Windows Live Writer

I thought I’d give Windows Live Writer a go, so here goes.

Connecting Lived Writer to my Blog accounts was really easy and I can manage all my blogger accounts from here.  The layout of Live writer is just like the new versions of MS word…with the Ribbon;  Editing the font is the same as editing in word, so really easy to use.  The thing I like the most is the live spell checker.  Again like word, it underlines the words it thinks I may have spelt incorrectly and the F7 key brings up Spell Checker.

The insert photograph option is good for me as this blog is about photography and technology. 

All in all Windows Live Writer looks to be a good option for new blog writers as it is very simple to use.  I have to say I quite like it and my well continue to use it.

The final test will be how it posts to my blog site…  Lets give it a try.

A slight technical error there, caused by the user (Problem exists between keyboard and chair).

It posted without any issues, however then saving this as a draft to the website then removed the posting to live.  I also found that editing the post in Blogger was difficult as it showed all of the code.

Apart from those couple of issue, mostly caused by me;  The software is easy to use; works well and published well.  I like it.

MsG

Photos, Windows 7 and the Cloud

Building a new pc becomes quite a long process; installing windows, I opted for windows 7; then all the software I use. I like Gimp and Ufraw for handling the raw images from my Nikons. Then I needed to transfer all of my documents and photos across from my laptop, that took several hours, so I went bed and left it running. Then there came the shortcuts to all the websites I use, Facebook, Flickr, Blogger to name but a few, all the username and passwords for each, I'm sure I've missed several, but they'll come to light in time.

Once I was happy most of what I will need was on my nice new pc, I thought I would have a look at the raw photos I had taken recently. My laptop has been playing up for some time, hence no new photos have been posted for a while. But alas I had forgotten how rubbish windows was at displaying the thumbnails of raw files. Time for a quick rethink!

I decided to give the Windows Live Photo Gallery a try, It couldn't do any worse than windows was doing on it's own. And to my surprise the software was actually pretty good. Not only does it display my raw files well enough for me to able to choose which files I want to work on, but i really like the batch tagging option, which I will use as it makes it easier to find images later. I also like the cloud editing and sharing options, which I will try to see if they are any good.

I know there are other ways of doing everything this software can do, but in all I was pleasantly surprised with the windows live photo gallery as a means of managing my images.

Social Networks and Blogging

Social networks and blogging, what's it all about? I have been asked that question very recently. The short answer I gave was that it is a way of like mind people to share their ideas, views and tips. That's certainly why I started out on the social media networks. My first blog Not Just Surviving, Thriving is about my battle with depression and I write in it when I have something to share. As part of my recovery from depression I started drawing, painting and taking photographs. The photography really took off and before I knew it I was being asked to photograph weddings, take portraits of peoples children, plus I was out photographing the plants and animals of our beautiful countryside.

So to share these images and promote my photography I started a Facebook page and I started this blog Picture It Photography.

Going back to the original question, what's it all about? It's about sharing ideas. So am I a sucessful blogger? Well my answer to that is, if just one person is helped by my Not just surviving, thriving blog, or just one person is inspired or made to smile by my photographs then I have succeeded. But remember life is not about the goal, it is about the journey. Enjoy the journey and you have led a successful life.

MsG