The first version of Windows Live Writer is now available.  I’ve been using the betas for a long time, and I think it’s a great application (and it’s free).  I use it to write all of my blog posts.  If it weren’t for Live Writer, I wouldn’t have written nearly so many blog posts.

Windows Live Writer: Out of Beta

Thank you to everyone who tried out the beta releases of Writer over the last year and gave us feedback. Over 1.5 million of you downloaded our last beta release, and your input helped make Writer the product it is today. 

Our goal from the start has been to help make blogging more powerful, intuitive, and fun for everyone. Today, we’re proud to announce that Windows Live Writer 2008 is now available!

Windows Live Writer 2008 (version 12.0.1366.1026)

more…

There are lots of great plugins for Live Writer as well.

• Windows Live Gallery
• Windows Live Writer Plugins

I use this one for doing syntax highlighting: Syntax Highlighter.

At some point I’ll have to try the Ink Blog Plugin on my tablet PC.

I also like Mike Stall’s Paste From Console that I finally got around to trying tonight.  I’ve tweaked the following parameters.

ColorizeHtmlFormat:  <b><span style=”color: rgb(0,0,160)”>{0}</span></b><span style=”color: rgb(164,0,0)”>{1}</span>

HtmlFormat:  <table bgcolor=”dddddd” border=0><tr><td><pre>{0}</pre></td></tr></table>

Here’s what the output looks like.  I may have to play with the colors some more, but it’s a good start.

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Buck Hodges>dir
 Volume in drive C is PROGRAMS
 Volume Serial Number is 342D-79C3

 Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Buck Hodges

10/19/2007  06:30 PM    <DIR>          .
10/19/2007  06:30 PM    <DIR>          ..
07/04/2007  02:32 PM    <DIR>          .thumbnails
12/19/2004  10:12 PM    <DIR>          Desktop
03/02/2006  06:18 PM    <DIR>          My Documents
09/23/2004  06:55 PM    <DIR>          Start Menu
12/25/2003  04:48 PM    <DIR>          WINDOWS
               6 File(s)        357,965 bytes
               8 Dir(s)  42,552,401,920 bytes free

C:\Documents and Settings\Buck Hodges>

Mike has also written a series of posts on various aspects of how to write a plugin for Live Writer.

• Developing Live Writer PlugIns with Edit-and-Continue
• WiX Script for installing Live Writer Plugins
• Creating MSIs for Live Writer PlugIns
• How to add Options to Live Writer PlugIns