Microsoft Intros Blog Author

Microsoft Intros Blog Author

Techtree News Staff, Aug 16, 2006 1527 hrs IST

Microsoft has reportedly announced the release of a blog authoring software called "Windows Live Writer" to help users create and edit blog posts.

Microsoft has reportedly announced the release of a blog authoring software called "Windows Live Writer" to help users create and edit blog posts.

The software, which is based on the "what you see is what you get" or "WYSIWYG" theme, according to the company, allows users to create and preview their blog posts in exactly the same way they would appear online.

Windows Live Writer is intended to make the process of composing, updating, and maintaining a blog much easier for non-technical users than it has been till date.

Announcing the software, J J Allaire, team member, Windows Live Writer team, said that Windows Live Writer is a desktop application that makes it easier to compose compelling blog posts, using Windows Live Spaces or any current blog service.

Allaire further said Microsoft's goal in creating Writer is to help make blogging more powerful, intuitive, and fun than what it is. Writer boasts several features that promise a better blogging experience.

The company says the idea behind Writer is to enable users easily compose blog pages using a WYSIWYG interface that looks a lot like Microsoft Word. The application also aims to make it easy to add elements like photos, maps, music, and movies. For instance, a blogger can provide a map with a blog entry that draws data from Windows Live Local maps.

Another feature Microsoft has provided for is the Live Writer Software Development Kit that allows developers to extend the capabilities of Writer, to publish additional content types like video, links from ecommerce sites, and tags.

Windows Live Writer is not only compatible with Windows Live Spaces, but also supports third-party blogging software such as Blogger, LiveJournal, TypePad, and WordPress.