Xneat windows manager is a free windows enhancement that adds a number of “window management” type functions to explorer, including the ability to customize window transparency, minimize (or hide) windows to the system tray, toggling always on top, and drag and drop taskbar buttons in order to rearrange them. It also adds interesting options to the windows save file dialog: a “clone file” button that becomes active when overwriting a file, and a time stamp button.
I am always in the market for good windows shell enhancements, and I must say that this is one to take note of: Xneat has a good range of interesting Windows functions, uses very little memory, and has a very nice overall look and feel . Here are more notes on this program:
- Nice set of functions for open/minimized windows: change windows transparency, minimize to tray, hide, and toggle always on top are the standard ones. You can optionally add windows and process priority functions as well. Note that you can customize the context menu to display only the functions you want (e.g. only the minimize to tray and, say, the transparency functions, if that’s all you want).
Save file dialog functions: adds two buttons; the clone button appears when you are about to save over a previous file with the same name, and gives you the option to create a clone with a counter appended to its file name rather than overwrite a file (e.g. filename(1).html rather than filename.html). Very useful. The other button automatically adds a date stamp to the filename, which could be very useful to some.
Arrange taskbar buttons: by dragging and dropping, in the manner of Taskbar Shuffle.- Hotkey activation: will make an Xneat “hotmenu” pop up on the screen wherever the mouse is located. This menu will give you access to all windows minimized or hidden to the system tray, but can also optionally give access to the Quick Launch menu shortcuts or a list of recently accessed files.
- Memory use: just about 2 megs, which is lightweight and quite an accomplishment by the creators of this program.
- Middle mouse button: will close a window/app if middle mouse is pressed on a taskbar button, will display the Xneat context menu is used on the titlebar of a window. You can switch this control off if you want to.
Wish list
- The ability to minimize a window to the system tray by right clicking on the minimize button in the Titlebar.
- The ability to hide the Xneat icon in the system tray.
The verdict: a really nice explorer extension that is well designed, looks good, offers a lot of interesting functions, and is extremely low on memory consumption. I remember using this program a long time ago when it first came out and encountering problems, but since then it has definitely matured and runs smoothly and efficiently. Highly recommended.
Version Tested: 2.5.0.85
Compatibility: Windows XP, Vista (32 bit).
Go to Xneat Home Page to download the latest version (approx 373K).
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Been using this for a while and it’s a must.
While it doesn’t have the “extra” functions of Xneat, I have been using “Powermenu” for years. It allows you to minimize to the tray, set transparency, set always on top, and change the program priority. It also allows you to hide the tray icon and is easily added to your startup with command line parameters. It also has a very low memory footprint.
http://www.abstractpath.com/powermenu/
I think it’s a great application, but it has a couple of things that would make it great.
- Global settings for windows
- Remember settings for a certaing Window. IE, If I make Firefox transparent and then close it, then it no longer is.
- The same for windows minimized to tray, plus the habiliti to integate it with a normal minimization so that when I minimized it goes to tray without doing it explicitly.
For the rest it simply great
For the windows functions like minimize to try, stay on top et al. I’m using the 9k-sized WinRoll: http://www.palma.com.au/winroll/
This tool has also the wonderfull “Minimize to title”-function, see the screenshots on the homepage. 224k memory footprint, try to top that
We’ll for minimize to tray funcionality the best is Tray-IT hands down. Only does one thing, but extremely well.
However, the excellent XNeat might make me stop using it along with Taskbar Shuffle.
Great piece of software, I have been using it for a while.
If you like it, please vote here:
http://coolsw.intel.com/story.php?title=Window_manager_that_should_have_been_part_of_the_OS-
Is there a software that arranges new opened windows so they do not cover or cover as little as possible already opened windows – this woud be great for resolutions above 1600×1200!?
interesting! how does this compare to the likes of DM2? I use DM2 atm, and wounder if it would be worth moving?
No portable version so it cannot replace powermenu for me. Shame – it looked sweet but I’m only interested in utilities that can go with me from computer to computer with minimal fuss.
No cigar yet.
I installed xneat and like the functions but I cannot make “global changes” to the way all windows open. As an example I like all the windows to open with a preset transparency, but if I close the window and reopen it the settings have been lost. Is there a way to preset features for all windows so that when I open another window, or close and reopen the same window it will remember my prefered settings?
does it work for Windows XP x64 ?
because PowerMenu doesn’t and I’m looking for an alternative…
thank you
I can’t tell if it works on XP x64 or not since the program refuses to install without Internet activation. I resent the very idea of giving every little piece of crappy software access to the Internet, so I think I’ll continue living without rearranging my taskbar icons. Unbelievable…
P.S. John, in case you also wanted to try that one, Taskbar Shuffle installed but didn’t work (WinXP x64).
I like to have taskbar items moveable, especially while toggling from one program to another for copy/paste etc.
I used xNeat until the last update. I think it became ‘bloated’.
I found Taskix from Robust IT, a single function freeware tool that uses few resources.