If you think you might like to experiment with a launcher for Windows with Mac OS X or iPad style look and feel, then check this one out. WinLaunch is a free hotkey activated launcher with drag and drop support. It offers the option to create subfolders, iOS-style by simply dragging icons onto each other.
But even if you do not care for the Mac or iOS connection, WinLaunch is stylish and functional launcher in it’s own right that works really well, and can be used as an organizational tool to organize your shortcuts and icons.
How to use: WinLaunch runs with Windows, and is activated via a customizable hotkey (Shift+TAB by), optionally by mousing-over a desired corner of the screen, or optionally via middle mouse button. To add icons, press F while the launcher is open and drag and drop shortcuts from the Windows environment. To add pages, drag an icon off to the side of the screen. To create subfolders drag an icon over another, and both will be placed in the new folder. Use left/right arrows to scroll across multiple pages if any. To delete icons, left click for a length of time, then click on the little ‘x’ that appears.
What I like about WinLaunch:
- Very stylish and nice looking, with animation and transparency effects.
- Is a nice change of pace. Even if it is a copy of Apple, it is original in comparison to most Windows launchers.
- It can be used as an organizational tool to good effect, what with the subfolder and multiple page options.
- Consumes about 16 megs in memory (which is comparatively small, or at least not high).
See it in action below:
Version tested: 0.4.5.2 BETA
Compatibility: WinAll. 32 bit and 64 bit. Requires MS .NET Framework 4.0
Download it here. More info here.
Samer Kurdi
Waouu what a little gem !
thanks for sharing
Pretty but pointless — it’s for touchscreen, with keyboard you want this. Sadly, I don’t think it can be done in Windows. Or can it?
WinLaunch is too buggy for me to use. I’m using XLaunchpad (http://xwidgetsoft.deviantart.com/art/XLaunchpad-1-06-OSX-Launchpad-for-Win-2012-5-1-287497352) which is fast and stable.
@ Fred: you’re welcome!
@ Andrew. I tried this software and it works well on Windows. As far as I know Macs don’t have touchscreens (I assume you’re thinking of the iPad, but either way the launcher works really well trust me). I looked at the Ubuntu video/intent driven interface and it looks sweet. Thanks for sharing.
@ ghostwalker: I am using the 64 bit version with no problems. The one thing I would change is that it apparently links to shortcuts, not to the final destination of the shortcut. So if you add a shortcut on your desktop to the launcher then delete the shortcut, you might get an empty spot on your launcher. I hope they fix this soon.
@Samer: about “it apparently links to shortcuts, not to the final destination of the shortcut”, I do confirm and I also hope they fix this soon because my goal was to clean all my deskopt shortcut but when deleted and rebooted my pc, all links in winlauch was dead !!!!
Fix this and it will be a great app I will use in combination with Rockeddock (for my diary program, and winlauch for my sometimes but program !)