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Mars Edit 2.3 adds Tumblr support
MarsEdit has long been one of my Mac apps and save my writings for TUAW and Download Squad, it's what I use for almost all of my online publishing. For almost two years, I've been embroiled in a love/hate relationship with Tumblr. I love the idea of the service, but until recently, the simplicity it offers has come at the expense of features I really, really need. This week, I've come one-step closer to making Tumblr a bigger part of my digital life, because MarsEdit now supports Tumblr blogs!MarsEdit 2.3, which was released on Tuesday now supports Tumblr, in addition to WordPress, Movable Type, LiveJournal and other blogging platforms. Daniel Jalkut, the developer of MarsEdit, announced that he was planning support for Tumblr back in December, after started working with Tumblr's Marco Arment on improving the Tumblr API.After a brief beta period, official Tumblr support is finally here, and it is good. To my knowledge, MarsEdit is the only blog client, for Mac or Windows, that supports Tumblr. Sure, there are some great iPhone (and even a BlackBerry application), but there hasn't been any support for an actual desktop client.Inevitably, some users will question why Tumblr needs client support at all. After all, isn't the whole point of Tumblr to be fast, easy and simple? Sure, but when composing longer entries or when you want to write drafts, an external client is still superior. There's nothing worse than having all of your hard work erased by a misbehaving web browser, or wanting to access a draft or an old post while on a plane or some other place without Internet access. MarsEdit 2.3 supports text, photo, quote, link and chat post templates (though you can easily use HTML to embed video and audio in a regular text post). You can also easily add tags to a post. Image posting is extremely easy, just drag an image from the web, your own library or a folder into the image button at the top of the post. If I had any real request, it would be that the "tweet this post" toggle be included as a MarsEdit option. Otherwise, my Tumblr needs have been addressed.MarsEdit 2.3 is a free upgrade for existing users and news users can snag a copy for $29.95. It requires Mac OS X 10.4 or 10.5.
A guide to Joystiq star-whoring
We're often asked why some comments result in positive stars and why some result in loss of stars, so this explainer will, we hope, provide some clarity around the star system. Here's what we're looking for from commenters: Added value: Does the comment add value to the discussion? Does the comment add a new dimension to the topic? Does it ask a good question? Is it unique and interesting? Impartiality: A commenter who consistently promotes one console (or attacks the other consoles or systems) will never make the top commenters list. We're hunting for commenters who aren't suffering from a severe case of Fanboyitis. We often review a commenter's history prior to rewarding stars and are careful not to allow extreme partisans of any one system into the top 20. Civility: Ad hominem attacks and rough language tend to confuse issues, not clarify them. We're looking for comments that stay on topic and avoid cheap shots. Other: Humor, punch, wit, and bribes all help too. By the way, these are all qualities we're looking for when we hire bloggers for Joystiq, so these criteria are consistent with our editorial mission of providing balanced blogging of the video game industry. One last note on comments: the cream will rise to the top. Quality commenters will, over time, gain more stars than they lose. Your questions on the star system answered in the comments, below.
