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CNET Editors' review
We're fairly sure that the development of the first boss key followed close behind the development of the first graphical user interface. As the name suggests, boss keys or boss buttons quickly hide whatever is open on the desktop when the user touches a hot key or types a similar trigger. Magic Boss Key 4.10 is a free boss-key utility that has some extra options, such as selecting which windows you want to stay open on the desktop when you use your hot key.
Magic Boss Key's small interface listed our open desktop items with check boxes to select those windows we wanted to remain open, with Help, Options, and Refresh being the only controls. The Refresh button updated the list of programs, while the Options pop-up let us download and specify additional language files, select either the default F12 hot key or left and right mouse buttons to hide and show windows, and set the program to hide all desktop icons or the taskbar, mute sounds, and run at start-up. We made our selections, minimized the program to the system tray, and pressed F12. Magic Boss Key cleared our desktop, windows and icons alike, and muted our sounds. The only trouble is we hadn't selected the options to mute sounds and hide desktop icons. Selecting, operating, and deselecting these options failed to correct the problem, and the Help file wasn't especially helpful. The program's Web site didn't offer much documentation beyond bug fixes, though it seems a few more are in order, since not only did Magic Boss Key hide our icons without our permission but also the mouse button hot-key option failed to activate the program. However, the windows we'd selected to stay open when we ran Magic Boss Key did stay open, although the desktop icons still vanished, which doesn't really help appearances.
Magic Boss Key proved a bit clunky in operation, occasionally requiring us to restart the program, which didn't always activate our changes. Mind you, we love the idea of a boss key that lets you specify what stays open when the rest goes down, but it needs work, and we'd also like to be able to change the hot key from the default F12 to fix conflicts, as well as a proper Help file. The program is updated regularly, though, and it's free.
Publisher's Description
From Efreesky Software:
Magic Boss Key allow you to hide active program window immediatlly using a hot key! You can hide the browser windows, folder windows, applications windows, all your desktop icons and taskbar when your boss or anyone else you don't want to see your screens comes in. It's speed is brought to maximum to allow you react as quickly as possible to any threat that appears. You won't feel even a slight difference in the performance of your home or office computer after installing it. With a cool and user-friendly interface makes it easy for anyone to use Magic Boss Key. Everybody should have such program for personal privacy.
What's new in this version: Version 4.10 features new user interface; adds function to specialize which window left when other be hidden.
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All versions:
3.4 starsout of 8 votes
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Current version:
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Results 1-8 of 8
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"Doesn't Work"
Version: Magic Boss Key 3.40
Pros
none...doesn't work
Cons
Downloaded (Win XP SP3)...Installed...Can't get it to work. Tried both possible Hot Keys (mouse and F12). DID uninstall easily (with Revo Uninstaller).
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"Works great for me"
Version: Magic Boss Key 3.4
Pros
Easy to set up. Works perfectly. I press F12 and my screen goes to desktop; all open windows are minimized. Another press of F12 and everything is restored as it was.
Cons
I have no cons to report
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"A Virus"
Version: Magic Boss Key 3.4
Pros
DO NOT INSTALL
I guess download.com must remove such titles.
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"SPYWARE BEWARE!!"
Version: Magic Boss Key 3.4
Pros
I did'nt like anything about this software. Read what I did'nt like about this software!
Cons
I configured the software as directed and all was fine until the next day. While I was working at the computer I clicked an icon in my taskbar and... my taskbar was gone.
I had to manually shut down and reboot... I went to add&remove in control panel and removed the program. It stated that some folders would have to be removed. I could not manually remove...it would not allow this... so I blocked access in &out through the firewall and proceeded to 'dismantle' it using a combination of Spyware Terminator, Win Cleaner 1 Click and Internet eraser. I broke the file and went into folders and deleted the 2 remaining files... Next day when I turned on the computer MagicBoss start-up screen was on my monter for about .25 second! I went into the folders and there it was again! And once again I was denied access to delete... . I turned to Spyware Terminator and ran a scan. It appeared in 'Unknown Items' and I quarantined it.
This software may run properly on some computers, but it's behaviour on my computer in it's environment could only be described as abnormal, no matter how I configured it. I do not possess a lot of 'pc savvy' but am more advanced than the average population. I am running XP Professional on 2 computers (both media computers).
Simply put, Well 'do you feel lucky?'
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"Works Great! Hides those Icons or aps so I can see my wallpaper uncluttered."
Version: Magic Boss Key 3.30
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"PERFECT!!"
Version: Magic Boss Key 3.30
Pros
Finally a product that does what it says. It was simple to install, has very few functions but is effective. With two options of how to make everything disappear, it's easy as pie. Every application and program can be hidden with one click and is not even visible in the task bar. It even mutes your computer if you choose that option Nice work!
Cons
The only thing that I can think of to improve this is... when you have an application running and that application opens new windows, those new windows appear, even if the application itself has been hidden. I would love to see Efreesoft Boss Key modified so that when you hide everything, everything associated with what you have hidden also stays hidden, including new windows opening from that application. Perhaps difficult to do because when you hide everything, Boss Key allows you to open new programs and applications and perhaps this would prevent them from opening as well?? Otherwise, well done and worth the download!!
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"does the job"
Version: Magic Boss Key 3.30
Pros
does just what its suppose to
Cons
could use more features evan tho this is the free version
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"Very simple, effective and best of all; 100% Free!"
Version: Magic Boss Key 3.30
Pros
Very simple; opens on start up and automatically minimizes to the system tray. Easy to use and has a choice of many different hotkeys; you can use right+left mouse click, which is much more convenient that a combination of upwards of 3 keys. I basically does what it's supposed to do effectively and all this for free; no trials; no blocked features. The program name is also a good feature because from it you cannot quickly guess what it's used for unless you're familiar with the term "boss-key." Also it doesn't just minimize certain windows or minimizes them to the system tray (which is very easily noticible.) It also mutes the sound if you're playing a game or something like that.
Cons
If you use the right+left mouse click you can accidentally minimize everything, but it's easy to restore them the same way. Also, if you have many programs running, it can take a second to minimize; nothing too long though.
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