8start Launcher is a free application launcher. I have always wanted a launcher program that is non-intrusive, doesn’t take time to load and also doesn’t clutter the desktop. Too many shortcuts on the desktop make the system slightly slower, too many programs in the start menu leads to longer time for the start menu to load and quick launch is not equipped to handle a lot of shortcuts unless you want to have a taskbar three times the size of a normal taskbar.
There are lots of application launchers around and any download site will give you a few good ones. I liked Slideslide, Rocketdock and Objectdock, but was finding them intrusive as they would show up every now and then when the mouse goes near the edges on the right hand side of my screen. The advantage of having an application that sits on the side of the screen is that it can be faster, but the disadvantage is that it can become intrusive. I should start trying the launchers which are keyboard based, but I am not too worried about any degradation in system performance by running another graphical application at this moment. So, for now I am sticking with 8start.
8start launcher is a portable application launcher which helps you remove the clutter from the desktop and also ensures that you have quick access to all the applications you want. It doesn’t sit on the desktop like some of the other launchers, but is launched using Middle Click or from the system tray. In that aspect, it might be slightly slower compared to some of the other applications, but as far as access to applications is concerned it is really quick.
On the left is a picture of the 8start launcher. Launching applications is intuitive once you have done the initial setup. It offers Categorization of the application and you can also put them into groups. It doesn’t limit the number of applications that can be added, but I prefer to keep the row size at 5 icons as anything more than that becomes difficult to handle from a usability perspective.
Put the applications that you use most near the centre of the launcher. This can save you time if you invoke the launcher using the middle-click of the mouse.
This is the configuration window of the 8start launcher. At first, it might be confusing, but play around a little bit and it becomes very easy to add applications. It offers the facility to add Groups, Categories and Applications. You can select which Group and Category each and every application should fall. You can also have folder shortcuts under the categories. By default it starts with My Computer group showing the C and D drivers for launch.
8start launcher also offers the facility to launch the application in different ways. You can either use ‘Double Click/Hold the middle button’ or ‘Single Click’ or Hotkeys to launch this application. I found the ‘Holding the middle button’ to be the most useful method as it required least effort to launch. There are a couple of more settings, but you can leave it to default.
You can also change the Skin of the launcher. Personally, I have found the default skin to be the best so far. I use 8start Black Glass skin. The Vista skin looks decent, but my preference is still with the default.
The complete list of features: (taken from 8start.com)
- Organize shortcuts into groups and categories
- Accessed by system tray, hotkey and middle mouse
- Create and manage buttons fast and easy. Shortcuts, URL favorites, files, folder, and application link can be defined easily
- Launch applications and files fast and intuitive
- Keeps the desktop clean, no more shortcuts block the view of your wallpaper
- Portable with relative path defined supported, can be run in flash drive or install in harddisk.
- Show program name / description when mouse over the icon
- Quick access to the drive content by click the drive letter
- Changeable skin with transparency png format supported, 30+ beautiful skins available for download
- Able to use picture files .jpg, .png, .ico, .bmp, .gif as button icon
- Individual customizable button style. Link to the application, favorite documents, music files, folders…. intuitively by apply the most suitable style
- Auto download website favicon to local for URL type button. URL icon still available if the Internet cached have been deleted.
- Launcher auto shrink to fit number of icons
- Whole new concept of launching your applications and files
- Run on Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista
8start Launcher (File size is around 520Kb)
I will write about other application launchers that I have tried in a few days.
What a great launcher! I download a lot of applications, and being able to have them so well organized is worth more than I can say. 8start Launcher is by far the best thing I’ve downloaded for use with my PC since I started using Vista last October. And it all comes in a beautiful package. Very highly recommended!
ITs Very Good
It is wonderful. I was looking for this kind of application for a long time