LostInTechnology

Ultimate Freeware List: Application Launchers

Posted on 03. Jun, 2009 by srikanth in Apple, Software, Windows

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Here at LostInTechnology, we strive to give you great information on great tools and software.  Most articles tend to focus on one or a few specific tools or programs.  The Ultimate Freeware Lists are changing that format around.

We are going to provide you with tons of different tools that are all free and will really expand your arsenal of great programs and software.  These lists are by no means going to be perfect, and we ask all of our loyal readers to help us complete the lists by adding some comments.

In the first list we covered media players. This time we are on a quest to provide you with the ultimate freeware list of Application Launchers.

The List

RK Launcher: RK Launcher is a free application launcher that will allow you to have a visually pleasing bar at the side of the screen that is used to quickly launch shortcuts. With support for themes, PNG’s and ICO’s and with smooth amazing animations, its versatile and a great replacement for taskbar.

ObjectDock: ObjectDock enables users to organize shortcuts, programs and running tasks into an attractive and fun animated dock. Features include, easy to use shortcut organizer, convenient auto-hide, drag and drop operation, smooth animations etc.

VistaStartMenu: Vista Start Menu is a convenient alternative to the plain Start menu you find in Windows XP and Windows Vista. Check out the cognitive features of this program here.

RocketDock: RocketDock is a smoothly animated, alpha blended application launcher. It provides a nice clean interface to drop shortcuts on for easy access and organization. With each item completely customizable there is no end to what you can add and launch from the dock. With added Taskbar support your minimized windows can appear as icons on the dock.

Stick:  Stick is a Windows application (Windows XP/Vista only) which provides utilities such as folder explorers, web browsers and notepads in tabs that attach to the sides of your screen. These tabs are highly customizable windows that let you access commonly used utilities easily.

LaunchBar Commander: It is typically docked to the side of your screen and lets you configure buttons and menus which will launch your favorite programs. Features include, multiple dock support, smart tree building, highly configurable menus etc.

Mirco-Sys Launcher: This is an easy-to-use file and application shortcut manager that can launch all kinds of files and programs. Drag-and-drop operations are supported when editing items shown in the Launcher open and launch menu in system tray.
You can also create an unlimited amount of user defined sub-folders and item shortcuts to documents and applications.

FSL Launcher: It’s a simple yet powerful application launcher to organize your shortcuts. Features include, shortcuts management for applications, documents, URL links, folders paths etc. Categories organization (multi-tab launcher) with fast selection menu.

LaunchOnFly: LaunchOnFly is a Start Menu alternative and hotkey manager. It lets you launch applications, open files, folders, Web sites, send e-mails much faster and easier using quickly accessible and easily configurable menu which you can open using either mouse or keyboard.

GNOME  Do:  GNOME Do is an intelligent launcher tool that makes performing common tasks on your computer simple and efficient. It not only allows you to search for items in your desktop environment (e.g. applications, contacts, bookmarks, files, music), it also allows you to specify actions to perform on search results (e.g. run, open, email, chat, play). It can be installed on any major GNU/Linux distribution using your package manager.

ToolBox: ToolBox is an application launcher for Windows operating systems with many amazing features. Its drag & drop interface creates shortcuts to almost anything: applications, drives, folders, even simple files. It helps you organize your desktop and get rid of numerous shortcuts that clutter it and take up valuable space.

sTabLauncher: This tool helps finding and launching your favorite programs, web pages, folders, or any type of files in a fast and easy way.  It takes up fewer resources as possible and allows you to personalize the appearance in many ways, by changing colors, images, transparency, animations etc to blend in with your desktop.

Launchy: Launchy indexes the programs in your start menu and can launch your documents, project files, folders, and bookmarks with just a few keystrokes!.  You may want to check out screenshots here.

SpeedMenus: SpeedMenus is a similar desktop utility which helps keep your desktop clutter free and organized. It comes with loads of features including Right, left, top and/or bottom menus, tabs colors choice, menus transparency settings, visual effect on the hovered tab and more.

Find And Run Robot: Find and Run Robot (FARR) is a program for keyboard lovers. It uses an adaptive live search function to rapidly find programs and documents on your computer as you type.

QuickSilver: When opened, it will create a catalog of applications and some frequently used folders and documents. It allows you to search for and open anything in its catalog instantly. Quicksilver can be given the ability to understand the data inside of files, allowing you to work with data in new, faster ways.

8Start Launcher: 8start Launcher is a free portable application launcher, its a convenient way to access applications rather than using windows start menu, quick launch and desktop.

XWindows Dock: Comes with some really handy features, like preview of video and images, minimize applications and dock customization options. A few screenshots to intrigue you!

Appetizer: This is a free application launcher for Windows. It allows you to organize your shortcuts and folders into a convenient dock. The application is open source and it’s entirely customizable and is available in multiple languages.

SliderDock: SliderDock, which we have reviewed here,  is an application launcher that will allow you to easily drag and drop icons  to access them later on by double clicking on them. It will be a unique dock where you won’t have to chase behind you icons to run an application. Just rotate your mouse wheel and let the icons come to you.

Make sure to let us know your favorite Application Launcher in the comments and any we may have missed.

By Srikanth AD,  see Firefox Ninjas or check out his blog for more information.

Related Posts

• Sliderdock: New Dock Application for Windows
• Ultimate Freeware List: Web Browsers
• Ultimate Freeware List: Media Players
• Launch your programs easily with Launchy
• How to Clear Your Desktop

Tags: application launcher, desktop, Desktop Utilities, dock, linux, Mac, menus, start menu, taskbar, Ultimate Freeware List, Windows