Desktop Tools

Dexpot allows you to create multiple, virtual desktops to increase the work area of your screen by up to 20 times. Each virtual desktop is independent from the others and can have its individual wallpaper, resolution, and icons (or no icons at all). You can easily switch between desktops from the tray icon, or via hotkey, or even use an automatic desktop slideshow that rotates all virtual desktops. In addition, you can move and copy windows from one desktop to another among the desktops, set up rules to automatically move, copy or close windows and more. Dexpot is one of the most advanced desktop managers out there, that is easy enough for beginners, but offers some great flexibility for more demanding users as well.

RealWorld Cursor Editor enables you to create and edit static or animated Windows cursors. You can create new cursor by editing existing .cur files or create new cursors from scratch by importing an image file. The program provides a variety of tools to draw lines, curves, rectangles and other shapes as well as predefined filters for color correction, sharpening, drop shadows and other effects. Other features include support for animations with custom frame sequence, batch processing of filters, cursor hot spot editing and more.

TaskSwitchXP is a replacement for the standard Windows task switcher dialog (Alt+Tab), which has remained virtually unchanged since Windows 95. It provides the same functionality, and adds visual styles to the dialog and also enhances it by displaying small screenshots of the application in addition to the associated icon. The dialog can also be customized on a per-user basis with optional font settings , transparency and more. (Open Source)

Yahoo! Widgets Engine is a JavaScript runtime engine that lets you run small programs called Widgets that can perform a variety of tasks. These desktop plug-ins can perform a variety of tasks and are available from many different sources. The default installation includes a Yahoo email checker, weather forecast, desktop photo frame, day planner and more. More than a thousand additional widgets can be downloaded from the Widget Library.

ClocX is a truly beautiful analog clock enhancement for your desktop. You can choose from a wide variety of styles, all of them high quality and very attractive. You can also use it to run one-time or recurring alarms, that can play a sound file, launch a message box or run an application of your choice. In addition, the program offers features like antialiasing, transparency, click through, calendar display, customizable priority and more. If you never thought, you`d need a desktop clock, ClocX may change your mind!

Desktop Sidebar is a toolbar that tightly integrates with Windows features and MS Outlook. It is built out of different components, each can be individually configured. Options include Outlook email overview, preview, notes, calendar entries (mail items can be previewed directly from the bar) as well as performance statistics, disk space usage, customizable mews headlines, access to Google and other search engines and more. Desktop Sidebar also integrates Windows Media Player controls, the QuickLaunch bar, commandline launcher and more. You can add new items and configure the layout and design in many aspects. The program is nicely done and makes a very attractive and useful add-on for your desktop. It can be displayed permanently or auto-hide itself when not in use.

Synergy is an open-source software that enables you to share a single mouse and keyboard with multiple other machines that are connected via a TCP/IP network. You can simply move your mouse off the edge of your main screen to enter the screen of a secondary computer to the left or right of you. While your mouse remains on the other PCs desktop you can control it with your main mouse and keyboard, and to return control to your main computer, simply move the mouse back. Synergy allows you to configure multiple computers, it needs to be installed on each of the computers to be controlled. The initial configuration can be a little confusing, and the docs are mostly aimed at technical users. Basically you have to tell the program what to do when the mouse passes the designated edge of your screen, and also how to get back on your main screen. (Look at our screenshot for a configuration that uses a secondary computer to the left.)

Taskbar Shuffle is a small and simple program, that add a handy new functionality to your Windows taskbar - it enables you to rearrange the taskbar buttons by simply dragging them around. This feature can be quite useful if the order and arrangement of your taskbar buttons is of importance to you. Makes you wonder why the taskbar did not come with this feature in the first place.

Visual Task Tips is a handy Windows shell enhancement that displays a thumbnail snapshot of any Windows that was minimized to the Windows taskbar. Just hover your mouse over a taskbar item and instead of the standard info tip, you will see a small snapshot of the Window. Visual Task Tips works with minimized folder, applications and web pages.

Atmosphere Lite enables you to bring the sounds of nature to your desktop. You can choose from various sourroundings such as tropical, thunderstorm, nighttime, summer, fireside and several others or customize your own soundscape from the sounds provided. In addition, the program includes a simpla alarm clock feature.

CursorFX enables you to apply special effects to your Windows 2000/XP mouse cursor. It includes several themes that are semi-transparent and feature more advanced shadows and alpha blending. CursorFX is configured directly from your Control Panel/Mouse Properties dialog. Additional themes can be downloaded. A Pro version with additional features is also available.

IconTweaker allows you to customize Windows with different sets of icon themes. It comes with several themes to choose from and additional ones can be added later. You can choose to change all icons according to the theme, and also set different icons for selected files and/or folders. The program provides an easy to use interface, and can restore your original icons at any time.

MuralPix is a desktop wallpaper changer that can automatically cycle through a selection of background images from one or more folders of your choice. You can choose to apply a new wallpaper every X minutes, every time your PC starts or during other times of the day. The wallpaper can be combined with a desktop calendar background that dynamically compliments the color hue of the wallpaper image. You can customize the image placement and sizing as well as the appearance of the calendar, exclude specific image from the display and manually switch to the next wallpaper from the tray icon. In addition to changing your desktop wallpaper, MuralPix can also run as a screensaver and display the same selection of images as a slideshow when your PC is not in use.

OuttaSight (outofsight) allows you to hide any application window from your desktop. You can choose to hide them completely, or to minimize them as icon to the system tray. The program also includes an auto-hide feature, that lets you hide specific windows automatically whenever they appear. Additional features include hotkey operation (Boss Key) to hide selected or all windows, and an option to hide desktop components like taskbar, start button and more. (Please note: OuttaSight is designed for 98/NT, however we tested it on XP and it worked fine, except for hiding of the Start button and system tray)

Wallpaper Master allows you to change your desktop wallpaper automatically every X minutes. You can create your own categories, using images on your computer, and cycle through one or multiple categories in random order, listed order or based on your personal ratings. The programs offers advanced auto-size options to make sure your images are displayed in with optimized size. You can also change the wallpaper instantly by simply clicking the tray icon. Additional features include customizable position and background color, directory monitoring and more.

WPChanger is an easy to use tool to automatically cycle through your collection of desktop wallpapers. Just add the images to be included n the cycle, and it will show them in a list with thumbnail previews. If you prefer not to switch your wallpaper automatically, you can let the program run in the tray, and quickly change wallpapers manually by simply double-clicking on one. Some additional features include conversion to grayscale, image stretching and random cycle, and an option to create a screensaver from the selected images..

DeskPins allows you to keep any window on top of others with a few clicks. While many programs offer this as a feature, others do not, and in such cases DeskPins comes handy. In addition, you can also define rules that use the window title (with wildcard support) and can automatically keep any window on top that matches your rules. The `on top` window is marked with a colored pin that can be quickly removed by simply clicking on it, returning the window to its normal state.

Flash Wallpaper allows you to convert any Flash (.swf) file into a distributable desktop wallpaper. Just select the Flash file to use, set a few options, preview the result and the let the program create the installer setup, that you can distribute (for non-commercial use) or use on your own computer. The freeware version is intended for personal use, and has some of the commercial features disabled.

Virtual Desktop Manager is a Microsoft Powertoy for Windows XP. It allows you to maintain up to 4 different desktops, each with it`s own applications and desktop wallpapers. It integrates into the taskbar and allows you to quickly switch between your virtual desktops. You can also assign keyboard hotkeys to switch between or preview all 4 desktops at once. For example, you can open your e-mail program on one desktop, an Internet chess game on the second, several Internet sessions on the third, and multiple database sessions on the fourth.

JR Screen Ruler is an easy to use, small screen ruler that you can use to measure distances on your screen. It supports pixels, centimeters, picas and inches and can be adjusted in length to fit your screen.

WatchMe is a simple but effective timer program that can be used to time multiple tasks or events independently of each other. You can assign a custom name to identify each timer and also store personal notes for each and set optional timer alerts. The program can display the time in hours:minutes:seconds or in fractions of an hour, depending on your preference and you can also adjust the time by adding or removing minutes. Standalone, no install needed.

Desk Drive is a handy software that adds convenient shortcuts to USB thumb drives, removable drives and DVDs to your desktop. When you first insert a USB drive or DVD, the Windows autoplay feature will provide you with quick access to the media content, however subsequent access to the drive usually requires you to go through Windows Explorer to find the mapped drive and open it. Desk Drive overcomes this inconvenience by adding a shortcut to the desktop that provides one-click access to the drive for as long as it is inserted. The program runs in the system tray and detect a new drive as soon as it is inserted. It automatically removes the shortcut when the drive is ejected.

DS Clock is a digital desktop clock that displays variable date and time information. The program allows you to customize its look and feel, and can synchronize your clock from a list of Internet time servers. You can select any combination of date and time, pick custom colors and fonts and optionally set a custom sound to play at the top/half of the hour.

EvJO Wallpaper Changer enables you to automatically change your desktop wallpaper on a regular basis. You can change it whenever the program starts or closes, set a time interval (e.g. every X minutes) or change it at a specific time of day. You can load images from a folder or create a list of selected images that should be used in order or at random. The program supports BMP, JPG, PNG, TIF, PCX and TGA images and can stretch, tile or center the wallpaper.

Adolix Wallpaper Changer enables you to change your desktop wallpaper automatically every X minutes, hours, days or on demand via hotkey or tray icon. You can create multiple image lists and load them or combine them, and optionally have the program shuffle the images to display them in random order. Adolix Wallpaper Changer supports all popular image formats and can size images to fit your display, or place them in a custom position on your desktop. It also includes a simple screen capture utility.

Walyk Wallpaper Changer enables you to automatically change your desktop wallpaper based on a selection of personal images. You can update the wallpaper on a daily or weekly basis, or every X minutes or hours. The program can also change your wallpaper whenever you restart your computer. The desktop wallpaper can be centered, stretched or tiled across the desktop and optionally resampled using a variety of algorithms.

Transform XP to Vista installs 3 applications that make your XP computer look a little more like Vista. It adds the Microsoft Zune theme, a ton of Yahoo! Widgets and the free version of Vista Start Menu (by the same developer). While the Zune theme and Yahoo! widgets deliver most of the Vista-like appearance and gadget functionalities, the additional start menu enhancement adds a finishing touch to it.

Frix QuickRes is a handy tool, that allows you to quickly switch between 2 desktop resolutions by simply double-clicking on the system tray icon. You can also use the program to access the regular display settings, and to launch WinDVD or PowerDVD (if installed) from the tray menu.

Zoom Tool enables you to zoom in on any area under your mouse cursor. It offers multiple zoom levels and the ability to copy the zoomed the magnified area to the clipboard or save it in BMP, PNG, GIF or JPG format. You can also use the program to open image files for zooming, and paste images from the clipboard into the viewport. In addition to the zoom functionalities, the program also includes a color picker function that lets you grab the color code for a selected color on the desktop. The program offers several keyboard shortcuts that allow you to increase the zoom factor, grab a color, freeze the viewport and other functions.

RK Launcher is a visually pleasing replacement for the Windows taskbar, that closely resembles the MacIntosh taskbar with full color icons and mouseover animation effects (zooming). It automatically keeps track of minimized Windows and newly installed programs, and also functions as an application launcher that you can use to launch your favorite programs by simply dragging them onto the taskbar. Advanced users can fully customize the appearance via configuration files.

QuickFind allows you to quickly find shortcuts entries that are located somewhere in your Start menu, on the desktop, in your IE Favorites or Recently Used Files list. All you have to do is start typing the name, and it will instantly display a list of matches. You can click on the item to launch it. In addition, you can also create new shortcuts or autorun entries from a selected item, find broken shortcuts, and create a list of favorites for direct access. QuickFind runs in the system tray.