Best Offline Blog Editors And Web Publishing Tools - Mini-Guide

To write a blog post when you are not connected to the Internet, offline blog editors are the official solution. With these tools you can easily write, edit, spell-check and manage the content of your blog even though you are not connected to the net. In this mini-guide I have selected for you the best offline blogging tools available out there.

While most offline blog editors support features like visual-preview, text-alignment, adjustable font styles and so on, there are a few capable also of managing your trackback pings, your Twitter notifications or your ability to publish to multiple blogs.

But how do you select the most appropriate offline blog editor among so many possible choices?

To help you identify your ideal offline blog editor, I have selected some basic criteria you can use to evaluate and select your ideal offline blogging solution. These the elements that can help you decide which could be your favorite offline blog editor:

• OS: Supported operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux)
• Blogging platform: Supported blogging services (WordPress, MovableType, TypePad, etc.)
• Media embed: Feature that allows media content to be embedded inside a blog post.
• Spell checking: Automatic check of grammar mistakes and typos.
• Multi-blog posting: The ability to post simultaneously to different blogging platforms.
• Ping: Notifications to multiple search engines after your publish a blog post.
• Tagging: Notification in Digg, Technorati, or other similar services once the post has been published.
• Notification via Twitter: Automatic notification on Twitter after publishing a new post.

Best Offline Blog Editors And Web Publishing Tools

1. Bleezer ***DEAD
   
   
   
   Bleezer is a free offline blog editor for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Bleezer works with any blogging platform, allowing you to create your posts without being connected to the Internet. Spell check, media content embed, pings, and tag features up and running. No Twitter notifications, or multi-blog posting.
   
   http://alchemii.net/bleezer/
   
   
   
   
2. Thingamablog
   
   
   
   Thingamablog is a free, cross-platform offline blogging solution that works with Windows, Mac, and Linux machines. Thingamablog does not require a third-party blogging host, but just a FTP, SFTP, or network access to a web server, and Java 1.4.2 or greater installed. Spell checking, ping, multi-blog posting features available. No Twitter notifications, media embed content, or tagging enabled.
   
   http://thingamablog.sourceforge.net/
   
   
   
   
3. Flock
   
   
   
   Flock is not a proper offline blogging software, but a free web browser based on Mozilla Firefox (thus multi-platform) with blog-posting features built-in. The main advantage of Flock is the complete integration with media content you can embed in your blog posts. You can simply drag&drop your preferred media and publish them to one of your blogs with a simple click. Flock works with WordPress, TypePad, Blogger, LiveJournal, Xanga, and others. Spell check enabled, but no ping, tags, or Twitter notifications features.
   
   http://www.flock.com/
   
   
   
   
4. Scribefire
   
   
   
   Scribefire is a free Firefox extension (multi-platform) to manage your blog offline. Scribefire supports Typepad, WordPress, LiveJournal, Live Spaces, Tumblr, MovableType, Blogger, and others. You can easily insert Flickr and YouTube media inside your blog posts, ping sites and add tags online, and manage multiple accounts sending the same post to any of your blogs. No spell checking functionality, or Twitter notifications.
   
   http://www.scribefire.com/
   
   
   
   
5. Windows Live Writer
   
   
   
   Windows Live Writer is a free, Windows-only offline blogging software that allows you to manage and also create a blog on the major blogging platforms: Windows Live, WordPress, Blogger, MovableType, Live Journal, TypePad, and more. Fully integrated with other services of the Live family, Live Writer supports spell checking, and the embed of any media content. Not supported: tags, pings, multi-blog posting, and Twitter notifications.
   
   http://windowslivewriter.spaces.live.com/
   
   
   
   
6. BlogJet
   
   
   
   BlogJet is a Windows-only offline blog editor. BlogJet supports all major blog publishing platforms like WordPress, MovableType, TypePad, Drupal, Blogger, Live Spaces, etc. Main features: spell check, multi-blog posting, pings, tagging, integration with online services like YouTube and Flickr, and music software like iTunes or Windows Media Player to add media content to your blog posts. No Twitter notifications available. BlogJet prices start from $79.95 for a one-author, unlimited-blog license.
   
   http://www.codingrobots.com/blogjet/
   
   
   
   
7. BlogDesk
   
   
   
   BlogDesk is a free Windows offline blogging platform optimized for WordPress, MovableType, Drupal, Serendipity and ExpressionEngine. BlogDesk lets you embed media content inside your posts, spell check them, take advantage of Technorati tagging, and post to multiple blogs. Ping and Twitter notifications not supported.
   
   http://www.blogdesk.org
   
   
   
   
8. w.bloggar
   
   
   
   w.bloggar is a free offline blogging service for Microsoft Windows. w.bloggar works with WordPress, MovableType, TypePad, Blogger, Live Spaces, and others. Main features: spell check, media content embed, multi-blog posting. Not available yet: Pings, tags and Twitter notifications.
   
   http://wbloggar.com/
   
   
   
   
9. Raven
   
   
   
   Raven is a free desktop blog editor for Windows 2000 / XP. Raven supports WordPress, Blogger, TypePad, Movable Type, Live Spaces, LiveJournal, and many others. You can easily write, add media content from your preferred sites, spell check your writings, and even publish the same post to multiple blogs with a single click. No pings or Twitter notifications features available.
   
   http://www.zoundryraven.com/
   
   
   
   
10. Post2Blog
    
    
    
    Post2Blog is a free offline blogging editor for Windows that supports WordPress, TypePad, MovableType and Blogger. Post2Blog sports an integrated spell check feature, and supports media embeds. You can also send pings and insert tags to your preferred online services. No Twitter notifications or multi-blog posting. Firefox and IE plugins available, along with a MS Word toolbar, for an easier posting experience.
    
    http://www.bytescout.com/post2blog.html
    
    
    
    
11. Qumana
    
    
    
    Qumana is a free offline blog editor available for both Windows and Mac machines. Qumana supports WordPress, MovableType, Live Spaces, Drupal, TypePad, Tripod, Blogger, Squarespace and some others. Main features are: media embed, multi-blog posting, spell check, send pings and tags. No Twitter notifications available.
    
    http://www.qumana.com
    
    
    
    
12. ecto
    
    
    
    ecto is an offline blog editor for Mac machines. ecto is completely integrated with Mac operating system as it can use data from iPhoto, iTunes or Address Book. Works with WordPress, MovableType, TypePad, Blogger, Squarespace, and many more. Spell check, media content embed, pings and trackbacks, and tag features also available, but no Twitter notifications or multi-blog posting enabled. You can try ecto for free for 21 days, and then decide whether to buy a copy of the software for $19.95.
    
    http://illuminex.com/ecto/
    
    
    
    
13. MarsEdit 2
    
    
    
    MarsEdit 2 is an offline blogging service available for Mac Users. Works with WordPress, Blogger, TypePad, Movable Type, LiveJournal, Drupal, Vox, Tumblr, and others. MarsEdit 2 has an integrated spell checking, and media embed features. Pings and online tags are supported but not Twitter notifications. Multi-blog is also not available. You can try the software for free for 14 days and then buy it at $29.95.
    
    http://www.red-sweater.com/marsedit/

Originally prepared by Robin Good for MasterNewMedia, and first published on March 16, 2009 as "Best Offline Blog Editors And Web Publishing Tools - Mini-Guide".