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October 26, 2007 4:51 PM PDT

Power Downloader launches anything on the fly

by Jason Parker
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Power Downloader (Credit: CNET Networks)

When Power Downloader is hot on the trail of an Internet criminal, time is of the essence. If he needs to find specific computer information about his target quickly, he doesn't always have time to navigate through the usual Windows Explorer folders. Power knows spending a bunch of time trying to find the right folder or Web site can be the difference between making a capture and losing the trail.

LaunchOnFly

When Power Downloader needs a file he has to get there quickly

(Credit: CNET Networks)

To get to different areas on his computer quickly, Power Downloader uses LaunchOnFly. After setting up his most used programs, Web sites, folders and files, Power can use a hot key or just touch his mouse to the upper left corner of his desktop to bring up the LaunchOnFly menu. From there everything is available to him immediately with just a click of his mouse. Adding programs couldn't be easier, only requiring a right-click to a program's shortcut to add it to the LaunchOnFly menu. LaunchOnFly also has quick access for hiding and showing the desktop and for shutting down the computer, when Power needs to get moving quickly.

Sometimes when Power Downloader is in a hurry, he can't take the extra steps necessary to navigate through files and folders. With LaunchOnFly on his desktop, Power can get to important documents and case files quickly, giving him a much better chance to stop Internet criminals in their tracks.

Jason Parker writes software reviews and features for Windows, Mac, and iPhone. If he learned to dance, it would make him a fabled "quadruple threat," but we can't get him to do it.
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You dont need a program to do this...
by hitnrun7 October 26, 2007 5:00 PM PDT
You can actually do this without any program, simply by creating tool bars link to folder containing the desired shortcuts and or documents. Just right click the task bar, right click, hover over "toolbars" and click "New ToolBar ...". That should save Power Downloader some time.
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Do I really need a separate program to do this?
by brobar October 26, 2007 7:03 PM PDT
I don't see any advantage in using a separate program to access oft-used files, folders, and programs when the same result is achieved simply by using the Quick Launch menu from the status bar. Everything--except web pages, of course--can be accessed easily this way. And as for web pages, I create my own toolbar buttons in Firefox, allowing me to open simultaneously all my favorite sites (organized into tab groups) with a single click. Do I really need a separate program? No.
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why bother?
by mishu.1985 October 29, 2007 4:54 AM PDT
As has already been mentioned.. create a folder with shortcuts n create a toolbar out of it. And if you still wanted shortcuts, you could always work with something like autohotkey.
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? why bother?
by mishu.1985 October 29, 2007 4:55 AM PDT
As has already been mentioned.. create a folder with shortcuts n create a toolbar out of it. And if you still wanted shortcuts, you could always work with something like autohotkey.
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Try Launchy. Free and better.
by hongyi1983 October 29, 2007 6:47 PM PDT
I think Launchy is a more convenient software. You just press alt-space then type the 1st few letters of your program to launch it.
Search for it at download.com Other users have given good reviews too.
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re: launchy
by hitnrun7 October 30, 2007 9:42 AM PDT
launchy is pretty much built straight into Vista..... there is no need for a third party program of this type for vista, although i can see its uses for XP
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