10 Windows Application Launchers reviewed
by Gabi SolomonAlthough i like try all geeky application that there is, i must admit that before this article i havent even saw some application i found while researching for this post. It all started when victor stanciu pointed me to an application launcher called launchy ( details below ). And i thought this is a verry cool way of keeping your desktop clean and also increase productivity. So i decided to do some research and see what similar apps there are out there.
There are not ordered in a specific order, just in the order that i found them.So here it goes.
1. Launchy
Launchy is a free utility that has both windows and linux suport and it is one of the most popular application launcher out there. It will index the programs and shorcuts from any location on your computer ( ex: start menu, desktop etc.) and can launch them with just a few keystrokes!
It also has shortcuts for your bookmarks or you can use it to faster search on sites like google and wikipedia.
Compatible with Windows Vista
2. Keybreeze
Keybreeze is another verry cool aplication laucher, it is light weight ( only 3MB ) but it is full of features, it isn’t just an application launcher, it can do a lot more then that.The feature I liked most is the option to open multiple targets i.e. you can open multiple tasks in one go. You can use KeyBreeze to make sticky notes and can set reminders. If you use Skype, you can type “c ” to call someone.
Also its portable. 
To list a few of its features :
- Open files, folders, and websites.
- Search your computer.
- Search websites.
- Perform system tasks.
- Control windows on your screen.
- Paste custom text into a text field.
- Automate actions.
- Create notes; set reminders.
- Launch plug-ins.
To see it in action go to the screenshoot section.
3. nDroid
nDroid a.k.a 320mph is an ultra fast anything launcher that can open documents, play songs, open browser bookmarks, lookup web references, find torrents, do online searches and a lot more than you expect.
Although i was really liking launchy, i was a little inclined to switching to nDroid. The main reasons were:
- there are a lot of plugins for it so you can extend its capabilities.
- its free
- portable. No installation requited. Always been a big fan of this apps
- uses very little resources
- has a few more features then others ( like playing music etc. )
4. Find and Run
Find and Run Robot (FARR) is another free program for keyboard maniacs — it uses an adaptive “live search” function to rapidly find programs and documents on your computer as you type.
Its the same with nDroid, although it lack some of the flashy look it makes up with functionality ( additional plugins can be installed ) and low resource consumption.
FARR also lets you quickly run web searches, send email, manipulate files, control on-screen windows, and much more. Build and share custom commands or install plugins to add tons of new features, like live search features for your clipboard history and your internet bookmarks; a popup a calculator with history tape and persistant variables; and many more..
A detailed (and always up to date) feature list for FARR can be found here and a screenshots here.
5. SlickRun
SlickRun is a keystroke based application launcher. It is a minimalistic designed tool and it shows a small window just above the system tray where it displays the time when its not used. To find out what comands can be used in it you can type in help and you will be taken to the online help files.
A feature that is unique to SlickRun is SlickJot – a place to store brief notes. You can add text to SlickJot by highlighting it and dragging it to the SlickRun window. You can also search through the clips using the built in find tool. Notes are automatically saved.
SlickRun uses verry little memory about 5MB at any given time.
6. Speed Launch
Speed Launch is an application launcher that extends the functionality and usability of Microsoft Windows. With Speed Launch, users can select their own words to open frequently used websites, documents, and applications. The most compelling feature of Speed launch is the use of a drag and drop interaction model to make this advanced functionality more intuitive to novice computer users.
Also another cool feature about it, is the fact that it uses functions instead of plugins to write aditional features, functions that you can write on your own with more ease then a plugin. You can check out the video below for more details about this.
<a href=”http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=90d73712-356e-4aa0-9298-34a72a17d553″ mce_href=”http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=90d73712-356e-4aa0-9298-34a72a17d553″ target=”_new” title=”Creating Functions in Speed Launch”>Video: Creating Functions in Speed Launch</a>
7. ToolBox
ToolBox is more of a widget sidebar to me, its drag & drop interface creates shortcuts to almost anything; applications, drives, folders, even simple files. ToolBox helps you organise your desktop and get rid of numerous shortcuts that clutter it and take up valuable space.
What i found intersting about it was the fact that the first version of ToolBox was written many years ago as a 16-bit Windows 3.1 application using Borland Pascal.
8. Key Launch
Key Launch is an application launcher for Windows that can launch applications but also commands with just a few keystrokes.
Besides launching applications and files Key Launch can initiate Internet searches, open bookmarks, start Control Panel items, create a new email message, manage computer shutdown commands or open Internet addresses.
Compatible with Windows Vista
9. Dash Command
While Dash Command looks pretty nice ( see video below ), it didnt get so much buzz on the internet. The 2 main complaints are that its a payd one ( Pre-release Offer: $19.95 ) wich is a big thumbs down when you can get the same thing for free, and the second it has some problems on windows vista. For me the first point was enough to convince me to skip it.
10. Skylight
Skylight is another aplication laucher and It can search, launch, lookup, automate and define, all in a systematic, predictable way. Boasting advanced habit learning and matching algorithms, infinite plug-in extensibility and the general smarts equivalent of a rat, it is purpose built to make your computing life easier. A cool thing is that it can detect spelling errors in your typing 
.
For full list of what it can do check out its online documentation.
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