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10 Best Desktop Blog Editing Applications

blogging, desktop blogging apps, ecto, marsedit, windows live writer, wordpress, writing, zoundry raven

Posting to your Blog Using Desktop Software

Overview: Find out what 10 Desktop Blogging Applications can do to help you post articles to your blog.

The WordPress web interface gives you everything you “need” to write and publish blog posts. Just because the web interface can do a lot, does not mean that it is the “best” tool for everyone. Many people prefer to write and publish their posts from a desktop blogging editor. There are numerous applications that provide you a powerful set of tools for writing and publishing posts directly from your desktop. There are a few significant advantages to writing your posts using a desktop blog editor:

• You can still write when you are not connected to the internet
• Feature-rich desktop publishing experience
• The performance is MUCH faster than the web interface
• Excellent media insertion, editing, and management
• Support for plugins that provide tailored functionality

Here are some of the more popular desktop blogging editors.

Top of the Heap – Desktop Blogging Apps

There are only about three apps that I think are sure things.

• Windows Live Writer
• MarsEdit
• Zoundry Raven

Windows Live Writer – This is my favorite desktop blogging tool on any operating system at any price. Best of all, it’s free! Every possible feature that you could want is included in Live Writer. I use a Mac to write my blog posts, but I run Parallels (virtual machine) to run this Windows only app. Yes, it’s that good. I just hope that they make a Mac version some day. What I Love:

• Publish posts as DRAFT status and opens the web-based post editor in one click
• Plugins – an increasing amount of useful tools that make the rich get richer
• Compose posts with your blog theme’s formatting applied in real-time
• Edit existing posts
• Very polished interface and user experience

Could be Better:

• It occasionally adds some funky code
• No version for Mac

Windows Live Writer Interface

MarsEdit – MarsEdit is a half-step behind Windows Live Writer, but it’s still the best blogging tool available for Mac. It costs $30, but it’s definitely worth it if you want to avoid the hassle of running a Windows Virtual Machine. I think it’s about one version away from being truly awesome. What I Love:

• You can edit code in the app or your favorite code editing app
• Nice smooth working experience
• You can add a lot of Post metadata directly in the interface

Could be Better:

• The ability to Post as Draft instead of Published
• It seems like there are always about 12 windows open
• No Windows version

MarsEdit Interface

Zoundry Raven – This is a pretty good (Windows only) tool if you’re on a PC and you don’t want to use Windows Live Writer. (Not quite sure who would do that; but I digress.) It has almost all of the “must-have” features that I typically look for in a slightly less polished package. The one nice thing I like is that there is a portable version that can be run on any Windows machine, right from a USB Flash drive. (See how to set up Portable Apps on a USB drive here .) What I Love:

• Very clean, sensible writing interface
• Contains a ton of features, even compared to the paid apps
• You can get a portable version that loads on a USB drive and runs on any Windows machine

Could be Better:

• No Mac Version
• No plugins or extensions

Zoundry Raven Interface

They Could Have Been Contenders

These apps could be good if they just add some of the features and stability of the big dogs. Close, but no cigar.

• Ecto
• Qumana
• Blog Desk
• Blog Jet

Ecto –  $20 – I used Ecto for a little while (right after Qumana) to write posts. It has a few more features than Qumana, but it’s not nearly as good as MarsEdit. Believe me, the extra $10 is well worth it. What I Love:

• It has a decent WYSYWIG interface
• It integrates with Flickr and Amazon

Could be Better:

• Not great options for working with Code and Design views
• No upload as draft
• It’s just not-quite-right

Ecto Interface

Qumana – I actually used this app for a brief time when I switched from Windows to a Mac. This was the first Mac based blogging tool that I found fairly useable. I’ve moved on to some better options, but it’s not the worst tool I’ve seen. What I Love:

• Decent Media Insertion and Formating
• The have good integration with their own advertising platform
  • Con – it’s their own platform. Adsense please.
• Runs on Windows and Mac

Could be Better:

• No easy way to add CSS Styles to content. (Headings, etc.)
• No plugins

Qumana Interface

Blog Desk– Blog desk is a pretty good Windows blogging app. The interface is laid out in a sensible way that will be easy to figure out. It’s not as good as my favorite blogging apps, but it’s usable. What I Love:

• Simple and easy to use
• Integrates well with WordPress features

Could be Better:

• Not as full featured as some of the other options

Blog Desk Interface

Blog Jet – The name sounds like BlogDesk and the interface and features look alike too.  It’s pretty good and free, but there are a few better choices for the same great price. Good, not great. What I Love Like:

• Clean, simple interface.
• Media insertion and management

Could be Better:

• Added CSS styles
• Source Code editing

Blog Jet Interface

Not Quite Ready for Prime Time

These apps are just not worth a look.

• Thingamablog
• Bleezer

Thingamablog– I didn’t like Thingamablog at all. It was buggy and clunky. It also was flaky when I was trying to set up my sites. ThingamaBLOB is more like it. What I Love Like:

• It does support Windows, Mac, and Linux

Could be Better:

• Multi-platform support means that you get a bad app on any computer that you use
• No features – no fun!

Thingamablog Interface

Bleezer – This was another disappointment. It runs as a self-contained Java app from anywhere on any Operating System. Java apps kinda suck for a variety of reasons. They are slow and ugly, to name a few. Bleezer is no exception. What I Love Like:

• Multi-platform support
• Not much else

Could be Better:

• Java is slow and flaky
• It doesn’t have a compelling feature set
• No fun to use

Bleezer Interface

Desktop Blogging Application Feature Comparison

The table below compares the desktop blogging applications covered here on some critical features.

Additional Resources

Here are a few articles that go into more detail on desktop blogging editors:

WordPress Desktop Blogging: 5 Tools Reviewed – Centernetworks.com

15 Desktop Blogging Tools Reviewed- SmashingMagazine.com

Desktop Blogging: 20 Best Blogging Software To Help You Blog From Your Desktop– WebDesignBooth.com

Desktop blog editor comparison– Lifehacker.com

Desktop Blogging Clients for Linux Labanol.org

1

Share Every Open Browser Tab in 5 Seconds – Tab Bundles Tutorial

Chrome + Tab Bundles + Bit.Ly = Browser Tab Sharing Perfection

Overview: You will learn how to create one link to every open browser tab in 5 seconds using Tab Bundles and Bit.Ly URL Shortener.

Save Time Sharing Links

When I am researching something on the Internet I usually have several browser tabs open. I recently found a handy tool that lets me save the URLs of every open tab in a single click. The Tab Bundles browser extension for the Google Chrome Browser gets the URLs of every open tab, and puts them on a single page. The Bit.ly URL Shortening Service then creates a short link to this page. Now, you can Email, FaceBook, Tweet, or Bookmark this collection of pages. The whole process takes about 2 – 3 seconds. Really, it’s that fast.

Creating a Tab Bundle

Let’s say you were researching which fancy new camera that a friend should buy. You narrow it down to 5 or 6 choices that they should consider. Let’s create a single link that will give them a brief overview of all of the pages that you have open.

Install the Tab Bundles Extension for Google Chrome

Start out by using Google Chrome to do your research. Then, go install the Tab Bundles extension in your browser.

You will see a small () icon on the Chrome menu. Click the Tab Bundles button.

A new tab will open to Bit.Ly, which is a URL shortening service.

You will see the URL of every tab that you had open in a text box.

Click the Shorten button to create shortened links for each of the URLs.

Bit.ly will create a shortened link for all of the original URLs. You can copy any of the short links now, but what’s the fun in that? Let’s get create a Bundles that will hold all of these links.

Click the Bundles button.

A new page will be created that you can give a unique title to before you share it. This page contains the Page Title, Page Description, Thumbnail Image, and of course a Link to all of the pages that you had open.

Now, you can share a link to this page by copying the shortened URL on the right hand side of the link bundle.

You can even go back there and view statistics on how many clicks each of the links received.

Once you learn how to do this, the whole process can go from a mess of tabs to one short Email, Twitter, FaceBook, etc ready link in about 5 seconds.

Possible Uses for Tab Bundles

OK, this all looks pretty easy, but what are some cool ideas for using Link Bundles?

• Sharing any type of research with friends, family, and colleagues
• Christmas & Birthday lists
• Sending a bunch of restaurant choices for your friends to peruse before a night on the town
• Sharing a several cool news article on a current story
• Posting a Resource Roundup to Twitter and FaceBook

I would love to hear what you would do with a Tab Bundle. Put your amazing idea in the Comments below.

Creating Tab Bundles – Video Tutorial

See how to create your own tab Bundles in the video below.

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The 10 Best Blogs on Earth

My Favorite Stuff to Read

A Day without good reading material is wasted!

I read a lot of different blogs every day to keep myself informed, entertained, and inspired. When I say “a lot”, my RSS Reader currently has 286 subscriptions. In this massive collection, not all are created equal. I have to admit that I usually skip/scan through lots of these sites, however I thoroughly read a few gems every day.

Here is a list of 10 GREAT sites that I am constantly impressed by each and every day. If you think that my site bears some resemblance to any of them, that’s no insult to me. Anyway, if you’re looking for some good stuff to read, here goes:

The Best of the Best

These three sites never fail to impress me.

Lifehakcer.com – Nobody does it any better! If you want to get the most useful tips and tricks on anything from computer software to cooking, they’re the best. If I had to pay for blogs, this would be the first one to get my money. Go there and learn some of the coolest stuff ever. (Owned by Gawker.com)

SmashingMagazine.com – If you want to learn anything and everything about web design and development, look no further. SmashingMagazine has some of the highest quality writing that I have seen anywhere on the web or in print. Wanna learn about HTML5 + CSS3? They’re all over it! Wanna learn about Typography? Yup, it’s there. Everything they do is amazing. This is a MUST READ! They have a smaller, but equally awesome site, SmashingApps.com that covers web and desktop applications. (Owned by SmashingNetwork)

ReadWriteWeb.com – They provide analysis, predictions, and insights into whatever is going on in the world of Technology. Not only do I love the quality of their writing, I love the choices of things that they write about. The articles are always though-provoking. I guarantee that I comment on more of their articles that every other blog combined. If they don’t make you think, you’re probably just boring. (Self-owned)

The Rest of the Best

These sites brighten up my day whenever I read them:

DownloadSquad.com – I learn about lots of the cool new/updated software that I try and use on DownloadSquad. They always uncover hidden nuggets from the software world. If you want to know about a useful Windows Utility, new Linux Distribution, soon-to-be big web service, or anything else, stop on by. Whenever I read an article there, I am off on some new little experiment to tweak up my computing experience. (Owned by AOL.com)

TechCrunch.com - This is not just one of the biggest Tech blogs, it’s one of the biggest blogs period. They cover just about everything in the world of technology. I always find great insights into what is and will be happening around the tech industry. The breadth of topics that they cover is too wide and deep to list, but they do it all very well. (Owned by AOL.com)

How-ToGeek.com – This site has a never-ending list of software tutorials covering just about anything on your computer. They are heavily Windows focused. Their goal is very similar to this site, they just produce A LOT more tutorials. If you like what I do then you’ll LOVE them.  (Self-owned)

SearchEngineJournal.com – They cover everything related to Search Engines and Search Engine Optimization that you could ever wish to know. If you have a website of any kind, you absolutely need to read SearchEngineJournal every single day. Believe me, you won’t regret it. (Owned by Alpha Brand Media)

ProBlogger.net – Got a blog? Wanna make it better? Stop reading and go to ProBlogger.net right now! Darren Rowse is the best source of tips, techniques, and inspiration that any blogger could ever get. If you read his blog regularly, your writing, marketing, and traffic is sure to improve dramatically. (Owned by Darren Rowse)

CopyBlogger.com – Brian Clark will help you learn how to write compelling content that will hook your readers. There are so many useful tips here that your head will explode. He has a great style and is an even better teacher. This site is sure to improve your writing. (Owned by Brian Clark)

BoingBoing.net – I don’t even know how to explain this site. They write about anything and everything, as long as it’s a little weird. Everything they do is really interesting, that’s all I know. After plowing through 325 or so tech articles, I’m thankful to come across something out of left field that makes me smile or scratch my head. What a great diversion. (Owned by I’m not quite sure?)

What do all of these sites have in common?

They all do a great job of showing, teaching, or inspiring me. They always add something valuable to my day. I love how the make me think, stretch, and learn. If you’re not reading good stuff every day (and you should be) just click on a few of the links above. Your day will instantly get better. I promise.

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5

How to Link Cells in Different Excel Spreadsheets

Excel Spreadsheet Linking Tutorial

Overview: Learn how to link data in one Excel Spreadsheet to data in cells of another worksheet or workbook using linking formulas.

Pulling All of your Information Together

Excel allows one worksheet to get information from cells in another worksheet. The other worksheet can be inside of the same workbook (file) or in an entirely different one. This is a nice way to use certain sheets for information input (think transactions, prices, account balances) and other worksheets to summarize and and report on the detailed data (think dashboards).

The process of linking data between Excel worksheets and/or workbooks actually only involves a few simple steps:

1. Open all of the Excel files that you want to link
2. Pick the linked data’s Destination cell
3. Select the Soure Data to be linked
4. Press the Enter key

Linking Excel Worksheets within the Same Workbook

Open your Excel spreadsheet and go to the worksheet where you want to display the linked data and click in the desired destination cell.

Press the “equals” key on your keyboard to begin the linking formula. Then, click on the worksheet (tab) where the source data resides.

Click in the cell where the source data resides.

Notice that the Worksheet name, then the cell name appear in the formula bar.

Press the Enter key.

The source data will be displayed in the destination cell.

Notice how the Worksheet and Cell are displayed in the formula bar.

Linking Excel Worksheets Between Different Workbooks

?Open up all the your Excel spreadsheets whose data you would like to link.

Go to the worksheet where you want the source data to be displayed and click in the destination cell. Press the “equals” key then switch to the Excel Workbook where the source data resides.

?

?Click in the cell where the source data resides.

?

?Notice that the Workbook (file) Name, the Worksheet name, then the Cell name appear in the formula bar.

Press the Enter key.

The source data will be displayed in the destination cell.

That’s the entire process. Not that hard, right?

Linking Excel Spreadsheets Video Tutorial

See how to link up your spreadsheets in the video tutorial below.

1

An iPad Killer Finally Arrives – It’s the MacBook Air

The MacBook Air is about to Obsolete the iPad

OVERVIEW: My prediction of how the next generation of the MacBook Air will completely replace the iPad.

My Trip to the Mall

I went to the Apple Store this weekend while I as at the mall. (Clothes shopping with the wife.) I checked out one of the new 11 inch MacBook Air ($999) display models. I was amazed at how close in size it was to the iPad ($550 – $800). The other thing that surprised me was how much “better” it was than the old ones. This things is smaller than a Netbook and as powerful as a decent MacBook.

What the MacBook Air Could/Should Become

?As I fondled it, I couldn’t help picturing a future version with the iPad’s touchscreen and one of those swiveling hinges that convertible tablet have. Not a clumsy, clunky one; a sleek, beautiful one that Apple would make. I would not be surprised if Apple somehow merged the two products together into some MacBook/iPad hybrid that would be the only gadget you need. Why would Apple ever want to do that you ask?

Why is the MacBook Air Better?

It’s a REAL COMPUTER - The iPad is amazing at what it does. However, it is NOT A COMPUTER! It’s just not. You’re not going to type an important Word document or crunch up a bunch of Excel data with it. You’re not going to Photoshop something for a client or edit and render a video on the thing either. A Mac can easily run the little apps from an iPad or iPhone while running any Productivity or Creative apps.

Physical Keyboard - Sure the touchscreen keyboard is clever and intuitive, but try to type anything more than a few sentences. Did I forget to mention a real live mouse with a scroll-wheel? Yeah, exactly.

Camera - Still the biggest knock you can make on an iPad is the puzzling lack of a camera. Imagine video chatting, snapping photos, filming events. Then, imagine editing that stuff using real, full-blown Photoshop and iMovie. That sounds like a killer device to me.

Real Applications - Photoshop, iMovie, Word, Excel, Skype, etc. Enough said. (Oops, I forgot about Flash websites.)

Ports - Hook up a mouse, printer, scanner, drawing tablet, camera, giant monitor without buying any ridiculous adapter contraptions.

No Acessories Needed - Wanna protect your touchscreen – close the lid. Wanna type – you already have a keyboard. Wanna load pics from your camera – you already have a card reader. Wanna super hard, protective case for your iPad – the Air is freakin metal. If you want to watch movies on it, you don’t need to buy some stupid stand to carry around. Just open it – voila.

Storage - What if you have a bunch of Songs, Photos, Movies, and Documents? Don’t try to put them on an iPad. Now, you would have that awesome device that could leverage ALL of your favorite files.

Why is the iPad Better?

Battery Life - This is the biggest advantage by far. You can use the iPad for a full day. Don’t try that on any full computer.

Size and Weigth - The iPad is definitely smaller and lighter. I guess that matters if you can’t handle the extra weight of about three or four postage stamps.

Price - $500 on the low end is a lot better than a grand. Getting both devices in one offsets that a little.

Specialization - The iPad does what it does in such an elegant, effective manner that it’s hard to imagine a multi-use device being better.

Hardware

There are really two major things that need to happen for the Air to replace the iPad. The first, obvious thing is the screen. They need to put a touch screen on it. This should not be too difficult, they already have the best touchscreens in the world. The second thing is a swiveling hinge that allows the screen to fold back on itself. Then, it’s a tablet that is just as portable as an iPad.

Software

In order to fully realize the benefits of the iPad, they need to be able to run the full iOS interface when the device is in tablet mode. This can be achieved in a few ways – both have pros and cons.

Dual Boot

The first way is to Dual Boot the device (using Bootcamp) from OSX to iOS as needed. The benefit of this approach would be Battery Life (iOS will not push the hardware as much, therefore last longer.). The big drawback is obvious – boot in and out of OS’s is a slow pain in the neck. If they took this path, they would probably want to make an app in OSX and iOS that does a one-click reboot from one OS to the other.

Visualization

The second way is by running iOS as a Virtual Machine that launches as an application from OSX. This would be the fastest approach, because you could keep both systems running all the time. Just switch to the iPad Virtual Machine application and you are instantly running your iPad. They could put some hot-key combination into OSX or even a physical button on the keyboard to make the switch instant. I would probably configure it to automatically switch in and out of the iPad app when you swivel the screen between laptop and tablet modes.

The major drawback to this would be battery life. If you keep the full Mac Operating System running all the time, you are going to put a heavy strain on the battery. I would guess that some type of hardware slowdown could be initiated when iPad mode is running to mitigate this some.

One More Thing

Oh yeah, what if iOS is not your thing? I’m sure that Android, WebOS, BlackBerry Playbook, Windows 7 Phone, or Symbian would gladly allow you to run their operating systems and buy their apps too. Now, the next time one of your friends says that their {your OS here} device is better than yours, you can shut them right up.