XLaunchpad

Chances are that you use the Start menu or shortcuts on your desktop to launch your favorite applications, to access the files you work with the most, and to access different system features. With XLaunchpad, a charming and quite handy app launcher, you can forget about the Start menu and regular old desktop shortcuts. This application takes over and displays good looking shortcuts for your files, folders, applications, music, pictures, control panel, recycle bin, and more. You can, of course, put the shortcuts you want on top of XLaunchpad and you can arrange them as you see fit.

The XLaunchpad installation file is inside a 3.9MB archive. Extract the contents of the archive, run the installation file inside, and then follow the instructions presented by the setup wizard. Pay attention during the installation as you will be asked if you want to set Xwidget as your homepage and if you want to install the Babylon Toolbar. Make sure to opt out if you don’t want these. XLaunchpad can be installed on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

When you launch XLaunchpad, besides the icon in the system tray, you will notice that whatever shortcuts you have on your desktop disappear and a set of beautiful, large icons show up instead in the upper part of the monitor. These are the default shortcuts XLaunchpad displays; shortcuts for My Computer, Control Panel, Shut Down, and more. Please note that the shortcuts span across two virtual desktops; use the arrow keys to switch between them.

There are several ways to launch XLaunchpad: you can click the icon in the system tray, you can right click anywhere on the screen and pick the XLaunchpad option from the context menu, you can use a hotkey (F12 is the default), or you can use a hot screen corner (the default is the upper left hand corner). You can change the default hotkey and default hot screen corner from the Settings menu which you can access by right clicking the screen while XLaunchpad is running or by right clicking the system tray icon.

To add a new shortcut to XLaunchpad, just right click the desktop and select the adequate option from the Add menu. Please note that to add a file and to add an application, you need to access the same Add File option. You can also edit the way the shortcuts are arranged. By default the Auto Arrange Icons option is enabled; uncheck it from the View right click menu and you’ll be able to drag and drop the shortcuts as you see fit. Alternatively, you can use the Edit Mode option from the View menu; if you’re familiar with Mac and iOS, you’ll be amused to see that the shortcuts start to shake. From the Settings menu you can play with some more advanced layout options.

To make sure you don’t constantly switch between your regular desktop and the XLaunchpad desktop, I suggest you enable the Desk Mode option.

Xwidget brings a distinct Mac feel and a visually appealing experience to Windows PCs. It provides a handy means of accessing your applications, files, folders, and system features.