Blogger Vs WordPress (And Why I Choose Both)

I hate to dissappoint the fan boys and girls on both sides of the fence, but this is not a post bashing one side or the other.

Rather it is simply my reflection of two of the most popular blogging services, Blogger (as well as it's eternal beta Blogger in Draft) and WordPress.org (not to be confused with WordPress.com, which I would not recommend using due to it's limitations, which I'll explain below).



Where WordPress Excels

What I love about WordPress can be summed up in one word: design.

You'll won't find a larger collection of beautiful themes outside of this platform, which probably explains why do many Blogger themes are imported from WordPress.

While there are plenty of free WordPress themes out there, I would recommend purchasing a premium theme (like Elegant Themes which is inexpensive).

Another thing I love about WordPress is that it is comment friendly. Instead of using CAPTCHA's or weird puzzles, WordPress users can use Askimet (spelling?) which uses geek magic to decipher between the spammers and the humans (WordPress.org users I would recommend using WP Spam Free which is better--and free!).

These anti-spam plugins keep make the WordPress commenting design much friendlier--unless of course you are a spammer. ;-)

Last but not least the ability to add pages is a plus, which allows you to create an "about me" section, making your blog much more professional.




Where Blogger Excels

Owned by Google, Blogger is the most popular blogging platform online. If I could sum up Blogger in one word, it would be this: freedom.

When it comes to posting media content (whether images, video or iframe documents) Blogger has IMHO no close rival. Users are allowed to embed content from anywhere, without the fear of it being blocked due to "security reasons" (which is why I don't use WordPress.com).

You can also embed content from Google Docs, a feature I found to be lacking in WordPress (both of them).

Over in the Blogger in Draft arena, users can easily adjust the position of the image within the post by simply dragging it, a feature that makes "dressing up" the post all the easier.

This one feature saves me a lot of time, as I don't have to muck with the code in order to find the perferct picture placement.

Users can also upload video directly into Blogger, without the need to upload it on YouTube or elsewhere, which is great way to keep the video on your blog instead of infront of the public masses.

Last but not least Blogger's widgets make it very easy to add, adjust or remove content from your blog, without the need to enter within the admin arena.

Conclusion

While I could have mentioned other items (like WordPress Plugins or specific Blogger widgets), these above pretty much sum up the major differences between the two.

Since neither WordPress or Blogger are meeting my complete needs, I've decided to use both platforms until one of them steps up their game. I already have 8 blogs (4 on Blogger, 2 on WordPress.com and 2 running WordPress.org on my own server).

Both WordPress and Blogger are excellent services, although if you are short on cash I would recommend using Blogger (as you can blog on your own domain for $10/year) although if you prefer to host you own blog on your own server, I would suggest using WordPress.org.


--Posted via iPhone

Blogger In Draft Plus Google Chrome Equals Fail Whale

Wow, talk about weird. Basically in Google Chrome (version 2.0.160.0) if you open up a previous post within Blogger in Draft (to edit), it "reinterprets" all of your previous text.

Example: Here is a post from one of my demo blogs of what your article should look like when logging into Blogger.com (in gChrome) when trying to edit a post.

And here is what it looks like in gChrome through draft.blogger.com:

I've tested other browsers (Firefox and Opera) and none of them are showing the same error.

Hopefully Google can take a look at this and fix it before they release 2.0 to the masses.

iBlogger Test

Testing out a new iPhone blog app for iBlogger.

This new version seems to have fixed most of the bugs (I still found a few, but they were nothing major).

The only thing lacking is image uploading, which is a deal breaker for blogger blogspot blogs.

On a more positive note, Google/T-Mobile launched the G1, which is a HTC Dream phone powered by Google Android.

While I probably will not exchange it for my iPhone, it does make a nice gift for my GSM friends.

T-Mobile G1

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Blogger Fix: Inserting Star Ratings (For Custom Templates)

While it's awsome to see Google unleashing new features within Blogger, if you are unable to implement them within your own blog, you may find yourself catching the dreaded "Google Derangement Syndrone" (aka GDS) where every other phrase is "Google is so Fraking stupid" (or something like that).



In order to avoid this contagious disease (which first broke out in Redmond, WA), you need to find solutions to problems--and today's problem is implementing the star rating system within your customized Blogger blog (aka BlogSpot).

After logging into your blog, first click on Layout, then Page Elements.

Then scroll down to the Blog Posts page element, and click on the Edit link.

 

A new window shold appear. Next, check mark the Show Star Ratings box...

...then scroll down and rearrange where you want the star ratings to appear.

Save your changes, then click on the Edit HTML section (which should still be underneath the Layout tab).

Next you need to BACK UP YOUR TEMPLATE! I would recommend either copy & pasting your entire code within Google Docs or Note Pad (highly recommended) by clicking on the Expand Widgets Template box...

 

...then holding the Ctrl button while pushing the letter "A", then the Ctrl button again while pushing the letter "C" and once over into Google Docs or Note Pad push the Ctrl button and the letter "V".

You can also just simply download the template to your computer as well by clicking the Download Full Template link underneath the Backup / Restore Template section.

After backing up your template, scroll down towards the bottom left of the screen and hit the Revert widget templates to default link.

A "questionnaire" should appear (note: hey that rhymed!) informing you that this will change all of your widget changes, although your data will be safe.

 

Simply click the OK button to continue, then save the changes to your blog.

That's it! Now you should have the star ratings system in your blog.

You will also notice a few changes with your blog layout, which you can easily correct since you wisely backed up your template (if went against my advice, then you are a fool person who doesn't like taking my advice).

If you still have any questions, feel free to comment below. Enjoy! ;-)

Update: Inserted image for clarity.



Update 2: Also, for those of you trying to get the comment form working, Amanda has provided an excellent solution over here.

Has Google Finally Fixed The "404 WWW" Error?

Okay, I previously wrote about the "404 WWW" error in blogger here and here, but it looks as if the Blogger team has created an "automatic redirect" which means these hacks are may be obsolete.

I'm testing this out on my personal blog here first, and if successful I'll do a write up for everyone else.

Warning: This site may get buggy real quick!

Update: Complete horror! I have sent in a trouble ticket to Google about this. So far it works for new custom domain bloggers, but leaves those who have previously registered as...well...screwed.

Sigh...I guess I expect too much from Google.

Updating Weblog...

Although I love the space theme of this web journal, I am trading it in for a new...more "Mac" like skin.

If all goes well, I'll post a video to celebrate. If not...well--there's always tomorrow.

Stay tuned!

Note: This site may look ugly for twenty minuets. Relax, I'm just adjusting the curtains of this site.

Update: The site is now live and alive! (well, 99% at least)

Now all I have to do is upload a video on the next post (to celebrate the redesign).

How You Know When Google Is Listening To You

So I have been testing out a new feature from Blogger in Draft called Video Upload, and I recently posted a suggestion to Google about adding a status bar so that people will know how much of their video has been uploaded (so they won't freak out).

Well, it looks as if Pete from Google (I'm assuming its Pete) took a few minuets out of his time to read my comment and to my surprise I discovered this today while uploading a video on blogger:



And people wonder why I prefer Google over the competition?

Video: Second Helpings, And Blogger In Draft

For those of you who don't know, Google has released a new feature enabling users to upload videos to their blog (for free) turning every blog*spot blog into a potential video blog (or vblog for short). Here is my take on the issue, plus some boring thoughts from my life.

Note: Don't mind the ugly mug, as I forgot to shave.

After thoughts: Although this feature is great, I just found out it could take a while for the video to upload.

Google has started a blog (Blogger In Draft) where you can post feedback on this feature via the comment section, a rarity for a Google Blog (something they really needs to change).

Update: There seems to be a bug in the video that makes it automatically play in IE (all versions). It will be removed until Google can fix this error. Sigh...and it was almost a dream come true.

Update (6/20): Google seems to have fixed the "video in IE" problem. Thanks Google!

Upgrades Are Good

Very, very good.

(Blogger Help Group) We've been giving you warnings. The signs have been there. Preparations have been made. Now, it's time!

That's right, it's time to embrace the new version of Blogger! Starting today, a small percentage of users who log in to an old Blogger account will be required to move to the new version. This involves moving your current Blogger account to a new or existing Google Account. After the move, you will need to log in to Blogger with your Google Account username, which is always the email address associated with your account.

I guess this means adjusting several blogs (finally) as well as closing down a few others. Right in time for the super bowl too!

PS

To those of you who kept emailing me about my earlier post, it seems as if Google is correcting the mysterious error, slowly but surely. I'll be checking on your domains, and if need be, help out where I can.

Revisiting That "404 WWW" Blogger Issue

After previously posting about how to fix the mysterious 404 WWW issue with Blogger, I think I may have found a faster (and more simple) fix.

I tested this out with one blog already, and I am sure everyone else is going to love this as well (well, mostly everyone else).

Note: This may or may not require you to sign up with Google Apps (I don't think it should, but you never know).

1. First, login to your host account, and locate the area of your account where you can create sub domains (on GoDaddy simply pull up the page listing your domain(s) and click on the one you want to create an account on. Then click on the Manage Sub domains account).
2. Next, create a sub domain on the page. Since we all love Google, lets call it "google" (no pun intended).
   
3. Underneath you should have an option to forward the domain to a URL. Simply type in your www.mydomain.com (with the "WWW's") and click save.

Now what is going to happen is that whenever someone clicks on mydomain.com it will automatically select the sub-domain google.mydomain.com as its first choice (don't ask me why it does this, but it does for some strange silly reason).

As soon as your "google" alias pops up, your server will redirect you to mydomain.com.

This is a lot more simple and easier than my previous explanation (and a lot faster too). This should work after ten minuets, but give it a day to make it "round the net."

As always, feel free to comment if you have any questions, concerns or praises (I like those) regarding this issue.

Update: You should not need to point this CNAME to a host directly. Also, I updated the "google." to "google" (without the period) in the post.

Resolving That "404 WWW" Blogger Issue

For those of you who switched their blog*spot blogs to Google's custom domain for blogger, you may have run into some unexpected errors, mainly being only able to publish either directly to your domain (example: mycoolblog.com) or to the "www" address (example: www.mycoolblog.com) but not both.

After finding many other bloggers experiencing the same thing, I decided to do some testing to see if there was a way to resolve this.

Note: Make sure your CNAME has an alias of www (or the place you want to publish your blog) as well as having the host account point to ghs.google.com.

1. The first thing I did was create a Google Apps account, adding my blog domain to its services.
2. Next, I would select the available Google services. Although you can select all or none of the features to add to your blog, you must choose the Domain Web Pages feature.
3. After adding this feature, you should see a link that says something to the sort of Activating the web pages (underneath the Domain Web Pages image). Click on it.
4. Make sure that you put "www" as the publishing address. This will do one of two things. Either a) It will kick blogger from originally publishing to the domain (which is good) or b) blogger will refuse to move (not as good, but okay). If blogger is stubborn simply publish on mycoolblog.com, in order to let Google Apps have a turn at "www."
5. If you are unable to publish to "www" via Google apps, create a new sub name/alias instead. On the left should be in bold a category called Services. Find the Domain Web Pages link and then click the Change web publishing address on the screen and select an alias such as "about," "google" or even "darnell" if you would like. ;-)
6. Visit the "www" domain (or the alias you created in its place) and make sure you see a 404 error in an off color mellow yellow orange (note: what is that color anyways?). If you don't see it, try refreshing a couple of times.
7. Wait about five to ten minuets after seeing the 404 error, and then delete your Domain Web Pages from your current account, and republish blogger to the "www."
8. Give the internet 24 hours and with any luck (as well as some prayers) your mycoolblog.com should redirect to www.mycoolblog.com.

After testing this on several of my weblogs (ColonyWorlds.com, IsraGood.com, InsideOrkut.com as well as this one) I found this to be the only consistent method that seemed to make this work (as to why it works, you'll have to ask someone else that question).

One of my blogs redirected within a few seconds. Another one took several minuets while two of mine took almost 24 hours before they were functioning. I would also give it 48 hours until all of your friends see the same thing, (as it takes awhile for the new settings to register throughout the entire internet.

If you have any problems, comments or questions, feel free to post them here.

Update 1/17): If this doesn't work (or is too slow/confusing for you) try this easier and (hopefully) faster one.

Pro's And Con's Of Blogger's Custom Domain

So I finally migrated another part of my life onto Google's servers, and I noticed several great things (as well as bad minor issues) with Blogger's Custom Domain.

Here are the great things about it:

• Retain all of Blogger's new features without messing with FTP on your domain
• Google hosts your blog for free! All you have to pay for is your domain
• You do not lose your Blog*Spot placement, preventing spammers from capitalizing on your efforts
• Google automatically forwards your Blog*Spot domain to your new one, so users visiting old posts go directly to the post on your domain

Here are some of the bad minor issues with it:

• Site not listed on the world wide web (compare InsideOrkut.com with www.InsideOrkut.com)
• Another user could claim your domain via Blogger, preventing you from using it (see my theory for details on my second thread response)
• Your Google Page rank drops (which means you'll have to resubmit it everywhere again)

Now, in my opinion the good definitely out weighs the bad, and I would seriously recommend any serious blogger to consider switching over as it does have a way of making your site feel a little more professional.

Note: Is it me, or did Blogger just become cooler than WordPress?

Update: Inserted bullet points on "minor issues."

Blogger Is My Hero!

I never thought I would ever say this, but it seems that Google (or rather Blogger) has once again reinvented the way blogging is done!

(Blogger Buzz) The new version of Blogger now supports using a custom domain for serving your blog. If you already own a domain named, say, mysite.com and want your blog to be served at that address instead of at a blogspot.com address, we can host your blog on that domain for you — for free. Your old Blog*Spot address will forward to your new custom domain, so the switch will be seamless for your readers.

I've already purchased several domains I would love to try this on (those being InsideOrkut.com, DarnellClayton.com, ColonyWorlds.com, IsraGood.com) and I will move my blog over to the self hosting later on today (after I get some sleep).

Is it me, or is Blogger really freakin' cool!

Test

Test

Update: This was just a test to see if my Verizon phone was able to publish to my blog.

It seems to have worked, although it will cost me ten cents a post. :-)

The only bad thing is that I can not edit the labels via phone. :-(

Death To The Beta! Long Live Blogger!

It looks like Blogger in beta is no longer beta! That is really good news to hear, as the old blogger was--barely surviving.

Here is a snippet from Blogger Buzz:

The new version of Blogger is metaphorically bursting with features, from the big guns like drag-and-drop template editing and post labels [...]

to little polishes like a better-designed Dashboard or that you no longer need to solve a word verification CAPTCHA to post a comment on your own blog.

Good to see Google finally improving on "old hardware." Now, if they could only bring that finesse to Picasa (i.e. more features, public search, 25 Gigs of space, etc.).