Version tested : 1.0.0

Website : www.launchy.net
Download : Page

Description : Quick-launch anything by knowing its name alone, or even a few letters. Index’s default and user defined directories for default and user defined file types. You can have user defined commands and many skins.

When I first read about this app, I thought I’d never use it, just the same as all the other launchers I had tried. This one was a bit different though. It indexed all the apps on my machine, effectively making the start menu obsolete for apps I knew the name of. The initial indexing didn’t take too long, and I don’t notice it running.

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Version tested : 3.7.2

Website : eng.softq.org
Download : Page

Description : Customize folder icons with handy right click menu on any folder. Actually saves to the folder, so it would work perfectly on any USB drive.

Let’s face it, Windows folder icons get a bit boring, day in day out. Well how about you making a choice as to what the folder icons are? Sound good? Then this is what you will be after.

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Version tested : 4.0

Website : www.auslogics.com
Download : Page - Direct

Description : Defrag’s the registry making the machine boot faster and programmers load faster.

This really is a supreme app that is so simple to use that anyone who can click the go button can use it. It’s a powerful little app, compressing and deranging your registry and making the machine load faster, added to which it’s TOTALLY FREE! (even though 99.9% of apps I review are free, it’s rare for them to fix what they find in the scans)

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Version Tested : 3.22

Website : www.tidystartmenu.com
Download : Page - Direct

Description : You know the massive start menu you have? Well this is the answer to your prayers! It’s what you need and you don’t even know it. Tidy up that freakin’ Start Menu. You can do it your own way, or the Tidy Start Menu way. I know which one I’d choose.

If you’re a real AppAholic, you may well be on your way to the fourth column on your programmes list… and that’s on an 19″ screen set at its highest resolution! So how do we solve this problem of a start menu that is ugly to look and means you have search up and down to find the right app you want? Simple, categorise them using Tidy Start Menu.

It has 9 set categories, Office, Utilities, Games, Entertainment, Internet, Programming, Graphics, Security and Other. You simply check the apps that fall into that category. When you move onto the next category, the previously checked apps are taken out, so eventually you can whittle it down so that you’ve put each and every app in its rightful place.

It also has back up and restore features, and the ability to select different layouts for different users. It isn’t clear what the paid for version does that the free one doesn’t, apart from creating your own categories and start menu icons wizard, which is quite a neat function. The recently added right click uninstall option, however, which could be quite useful.

It seems that what started out as a simple tool for doing one task for the creator, has taken on a whole new level, adding extras that you would probably like if it was offered free. The price tag isnt over-priced really, but I can’t believe there isn’t another programmer out there working on a freeware tool to do the individual features.

No hassle all in one? Well let’s be honest, it’s probably worth it, with lifetime free updates and extra features. Still, if you just want to Tidy your Start Menu, and let other apps do other jobs, then the free version will do you fine.

Version tested : 1.0.1 (6) Beta

Website : windowslivewriter.spaces.live.com Download : Page

“Windows? Have you lost your mind?” I hear you say. Well usually I would be asking the same question, but in this case, I think they may have made something half decent. Firstly, it has a good range of supported blogs. Not being a massive blogger myself, especially not knowing the ins and outs, I found it really easy to set up and use. I was a bit concerned about giving out my username and password over to a MS app, but then I am running windows, so what can I say!

Although it is still in beta mode, I don’t have many complaints. I can use multiple blogs and also download the style of the blog I’m posting to, giving me a more realistic WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) feel. The insert image function is, for me, the best, as you can set standards with custom watermarks. It also automatically uploads them to your blog space if supported. Not only that, but it resizes the watermark for the thumbnail and main image file. Although it’s a bit difficult to make the image stay where you want, this isn’t a major issue.

There are loads of plug ins (or so I’m told) for this app, supporting special features for different blog sites, although I haven’t been able to access them, as the search function on the plug ins website doesn’t seem to like me very much, even through a number of online proxies.

There are only one or two annoying things I can think of other than that, one being the fact that each new post, or old post you open, opens in a different window. Hopefully that’s only because it’s in beta, as they will realise that tabs are the way forward.

Portable : NA

I was browsing around yesterday, can’t remember exactly what I was looking for, but I came across this site, which has an icon resizer on it. However when I tried to download it, I was taken to a Russian translation. Anyway, after contacting the owner of the site, they emailed me the apps, and agreed to let me host them on this very blog.

So what’s so good about an icon resizer? Well, it enables you to enlarge your desktop icons bigger than Windows will let you. One step further towards to making your Windows OS look like a Mac!

I have decided on a new category too… Macify, linking you to the apps which can change your Windows OS to look like a Mac OS. Should be good!

Ok, currently, there are some designs under way for the rating system, and the layout of posts is being reworked. I’m considering having 4 different ratings, with an overall rating. How about that? Any ideas as to what else should be included?

Over the next few posts, the layout and style may be inconsistent. This is because we are trying out different ideas as how best to layout our posts. All the post content will still be there though, so no worries.

Version Tested : 2.1 Beta

Website: www.iobit.com
Download: Page

Description: A disk defragger with an auto defrag feature, which can defrag files one at a time when the system has spare resources. Has express and full defrag, and enables scheduling

Although this programme is still in a beta state, I believe it’s worth mentioning. We all know what windows defrag is like on XP - sluggish, and requires you not to be doing anything else at the same time, or you’re in trouble!

Well this one is a little different. It allows you to defrag and continue working, and you’ll hardly notice that it’s using any resources. It’s simple and neat, without a tonne of confusing options. It also gives you a recommendation, like “defrag now” and “enable schedule”. You can set up the auto defrag, which defrags disks all the time when you machine is using less than a user defined CPU level. Kinda handy don’t you think? Personally I love this little programme - it means I now never have to think about defragging my disks every again. Yes, it does have a few adverts about its other products down the side, but I feel it’s a small price to pay for such a good app.

Portable : NA

The website is now on hold until I have more time to really start it, which will probably be around summer time, after my exams. However, I will try and spend some time on making a new review post soon.