DM2 Windows Enhancements

DM2 is a pretty interesting windows enhancements open source program for Windows 2K and XP. The application can be downloaded from Sourceforge and does not need to be installed at all and can be run from any location of your hard drive. Once installed it adds a small icon to your system tray which can be clicked to configure the functionality. It adds by default several interesting new ways to interact with open windows in the operating systems. The minimize, maximize and close buttons get new functionality when you right-click them. A right-click on minimize sends the window into the system tray even windows that can normally not be minimized to the system tray.

A right-click on the maximize button minimizes the window to a floating icon on your desktop and a right-click on the close button hides the foreground window. Other actions that can be defined in the settings include increasing and decreasing window opacity, align and resize a window, toggle window on top and roll up windows. You can set other hotkeys if you need more than three of the actions, you could for instance configure CTRL + right-click actions as well.

It is furthermore possible to define hotkeys that work without using the mouse at all. Three hotkeys are set by default but more can be added easily to DM2. It is also possible to change the appearance of the floating icons for instance. You can change font color, icon color, icon size and much more to create floating icons that fit your theme.

Plugins enhance DM2 further. Several plugins are already available, some interesting ones include WinEnable which makes the functionality of grayed out buttons available, CD and Volume control and easy gamma.