Blogger beta

CNET editors' take

• Reviewed by:
  Elsa Wenzel
• Edited by:
  Robert Vamosi
• Reviewed on: 08/15/2006
• Released on: 08/15/2006

Unfortunately, without a beta-testing invitation from Google, most current Blogger users won't be able to use the Blogger beta updates for their existing blogs. Instead, you'll have to create a new account at beta.blogger.com to use the new features, and Blogger will allow you to merge the changes with your old-school blog later.

Blogger beta allows you to build a page template by dragging and dropping elements, such as link lists and feeds.

Blogger beta looks and works just like the existing Blogger service, which is good but not as full-featured as TypePad, which has more layout templates and easier photo uploading. However, Blogger beta introduces features that, when final, should make Blogger much more convenient to use.

Using Blogger beta, no longer must you either pick from among Blogger's 31 layout templates or hand-code your own layout tweaks. Blogger beta lets you customize your blog's layout by dragging and dropping elements on the page. During our tests, Blogger beta offered 16 prebuilt templates, most with multiple versions in varying colors. The WSIWYG palette of font colors is a no-brainer, and it's cool that you can click Shuffle Blog Colors to preview variants of the layout with slightly different color themes. It's also easier to insert lists of links, feeds, JavaScript or HTML coding, and other elements.

Compare prices for Blogger beta

Access this free service from the developer's Web site.