The term "desktop utilities" can be quite confusing. It has to do with any software that adds to the presentation or functionality of your Windows desktop or its UI features. For example, Windows allows for trivial screen capturing through your keyboard's print screen key. Various screen capture tools add to this functionality by allowing you to capture any part of your screen and manipulate it to your heart's content. Other desktop utilities allow you to extend the physical boundaries of your desktop, stick sticky notes on your screen, flexibly launch programs or manage application windows, etc.
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HomepageThere are thousands of screen capture tools, but few get it "just right" as PicPick does. It's both light-weight and very capable. You can use it straight from the tray icon to capture entire screens, freehand regions or application's windows. It supports auto-scroll, allowing you to get a shot of an entire document. Got multiple monitors? No problem. It'll also let you auto-save your pics or edit them first.
Picpick's got more under its hood than just screen capturing. How about a color picker, screen ruler, protractor and whiteboard? Nicely done. Recommended.
Locate32 is software which can be used to find files from your harddrives and other locations. It works like updatedb and locate commands in Unix based systems. In other words, it uses databases to store information about directory structures and uses these databases in searches. The use of these databases provides very fast searching speed. The software includes a dialog based application as well as console programs which can be used to both update and access databases.
Dexpot 1.5 turns your monitor into up to 20. It creates and manages virtual desktops and enables you to work far more efficiently and comfortably with many simultaneously opened windows. There are options to quickly move your windows around and switching between desktops is swift and painless.
- Once on screen, stickies will remain where placed until closed, even through reboots
- Stickies appearance can be customised; fonts, colours and buttons may be changed, and styles saved. Stickies can be resized.
- Stickies can store text or images
- Stickies can snap to each other and to the sides of the screen to keep them neatly lined up
- Stickies can be attached to a web site, document or folder so they only show when it's on screen
- Stickies can be transferred from one machine to another either over a TCP/IP network connection, or by using an SMTP mail server or MAPI client:
- Stickies can be hidden for a certain period, until a specified date and time, or to wake every day, week or month, to act as reminders.
- Stickies can have alarms set to ensure you notice them at a point you choose
- Stickies can be transferred to and from your Palm or PPC PDA.
- International language, Unicode and RTL text support
- Stickies works with Windows Vista and Windows 7
- Stickies is small and simple, it writes to a single text file, and does not alter the registry
- AD network administrators can use Group Policy to control settings
- API to allow integration with other applications
Most window managers are overly bloated and put your system under unnecessary strain. For the kind of tool you want to have running all the time, that's unacceptable. So if you're looking for eyecandy and fancy 3D effects, I'm afraid you won't get your fill here. A window manager should enable you to easily manage your desktop clutter. It has to be simple, intuitive and shouldn't interrupt your train of thought.
After examining a myriad of different window managers, I find myself always returning to AutoSizer. This tiny app automatically resizes and/or moves windows for you. Just put the window the way you want it to appear from then on. You can then add it to autosizer with a few clicks and you're done. Multi-monitor systems are thankfully supported. This is a great little proggy!
Sizer lets you do about the same thing - but on demand. You can preset dimensions/locations and trigger it on any window by right-clicking its maximize button. I always run both AutoSizer and Sizer - it's the perfect combination for me.
There are many different types of program launchers. Some people prefer the keyword type, which lets you type a few letters into a text box and it'll find what you mean and launch it. Others want a panel type, consisting of a small group of customizable buttons.
Launchy is a free cross-platform utility designed to help you forget about your start menu, the icons on your desktop, and even your file manager. It indexes the programs in your start menu and can launch your documents, project files, folders, and bookmarks with just a few keystrokes!
Once Launchy has been started, it hides in the background. You bring it forward by holding the alt key and tapping the space key. You then type in a few keys of the program you are searching for and hit enter once it has been found. You can also make Launchy dissappear again by hitting escape or alt+space.