Windows Live Writer facts for kids
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Windows Live Writer
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| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
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| Last release |
2012 (v16.4.3528.331) / April 21, 2014
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| Written in | C#, C++ |
| Operating system | Windows 7 and later |
| Platform | IA-32 and x64 |
| Available in | 64 languages |
| Type | Blog software |
| License | Freeware |
Windows Live Writer was a computer program made by Microsoft. It helped people write and publish articles, called "blog posts," directly to their online blogs. It was part of a group of apps called Windows Live.
This program was very popular for a while. However, Microsoft stopped updating it in 2012. Then, in January 2017, they stopped supporting it completely. This means it no longer received new features or fixes.
Later, a new version of the program was created by other developers. It's called Open Live Writer and is available for free.
Contents
What Could Windows Live Writer Do?
Windows Live Writer made it easy to create blog posts. It had a special feature called WYSIWYG. This stands for "What You See Is What You Get." It meant you could see exactly how your blog post would look online while you were writing it.
Easy Features for Bloggers
The program let you do many things:
- Add photos to your posts.
- Put maps into your articles.
- Write for many different blog websites. This included popular ones like Blogger, WordPress, and LiveJournal.
- It also worked with other blog platforms like SharePoint blogs and TypePad.
Customizing Your Blog Posts
Windows Live Writer had a special tool called the Provider Customization API. This allowed blog websites to add their own unique features to the program. For example, WordPress and TypePad used this to offer more options to their users directly within Writer.
The program was also available in many languages, making it useful for people all over the world. It was translated into 48 different languages!
A Quick Look at Its History
Windows Live Writer started from another program called Onfolio Writer. Microsoft bought the company that made Onfolio Writer and used its ideas to create Windows Live Writer.
Key Updates Over Time
- 2007: The 2008 version was released. It added helpful tools like spell check as you typed and easier ways to edit tables. You could also add categories to your posts and link to other articles more easily.
- 2008: Version 2009 came out as part of a bigger set of programs called Windows Live Essentials.
- 2010: The 2011 version introduced a new look for the program. It used a "Ribbon" style menu, which made it easier to find tools.
- 2012: Windows Live Writer 2012 was released. This was the very last major update for the program. It was part of the Windows Essentials 2012 collection.
When Support Ended
On January 10, 2017, Microsoft officially stopped supporting Windows Essentials 2012. This meant Windows Live Writer would no longer get updates or security fixes. You also couldn't download it from Microsoft anymore.
Open Live Writer: A New Beginning
Even though Microsoft stopped supporting Windows Live Writer, its story didn't end there. A new, free version called Open Live Writer was created.
This new program was released on GitHub on December 9, 2015. It was made by a community of developers who wanted to keep the program alive. The last update for Open Live Writer was in 2017, and its source code was last changed in 2019. It has not been updated since then.
Images for kids
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Version 1.0.141 (Beta 1)
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Internal version featuring the original Flair design
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Windows Live Writer 2008
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Windows Live Writer 2009
See also
In Spanish: Windows Writer para niños
