What is Lauchy you ask? It’s a search bar that pops when you hit Alt + Enter, indexing any item on your computer like your start menu for starters. It’s always been such a mission to click, click, find and click just to open a program you have opened a million times. Even if you moved over to Desktop Icons (OOOH!) or even a bit of Quick Launch (for the visionaries) … you’ll be back at square one were you to format.
To put it in plain English… Launchy Rocks! Heres a little taste. Then a series of built-in function that make it even more rocking. It’s available for download here.
I’m afraid Lauchy is only available for Windows users. And if you need any further documentation make use of the Launchy.net website.
Here are some built-in Functions:
- Search Google
- Type in google, then tab, then your search query and press enter
- Check the Weather
- Type in Weather, then tab, then your zip code or city,state and press enter
- Search other sites
- Other sites you can search include wikipedia, msn, yahoo, amazon, netflix, imdb, and more.
- Browse your computer
- Type in c:, then tab, then a folder or file, hit tab, and continue
- The Launchy Calculator
- Did you know that Launchy has a built in calculator? Type in some algebra and see what happens!
- Index your Bookmarks & Folders
- Directory: C:\Documents and Settings\user\Favorites
- File Type: .url
- Index your Music
- Directory: My Documents
- File Types: .mp3 .aac .ogg
- Index your Pictures
- Directory: My Documents
- File Types: .jpg .gif .bmp
- Index your Documents
- Directory: My Documents
- File Types: .doc .pdf .xls .ppt
- Index custom Commands
- Directory: Your Custom Folder
- File Types: .exe .bat .lnk
It’s certainly a nice implementation, but the concept itsef isn’t new.
Mac OS X users have had Quicksilver (which Launchy was inspired by) for years. I love it, to the extent that I feel frustrated using computers that don’t have it installed.
http://quicksilver.blacktree.com/
For Linux, there are two options. GNOME Launch Box (http://developer.imendio.com/projects/gnome-launch-box) and Katapult (http://katapult.kde.org/), both of which are based on Quicksilver.
Certainly nice to see interface innovation happening outside the traditional providers.
Thanks Darren. Was almost sure the same thing was available for other OS’s. And i can see how getting use to it on your PC then being lost on some one else’s PC. Time to hit the good old Start menu.
Keybreeze is another application launcher for Windows, and I think it’s one of the better programs out there. It has more features than Launchy and seems to be a little more customizable. Some of the skins may not be as good looking as Launchy though.
This is where i found all of my skins
http://www.launchyskins.com/ they have one for every occasion, plus you dont even have to open calculator. You just type in what you want (12*0.6) right there in launchy and it does it for you.
Ahh.. thanks…. this proggy is gonna fit me perfect…