AppRocket and Quicksilver — The Next Application Launchers
As far as I’m concerned, the days of the Start Menu, Quick Launch toolbar and launching programs from giant icons on the Dock in OS X are over. Two applications, AppRocket for Windows and Quicksilver for OS X have changed the way I use computers forever.
The concept behind these applications is simple–they eliminate the need for using the mouse to search for icons in menus or start bars to open applications, files and even web addresses. They make finding and playing a song as simple as typing the first few letters and pressing enter. Both applications are also “smart”–if you use one program several times, they remember it. For example, if I launch Photoshop, the first time I might have to type “photo” for it to sort through other programs beginning with the letters “pho.” After a couple times of launching Photoshop, I might only have to type the letter “p” to bring it up in the menu.
Both AppRocket and Quicksilver are started by hitting a hotkey–by default they use the very handy combination “alt+space” or “command+space”, which are very easy to hit with your left thumb. This brings up a small window (Quicksilver has several styles). You begin typing and instantly a list drops down with programs or files that either start with or contain the letters you’ve typed. To open the file or program just press enter and you’re done–AppRocket and Quicksilver vanish until next time you need them.
If you’re on Windows, AppRocket is $18 shareware. You can find it on www.candylabs.com.
On OS X, you’re lucky. Quicksilver is absolutely free. Quicksilver also gives you some added functionality. In addition to having several styles and cool, but subtle, animation effects, it also lets you easily move files (press space), gives you a clipboard that stores up to 9 recent copies, lets you easily compose email, browse albums and create playlists on the fly in iTunes (you can even view album art) and several other cool and useful features. Download it at www.blacktree.com
Once you use AppRocket or Quicksilver for awhile, I guarantee, you’ll never go back.
Just as a note… Both Quicksilver and AppRocket have competition from programs that offer similar functionality. For OS X there’s LaunchBar and in the next release of OS X (Tiger) Spotlight is built in, on Windows there’s KBStart, PC-Com and SlickRun, all decent programs but none provide the as much functionality as the two I’ve mentioned here.
September 5th, 2004 at 11:59 pm
SlickRun is only one of several similar — or not so similar — programs that are free (at least for personal use). For two very good but quite different approaches, try QuickStart by Digiarch.org and TypeAndRun by GalanSoft. For an expensive but apparently effective solution, look at ActiveWords.
QuickStart by Digiarch.org analyzes all tll the words in your menu (and/or favorites/bookmarks) and makes them available as keywords. The interface is deceptively simple. Look at the single screensho at the website. If you try it, be sure to compare the results when using downarrow versus return.
Freeware (Donationware) (Personal & commercial use)
http://www.digiarch.org/quickstart.html
TypeAndRun by GalanSoft is a more typical command line application launcher. Screenshots 2 and 3 on the site will start to give you some idea of what it will do. Otherwise there is not much documentation on the site or in the program. Fortunately it is relatively straightforward to use.
Freeware (Donationware) (Personal & commercial use)
http://galan.dogmalab.ru/index.php?lang=eng&look=soft&item=typeandrun
GalaSoft offers WinConsole for $10 at the same site. It is similar to TypeAndRun but adds abbreviations (aliases).
I also find AlphaCuts from CocoHolo (try typing in bottom right first) and FavSearch and ShellSearch by Harmony Hollow nice visual complements to the other two. A few small changes to the GUI and an easy way to invoke via 3 hotkeys with predefined parameters would make either of these quite effective. QuickStart and TypeAndRun would also benefit from the slight changes and command line parameters that would allow one to open 3 predefined items.
http://www.cocoholo.com/alpha.htm
http://www.harmonyhollow.net/ss.shtml
http://www.harmonyhollow.net/fsearch.shtml
Those who like to use search prefixes and simple aliases also may like AcuteSearch by Acute Systems for managing IE aliases. It is similar to Firefox and even more convenient than Maxthon. AcuteSearch is not wide enough and does not allow resizing. ResizeEnable from Digi Talis enables that (but only if started before AcuteSearch).
September 24th, 2004 at 7:22 am
i only want to test the program
September 30th, 2004 at 7:57 pm
Using Approcket, you can drag all your contacts from your favorite mail client into a folder and have approcket scan that folder… This is very useful to quickly send email to someone or have a phone number.