The great thing about MadApp Launcher is that it has 10 different tabs with 30 blocks for application and file icons. Try this one out and say goodbye to a cluttered desktop and confusing filing systems. It doesn’t look glamorous and there are no animated features and Mac-like effects, but this is a superb organizational launcher that features automatic hotkey settings for each of the application slots. This gives you the ability to categorize different tabs and slots for up to 310 applications and files or folders. This user didn’t think that it would be all too impressive, but after an hour of organizing, the verdict is a definite two thumbs up.

After installation, the launcher opens automatically, but you will not see it until you click its tray icon. The interface, as you can see, is arranged like a keyboard. The top row represents the first ten function keys. The tabs represent the number keys 1-10, though they are not apparently numbered. The rest of the interface represents every letter and four characters on the keyboard. The row for the function keys is not tabbed; those are set and will not change between tabs.

To add application icons or folder/file and utility icons, all you have to do is use the drag and drop feature. Click your icon of choice, drag it to the letter or function key that you want to set as a hotkey for that icon and it is set. The very first thing that will happen when you drag your first icon onto one of the tabbed slots is a prompt to save. You might be wondering at that point if you are going to have to perform this function repeatedly. You will not. This is just a way to create a folder in which all of the MadApp Launcher icons will be stored for backup purposes. They are stored as .mal files in the folder of your choice. It is advisable to create a folder and title it “MadAppLauncher” so that you can identify it. Whenever there is a new release for MadApp Launcher, you will need to backup this file in order to save your settings before updating the version. Also, if you ever have to re-install for any reason, you won’t have to start from scratch.

The hotkeys will be activated for the tab you have set. Switching between tabs switches the active hotkeys. You can also access applications by simply clicking the icon on the interface if you don’t care much for hotkeys. Any file or folder can be applied to the launcher. An interesting use for this is if you are working with multiple Word or Excel documents or even OneNote pages, you can place each one on a slot in one of the tabs and switch between them with the touch of a key. This takes the notion of the keyboard ninja to a whole new level.

Another reason is that space is limited on the taskbar, and that I do not want to many icons listed there by default as it could make the display more messy than it should be.

Users who are in the same boat, but would like a selection of apps at their fingertips, could take a look at the free QuickPop software for Windows. QuickPop is a free portable application launcher that displays all available applications by holding down Ctrl and pressing the middle mouse button.

The program creates a shortcuts folder in the program directory on first startup. Users need to add their programs as shortcuts to that directory or subdirectories. With the help of subdirectories, it is possible to create a distinct structure to organize tools and programs in different folders.

Shortcuts can for instance be dragged from the start menu into the folder, or from another program directory. Sometimes shortcuts need to be created first which can be done with a right-click on the program executable and the selection of Create Shortcut from the context menu in Windows Explorer.

Programs that are listed in the application launcher menu can be started with a left-click. The window of the program launcher closes automatically once a selection has been made.

QuickPop’s greatest weakness is the somewhat complicated method of adding and removing programs to the program interface. The program itself is lightweight and very responsive.

Windows users can download the latest program version from the developer website. The program is supplied in a 32-bit and 64-bit edition.

Program links in the Windows Explorer context menu – commonly referred to as the right-click menu -  can be edited in the Windows Registry. Users wary of hand-editing the registry can use the Your Menu application to generate new program links easily.

One outstanding feature of Your Menu is the fact that the program generates a Registry file giving the user full control when the new entries are added to the Registry and assurance that only those are added to it.

Your Menu allows users to add both single commands and submenus to the context menu. Single commands are usually links to executable files, such as Thunderbird or Firefox. Submenus contain several commands. Note that Your Menu refers to submenus as “cascading commands”. Each single command and cascading command also has an associated Menu Name.

A click on the “Generate REG file” button will create the file that needs to be executed to add the new entries to the Windows Registry. There is also an undo file to later remove the context menu entries from the Registry. Upon execution, the entries become available immediately. There is no need to restart or kill the explorer.exe process to see the changes to the context menu.

A click on a newly added link will automatically launch the program. Your Menu is a free program designed for the Windows 7 operating system. It is compatible with both the 32-bit and 64-bit editions of the operating system, and probably also with previous Windows versions.

SE-TrayMenu is provided as a portable version and installer. The program places an icon in the Windows system tray upon startup which will display a list of programs when hovering the mouse over the icon. A click with the left mouse-button will launch a selected program immediately.

The list of programs can be customized in the program’s settings so that the most commonly used programs become available in the menu. It is furthermore possible to add a unique keyboard shortcut to some or all of the programs so that they can be launched with that shortcut as well.

The settings contain additional options to change the layout and color scheme of the program. Several templates are available as well as the means to create custom layouts and color schemes.

The computer memory usage of SE-TrayMenu lies in the region of 10 to 15 Megabytes which is fairly acceptable. The computer program is compatible with most Microsoft operating systems including Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Both the portable version and the installer can be downloaded from the developer’s website.

This could obviously mean some problems for applications that use the middle-mouse button for other tasks. That’s why the developer built in an option to exclude applications from triggering the program launcher.

Mouse Extender displays icons to start the control panel and to restart and shutdown the computer system by default. It is furthermore possible to add programs, files or folders to the program interface. The easiest way to add programs is to right-click in the interface and select the option to add running programs to the program launcher. The programs need to be running and cannot be minimized for this. Files and folders can be added through the file browser. Each program, file and folder is represented by an icon that is shown in the interface.

A click on the icon will launch or open the selected item. It is possible to keep the program launcher on top all the time unless the minimize or close buttons are pressed. Other options that are available include changing the number of icons per row, hiding the system buttons and adding programs to the list of excluded programs.

Mouse Extender (via Addictive Tips) offers an interesting twist in the program launcher niche. The only aspect that might need work is the memory usage of the program. More than 40 Megabytes of computer memory could turn many users away from the otherwise excellent program launcher. The portable software program is available for most versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system.

There is one thing of concern during installation. Speed Launch can only be installed if you accept that usage metrics will be send over to Microsoft. I suppose one could simply prevent the communication with the server if he does not like to transfer the data. As always, there is no real information what data gets transferred, only the assurance that it will not be used to identify the user.

Well, if you still want to give it a try you notice a bulls eye in the lower right corner of the screen after installation. That’s the area where you drop files and websites on to create shortcuts.

The shortcut Windows C opens the main program interface that you see above. You type in the first few letters of the file, application or website that you want to use and hit enter. Depending on the choice the file is instantly launched or additional input is requested (for example when picking Wikipedia).

Internet pages are opened in the default browser which is very surprising but also welcome for a Microsoft application. Microsoft Speed Launch could be described as a basic version of Launchy. The only advantage is that it comes directly from Microsoft which will surely appeal to many users who are cautious about third party applications.

I did feel a little bit overwhelmed by the plethora of options and settings of the application. It too almost 15 minutes before I thought that I had seen all of the functions of the program.

Zen Key is an application manager that can launch, manage and manipulate applications. Most of its features can be executed with a few keystrokes. Alt Space opens the Zen Key menu by default which puts everything at your fingertips.

zen key

Zen Key, among other things offers the following features:

• Work and play on an Infinite desktop (almost)
• Launch a program or a file
• Control program windows
• Automatically make windows transparent
• Iconify windows
• Open folders
• Control Media Applications
• Open Websites, perform an Internet search
• Issue a Windows System command
• Simulate a series of keystrokes

Zen Key uses only 6 Megabytes of memory when running which is really astonishing. Two windows had been iconified and the virtual desktop was displayed when I checked the memory usage.

The major problem that users might have with Zen Key is that it is quite complex and takes a while to get just to. It does add a few nice features that seem pretty unique to me though and that alone makes it a program that is worth that time.