future.
Posted by: Charles Teague | June 23, 2007 at 12:23 AM