SmartBarXP for Windows

Used SmartBarXP for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

Beta or prerelease software is not intended for inexperienced users, as the software may contain bugs or potentially damage your system. We strongly recommend that users exercise caution and save all mission-critical data before installing or using this software.

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffFebruary 29, 2024

Though still a beta version, this dynamic taskbar offers more than the standard Windows version. SmartBarXP's skinnable interface can be set on the right or left of your desktop. Under Properties you can choose what you want displayed on the taskbar. Options include a Web search tool, a calculator, and a weather display. You can also duplicate your Quick Launch icons and access My Computer and other areas of your PC. As with its Windows counterpart, this program also has a clock and a calendar, though you can double-click SmartBarXP's version to add a one-time or recurring alarm. You also get an option to view RSS newsfeeds from news sources such as the BBC or CNN. Everything worked during testing with the exception of the MP3 player, which consistently failed to recognize or play any type of music file. Overall, this freebie is a nice option for any user looking for a fully customizable taskbar.

SmartBarXP for Windows

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Used SmartBarXP for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: January 7, 2004

Latest update: February 29, 2024

Version: 0.98-beta-4.8

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows XP
Windows 10

Additional Requirements: Windows XP

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 43,215

Downloads Last Week: 0

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Program available in other languages

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.6/5

22 User Votes

Very Nice for Beta!!
Nintendo01November 23, 2007
Pros
This program does pretty much everything I want it to, and even skins with my Windows Blinds! Amazing!
Cons
I have it docked on the right side of my screen and the icon for the start button (from the skin) gets chopped off by about five pixels on the left side and the missing part appears in the border to the left of the options pull-down. Also it will totally glitch up for a few seconds sometimes; the start menu (if transparent from the skin) will display the icons behind it in it's normal taskbar place; and for some reason it won't let me type in FireFox sometimes. I'll have the cursor in the text box I want to type in and, when I type, FireFox will pull up the quick find thing and it won't type in the box I want. Oh, and the only weather thing that will pull up any city in the city finder is the BBC Weather, and even then it won't display any weather info. Other than those few minor details, this is wonderful!
Summary
excellent sidebar and a very handy addition
RIC&RAYEMay 21, 2007
Pros
very little flaws and works well and is easy to use
Cons
Summary
0 star!!!it messed up my all microsoft office and windows configuration!
bellisimanzMarch 13, 2006
Pros
NONE!!!!
Cons
never download this useless programme! it is tricky and painful but yet not classified as a bug!when you try to uninstall it this message comes up= msmapi32.ocx is not used by any programme, you can press yes to delete it or no to keep, it wont change anything!never ever press yes to any of those popups if you want to keep your office n windows running smooth!otherwise you are doomed to waste all your day trying to figure out where you have made a mistake! you did it by downloading this piece of nasty work!
Summary
Problems with beta version
unclearn007October 22, 2005
Pros
Nice design.
Cons
When I right-clicked then chose "properties", an install dialogue box came up, wanting me to install my webcam. Problem is my webcam is installed. When I clicked cancel, the install dialogue box came up again, and again, and again! <p> <p>I might try again when the full version comes out! Beta version sucks!
Summary
Ahrrr! its slow when you play games, even if your not. features dont work too.
rob0289June 22, 2005
Pros
hey i got to admit not easy making this stuff but, its going to slow your computer down a bit.
Cons
alot of features didint work on mine like, the net bar when its sapose to be tracking how much of the connection is leaft doesint work. I play bejewled and thats not a very big game but it flickers or sometimes slows it down. for some funny reason it will make my computer frezze with out the game. Only once in a blue moon thou.
Summary
Very Handsome & Cool Product!!!!
shakeel_jee7March 26, 2005
Pros
Pros: Once we install it, we're virtually switched to Windows Longhorn. It has very good feachers like Integrating different applications on it. It has very good graphics, espacially I like the Analog Clock of "Longhorn Slate".
Cons
Cons: Besides its good feachers, currently it has some problem of instability, but In my PC, it is working well.
Summary
Um, okay?
shuaibaoMarch 1, 2005
Pros
It's okay....
Cons
It's just like the Windows Sidebar.
Summary
Fairly useful
Jep4444February 27, 2005
Pros
I have been using this program for awhile, it's nice and provides me some nice features such as WinAMP controls and system monitor.
Cons
I experienced instability on version 4.8 but 4.9 has been fairly stable for me(the odd problem from time to time like it wouldn't open yesterday)
Summary
Almost Good Enough
December 28, 2004
Pros
Cons
Summary
I installed it, but it's just too unstable for me. It crashes, won't open at Windows startup no matter how many times I configure it to, and stopped updating the weather no matter how I configured it, and every attempt at using the mp3 player failed. I uninstalled it and installed Desktop Sidebar instead. It has a few(very few)less features, but ALL of them work properly, it opens on startup, doesn't crash and plays my mp3's. It also has better looking skins available. I'll try smartbar again someday, but not until a few more upgraded versions have been released.
Spyware Packed
October 25, 2004
Pros
Cons
Summary
This thing is a great product but filled to the gills with spyware

Developer’s Description

By SmartBarXP

Configure this enhanced taskbar to offer everything from newsfeeds to virtual desktop management.

Offering everthing from newsfeeds to virtual desktop management, SmartBarXP runs down the side of your screen and can be configured to display interactive panels known as panes. These panes include media players, slide-show and image-viewing panes, a virtual desktop manager, and live news, weather, and stock feeds. The panes can be repositioned on the bar and scrolled if the bar becomes too full. The bar also can host extra sections, such as a Recycle Bin, Explorer shortcuts, and taskbar replacement sections (Start button, taskbar buttons, and system tray sections).

SmartBarXP is fully customizable. Every pane has extensive options and can be customized to look and work the way you want it to. The bar itself can be customized, with options for positioning, autohiding, pane scrolling, fading and translucency, language, and regional setting. You also can select the theme the bar takes; it can match your current Windows XP theme, the Classic Windows theme, or even a third-party SmartBarXP theme.

With a wide range of panes to choose from, and seemingly endless ways to customize it, SmartBarXP can be configured to the needs of almost any user, for home or for business use.

SmartBarXP for Windows

Editors’ Review

SmartBarXP for Windows

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User Reviews

Very Nice for Beta!!

excellent sidebar and a very handy addition

0 star!!!it messed up my all microsoft office and windows configuration!

Problems with beta version

Ahrrr! its slow when you play games, even if your not. features dont work too.

Very Handsome & Cool Product!!!!

Um, okay?

Fairly useful

Almost Good Enough

Spyware Packed

Developer’s Description