The Download Blog

Windows 7's Aero in pictures

Introduced for Vista, the translucent Aero skin has been heavily developed and expanded in Windows 7. See what this key design and interface feature looks like and behaves like in the new operating system.

(Credit: CNET)

I use both Windows and Mac machines at my desk for testing and reviewing software for each platform. While both platforms have their advantages and disadvantages, I recently found a simple program that fixes one of my pet peeves about Windows.

One small Windows XP and Vista interface quirk that has always bothered me is the inability to move items in the taskbar. Though it might not bother other people, I always like having my programs set up in a certain way--Outlook on the left, my browser after that, my chat program, and then other programs to the right of those. The problem is that sometimes I open programs in a different order depending on what I'm doing, and I've even gone so far as to quit programs and re-open them in order to get them set up the way I want. Maybe I'm crazy, but it's just the way I like to work. I always figured if I could shift tabs around in Firefox, I ought to be able to do the same thing with the Taskbar.

A simple settings window lets you have the program start with Windows and a few other useful options.

(Credit: CNET)

The other day, I stumbled across a free program called TaskBar Shuffle whose sole purpose is to be able to shift items around on the taskbar and in the system tray. With Taskbar shuffle running, simply drag and drop the item or icon, and that's it--just like tabs in Firefox. Even if you like to use group buttons, Taskbar shuffle lets you reorder those up or down within each group. As an added bonus, you can tweak the settings so a middle click to a taskbar item closes that item immediately. You also can check a box in the settings to have it start up with Windows so you never have to think about it again.

This program isn't newly released, but it was definitely new to me and now that I know about it, I've installed it on all of my Windows test machines. I even showed it to my coworker, Jessica Dolcourt, and she included it in her one-trick applications collection because she had always wanted something like Taskbar Shuffle, too. The bottom line is, if you've always wanted to be able to move those items around in the Taskbar because you have a particular way of doing things, this free simple program is an easy way to do it.

Are you jealous of that slick Mac interface? Check out ObjectDock, a free utility that replaces the Windows Taskbar with a colorful, animated dock similar to the taskbar in Mac OS X.

ObjectDock displays icons for currently running applications and can hold quick-launch icons for your favorite programs. As you pass the cursor over each icon, ObjectDock magnifies it and displays relevant information, helping you find what you need even when you're running several programs at once. An attractive but optional clock rounds out the toolbar. The tiny utility comes with a dozen attractive skins, and users with slow computers can reduce the animation quality to increase speed.

You can even force it to permanently hide the native Windows Taskbar and create a dock icon for the Start menu, but there's a drawback: no built-in support for the system tray short of upgrading to the paid version. Despite this, ObjectDock is a no-risk, solid choice for an alternative taskbar if you're dissatisfied with the Windows offerings.

Power Downloader and I have talked about how useful RocketDock can be, and it is still is. But another excellent program dock to check out is ObjectDock, from Stardock. Besides providing a skinable and extensively customizable Mac-style dock, the free ObjectDock lets users replace the Windows taskbar completely.

ObjectDock can replace the Windows taskbar, and includes a Start menu link.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Colorful and animated, ObjectDock is so customizable it's impressive. Not only can you choose your own icons to represent programs and documents, set the dock size and location, and configure icon behavior, but you can also set the dock to run faster and take up more RAM, or sacrifice the gloss for other programs.

In replacing the Windows taskbar, users can insert a Start menu button that launches the menu right from the dock, as well as inserting a clock icon using the built-in docklets. Other docklets include prebuilt links to your default Web browser, document editor, music player, e-mail client, and other application essentials. The only docklet I found lacking was one for the task manager, but that's easy enough to create by hand.

The simplest way I found to add a program to the dock was to send a shortcut for a program to the desktop, and then drag-and-drop directly onto the dock. Once added, it was easy to configure the specific icon for the application via the context menu and dock entry properties.

Users also have two choices as to how to indicate that a program is in use. You can have open programs appear minimized on the dock, or have an indicator hover over the dock icon. A huge mess of options makes the 30 included dock skins go a long way, from adjusting the transparency to importing icon and dock themes.

When hiding the Windows taskbar, ObjectDock still lacks an adequate replacement for showing programs that live in the system tray. If you're otherwise dissatisfied with the Windows taskbar, though, or just want to spice up your desktop, ObjectDock is a cool port to call home.

It's easy to make your Windows Taskbar work like your Firefox tabs.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Tabbed browsing is one of those software features that didn't seem like a big deal at its inception, but later went on to become more popular than sliced bread. It's simply must-have functionality for any respectable Web browser. Who among us hasn't had 40 different Web sites open in one browser window...and loved it?

Fans of Mozilla Firefox and Opera might claim that their favorite browser invented tabs. However, according to most accounts, tabbed interfaces have been around since the 1980s and in browsers for at least 10 years. Arguments will persist as to the first tabbed browser, but the Internet Explorer shell Netcaptor featured tabs as early as 1997.

Regardless of who invented the feature, once tabs hit Internet Explorer 7 two years ago, tabbed browsing became as much a part of the Web as spam, blogging, Rickrolls, and LOLcats. Favorite extensions for Mozilla Firefox such as Tab Mix Plus, Colorful Tabs, and Tabbrowser Preferences added an entirely new level of customization and control over tabs.

Tabs have become so successful in managing our Web browsing that I've often wondered why Microsoft couldn't apply the same set of features to its Windows Taskbar. After all, the main functionality is very similar--managing unique applications (or sites) in a singular work space.

It turns out that there are several products that beef up your options for managing the Windows Taskbar like browser tabs, and two of the best are free. Today, I'm taking a look at some of my favorite Taskbar enhancement software, including Taskbar Shuffle, XNeat Window Manager, and Taskbar Manager.

There's not a whole lot to Taskbar Shuffle, but sometimes simple is better.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Taskbar Shuffle

Speaking of tabbed browsing, this cool freeware application applies the same basic functionality with your Taskbar tiles. Drag-and-drop buttons to whatever location you'd like, close windows by middle-clicking their buttons, or automatically group windows when they reach a customizable number. Taskbar Shuffle is lightweight, installs/uninstalls easily, works the way it promises, and that's about it.

You'll notice that some of the other programs mentioned have a larger feature set than Taskbar Shuffle, but if (like me) all you want is the capability to drag-and-drop programs in the Taskbar and close them by middle clicking, this software is my top pick.

The only minor niggling complaint about Taskbar Shuffle is that it automatically inserts itself into your startup menu, which may raise a few hackles. However, to be fair, that option is very easily turned off from the sparse Settings dialog window.

XNeat includes a variety of cool features, and each of the options includes an integrated help file.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

XNeat Window Manager

Recently covered in-depth by CNET's Jessica Dolcourt, XNeat Windows Manager gives you the same drag-and-drop and middle-click closing features as Taskbar Shuffle, but also includes other interesting niche features like the capability to adjust the opacity of the Taskbar or send open windows directly to the system tray. That last feature isn't as cool as it sounds, by the way.

Right-clicking on the Taskbar with XNeat Windows Manager enabled offers up a host of additional customization options. Go ahead. Hide the Start Menu. Open recent items. View your hidden tray icons. Kill your clock!

XNeat also has some potentially interesting file management options such as saving clones and adding date stamps to files, but neither of those features worked well for me. However, the rest of the functions worked fine, and integrated support material will help newer users figure out what each setting actually does.

There's a lot to like about XNeat Windows Manager. If Taskbar Shuffle didn't give me all the features I need, I'd give it some serious consideration for riding shotgun on my Windows Taskbar.

Taskbar Manager adds the capability to manage startup items and shutdown your PC at a certain time.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Taskbar Manager

More properly named Askarya Task Manager, this shareware application includes some unique features that separate it from other Taskbar customization tools. Along with providing the capability to position Taskbar buttons and to save and load arranged orders, the software also lets you customize your startup items and schedule system shutdowns.

The main interface of Task Manager is divided into three tabs: Taskbar Manager, Startup Manager, and Shutdown. Taskbar Manager provides the same sort of functionality that you'll find in software such as Taskbar Organizer and Taskbar Commander, and it works at least as well as those two in that regard. The capability to manage startup menu items is a nice bonus, if a bit superfluous, though the shutdown features are welcome for me. You can either Power Off, Log off, Reboot, or Shutdown at a specific time such as 8 p.m., May 8 or after a custom time interval, such as 12 hours.

Unfortunately, Task Manager isn't free, but the trial lets you use the full functionality of the program for 30 days before asking for your cash. Whether it's worth it or not to you will likely depend on the ease and convenience of having those three specific features packaged together. Each of them separately is easily replicated in freeware.

Do you have favorite tricks or software for customizing the Windows Taskbar? Tell me about it in the comments.

I'd say that XNeat Windows Manager is tooting its own horn a little much if it weren't for "neat" being the first descriptor to bubble up when using it. Perhaps some new descriptors are in order.

A semitransparent system tray.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Regardless, XNeat (as the application shall henceforth be known) tweaks XP and Vista's shell to unlock customizations in the appearance and behavior of your task bar and system tray. With XNeat, you can assign important windows always-on-top status, can hide windows, and can adjust the transparency of windows when you hover or focus on them. That's small potatoes if you're using Vista, but XP-jockeys get the benefit of Vista's simulated effect without having to trade in an OS, but with access to XNeat's other commendable features.

For instance, with my usage patterns, the feature to drag-and-drop buttons on the taskbar (the open programs) is enormously helpful. I often have so many applications open that they spill into two or three layers. Instead of closing instant-message conversations and auxiliary programs to have my applications in obsessive order, I can sort them with a click and a drag. No joke, if I can keep the first four programs in my lineup the same every time, I save seconds by going straight to them and avoid hunting for the application I want in the process. Closing an application with a click of the middle mouse button is also convenient--unless you're using my mouse.

Choosing the contents of the context menu.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Others will find it extremely useful to futz with system tray's appearance. You'll be able to play with transparency for the entire icon strip, and nix any element that drives you batty, including the clock and Start menu. I'm not sure why anyone would want to do that--Launchy fans with something to prove?--but it's cool knowing you can.

By now, you're starting to get a feel for the shape of this application that treats nearly every aspect of the task tray and task bar family as a separate, optional entity. One last pointer--to save an important application for later, you can temporarily minimize it to the system tray. Let's say it's an open Word document. Right-click on the title bar, select "Send to tray," and from the tray, click once to open the document anew. If you minimize it the normal way, it'll sink back onto your taskbar. That's definitely 'neat.'

It would be nice if XNeat ran quietly in the background instead of implanting itself in your system tray, and the options interface wouldn't hurt from a makeover. I'd also like to see functionality to drag-and-drop buttons from the first taskbar layer onto subsequent layers, but it's hard to scrutinize a freeware application that makes for smoother handling.

Windows taskbars are notorious for being unfriendly, chaotic, and occasionally unresponsive. They also have poor social skills, but I'm not here to pass judgment. Instead, I'm going to show you three great freeware ways to lasso that unruly taskbar of yours and tame it right down, with Taskbar Shuffle, RocketDock, and Launchy.

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