March 10, 2008 | In: Blogging, Tech Stuff
My 5 Favorite Blogging Tools
Ecto
(There is also a Windows version of Ecto.)
I use Ecto to write all my blog posts. I like it because:
1. I don’t have to be online to work on an entry.
2. It’s super simple for me to insert and upload my images from iPhoto.
3. I can see a working preview of my post as I write it.
4. I can write and manage all my blog posts on all my blogs from one interface.
Ecto Website
ImageWell
This is a very handy app that allows me to quickly resize and image and upload it to my server using Imagewell’s built in FTP.
Transmit
Transmit, in my opinion, is the best FTP program for Macs. It’s stable, intuitive and pretty. I love it’s compatibility with Quicksilver as well as the upload droplets that allow you to drag a file to the droplet and voila! It uploads the file to a specific folder on your server. Transmit Website
Mint
(This program sits on your hosting server, so all you Windows folks can use this one too.)
Mint is a stat monitoring script that you install on your server. It’s incredibly elegant, fast and extensible. I love being able to get an overview of what’s happening on my blog in a single glance. There is also a Dashboard widget that provides a quickglance at your stats. Mint Website
NetNewsWire
NetNewsWire is far and away the finest FREE Mac RSS reader. It’s got an excellent built in browser, it supports Ecto (which makes it super easy to write a quick post) and did I mention that it’s FREE?
Your Turn
What are your favorite blogging tools?
(Check out Normal Rockstar for Tech Tip Tuesday – apparently Jeremy has an affinity for alliteration as well…)
7 Responses to My 5 Favorite Blogging Tools
Rick
March 10th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Great post, Kat. For writing, I like Windows Live Writer (even though it’s Microsoft). Very sleek and intuitive. However, I’m playing with the new Flock browser, and it has a built in publisher. I use FireFTP, a Firefox extension built just for the purpose. GIMP for image editing, and either Google Reader or the Flock browser for reading. Oh, and Technorati, of course, for finding new blogs to read.
What am I thinking? A custom WordPress installation is a must!
Kat
March 11th, 2008 at 5:30 am
I’d like to use Firefox more, and I do use it a lot for web development and debugging, but for me, it’s much slower than Safari. I suppose that has something to do with all the extensions I have loaded…
If I used FF for my day to day browsing, I’m sure I’d love FireFTP.
Thanks for the Windows list…
euphrony
March 11th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Kat, talking about browsers – did you see that Microsoft announced that when they release IE8 that it will use the standard for handling code that everyone else uses? Could make your job a bit easier. Read a short article here.
Kat
March 11th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I did hear about that. IE 7 is actually pretty good about standards – at least in comparison to 5.5 and 6. I certainly like the way IE is headed. Perhaps I can take that picture of IE off my dartboard now.
deemus
March 11th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
When I blog, I like to use my fingers. To type with. Sometimes really fastly.
Amy
March 11th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
deemus!!! Yes! When I read this, I was thinking, well I’d love to share some stuff with you, Kat, but I’m lucky I even know how to post!
Kat
March 11th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Deemus,
Ha! Well, I’m a software junkie. Some women fall for shoes or jewelry – Me? I have a weakness for applications.