So I've continued with my normal software misadventures and found a few tools that look like they'll be keepers.  The main one is Windows Live Writer.  Currently it is in beta but it is looking to be a solid application that is definately useful.  Currently I am using it to make my posts.  Especially since my usage of writely has been kept to a minimum lately since there has been a login issue lately and also it doesn't support Opera.

Speaking of Opera, if you've never used it, go check it out.  Yeah yeah it doesn't support some of the crap Microsoft's Proprietary IE does but it does everything else on the web including RSS feeds (way before other browsers), it'll get your e-mail (via pop3), the bookmarks are awesome, the shortcut keys make browsing lightening fast, and in general it makes one wonder why it isn't even more popular.  For all you hardware geeks, take note that it uses way less RAM and resources in general that the bloated Firefox and IE.

The last tool which is pretty important is Winamp.  I know you're probably thinking, "wtf does winamp have to do with development and such?"  Well I'm first and foremost a musician, have been, am now, and will forever be.  Thus it is pivitol that I have a daily dose of various bits of music.

So Shannon finally got the server up and I've been working to get things setup on the server for development to occur.  Right now I get an unintended message that the template application has failed and the creation of the team server project then ends.  At some point we'll get this thing figured out, but for now it seems that we're hitting every stumbling block there is for this dog.  Hopefully this dog will hunt, eventually.

So I decided to check out someof the Windows Live Beta software. Windows Live Toolbar and Windows Live Writer along with some of the respective desktop search and toolbar features. The Windows Live software seems to be pretty solid already even though it is still in beta.

So after about a 45 second download and 2 minutes install of the application and the toolbar I was ready to go.

I then started the Windows Live Writer and setup the service for my Technolog and Software Blog, entering the pertinent information. The application then "analyzed" the connection information and allowed me to select a provider, which is Community Server, and then followed a few more steps. One thing that was interesting is it required my to remove the www from www.adronbhall.com. Strange being that the domain name IS www.adronbhall.com and not adronbhall.com. At least it should be. But whatever I digress. It came up and off I stated typing this very blog entry!

So one of the features that I attempted to use was the image publishing, which it reported the Community Server blog engine version I'm using is not capable of.  This is kind of a bummer but I'll attach them after the initial publishing of the entry.

The biggest advantage of this tool is that I don't have to sit online and type under the threat of time outs, or disconnects.  I can type away at my liesure and then just connect, post, and whalaaaaaaa I'm done!

So with that, go check out some o' the Windows Live tools.  I seriously doubt with a little standard observation and a little analysis that you'll be dissappointed, but instead quit to the contrary.