Archive for April, 2008
Posted by: Barry Cleave in Portable Freeware, tags: File Manager, Freeware, Programs, Software, Utilities, Windows, Windows Explorer, Windows Server, WIndows Vista, Windows XP
Q-Dir is a multi-pane file explorer and manager based around the MS Windows Explorer core functionality and then has a lot of extra bells and whistles thrown in.
A ProReviewer Mini-me Review
This is an overview of the program and not a more detailed review
What Is It?
Q-Dir is a file explorer/file manager and acts as a replacement or alternative to Windows Explorer. It provides a single to multi-pane environment to work in and has the look and feel of Windows Explore plus many useful additions. It has a lot of useful functions built in and makes clever use of Explorer context menus built into the main menu bar which provides extra functions dependant on what additional software is installed and how it has been set up.
Why Would You Want It?
File and data management are two of the key elements of personal computing after the use of individual applications that generally create the files and manipulate the data. A really good, intuitive and easy to use program for this work is an absolute essential. Unfortunately Microsoft have never provide the tool for the job.
From my own point of view I have been trying different file managers for several years, always looking for an application that lives up to my requirements and expectations., In all that time I have yet to find the perfect solution, Q-Dir still falls short of the mark but is certainly one of the best implementations I have come across in quite a while. I have tried all the popular and highly rated freeware file mangers, most are quite good but none meet my needs in full.
As a quick idea of the essential items I am looking for the following list gives a good idea:
- Simple and Intuitive to use
- Windows Explorer look and feel (in part)
- Two (or more) panes (or tab implementation for drag and drop etc.)
- Good menus/context menus/toolbars
- File name filtering (Auto)
- User or task Profiles
- Robust file handling (Move/Copy/Paste/Delete)
What Does It Do – The Essentials?
Summary:
- Windows Explore Replacement
- Multi Pane Views
- Treeviews or substitute Dropdowns
- Colour coding of file types in display (User changeable)
- Handles
Pros: What’s Good?
(more…)
Popularity: 39% [?]
 22 Comments »
Posted by: Barry Cleave in Freeware, tags: Freeware, Hotkeys, Programs, Shortcuts, Software, Utilities, Windows, Windows Server, WIndows Vista, Windows XP
What Is It?
Qliner Hotkeys provides a very intuitive and easy way to add and view existing hotkeys using the Windows Key
It is cleverly implemented, visually attractive and has lots of options for setting up new hotkeys including the ability to drag and drop programs onto the keyboard with automatic assignment of the program icon.
Why Would You Want It?
If you like to use Windows hotkeys or just would like to use them more but can’t remember where they are assigned then this is the program for you.
What Does It Do – The Essentials?
Summary:
- Displays the existing hotkey assignments
- Allows new hotkeys to be set
- Allows existing hotkeys to be moved
- Allows certain properties to be changed
- Handles multiple instances of a program
- Has additional tools (Screens Capture & ZIP Utility to add on)
Pros: What’s Good?
(more…)
Popularity: 19% [?]
1 Comment »
What Is It?
Display Tuner is a simple and easy to use utility to change the basic colour and geometry settings of your primary monitor. It also allows the volume settings of the monitor audio system (if you have monitor speakers and microphone) to be changed for both the speakers and microphone. Individual profiles can be set for different situations which are easily changed by user defined hotkeys.
Why Would You Want It?
Display Tuner provides a simple and one-stop shop for changing the settings on different manufacturers monitors. While graphics card and monitor manufacturers distribute software for specific makes and models they are generally limited to their own specific items.
What Does It Do – The Essentials?
Summary:
- Changes colour controls – red, green, blue
- Changes Brightness and Contrast
- Changes Horizontal and Vertical size
- Changes Horizontal and Vertical position
- Changes Monitor Speaker and Microphone Volume
- Allows user profiles to be set
Pros: What’s Good?
(more…)
Popularity: 18% [?]
2 Comments »
Posted by: Barry Cleave in Portable Freeware, tags: Freeware, Portable Application, Portable Freeware, PortableApps, Process Monitor, Programs, Software, Utilities, Windows, Windows XP
What Is It?
WatchDOG monitors active processes and performs a restart of that process if it is stopped or alternatively starts a different process.
Why Would You Want It?
Have you ever wished you could automatically restart an application if it crashes or is accidentally closed? Or have you ever needed to start a process when another finishes. WatchDOG is a small application that will do this for you in a simple, convenient and user friendly way.
What Does It Do – The Essentials?
Summary:
- Monitors all active programs/processes
- Starts a defined process when another stops OR
- Restarts the stopped process
Pros: What’s Good?
(more…)
Popularity: 29% [?]
4 Comments »
When an application crashes Windows presents you with the option of sending an error report to Microsoft. If the system has become unstable for some reason or a particular program keeps crashing then this can be particularly annoying. Or maybe, like me, you just never send error reports in anyway. They must already be getting millions so why do they need morel. I say "Microsoft, do something with the ones you’ve got!"
Well you can disable or choose which programs will show the error report dialog, here’s how:
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Popularity: 14% [?]
9 Comments »
Applications in Windows have a nasty habit of stealing focus from the program you are currently using. Generally this is because the default registry settings have been overwritten by a program installation. It is quite easy to change the settings back to the default either by editing the registry or by using a “Tweak” program such as Microsoft’s TweakUI. This problem has recently been driving me mad, I am not a touch typist so tend to spend a lot of time looking at the keyboard while typing. So, every time a program steals focus I loose the work I am typing and sometimes make changes to the program that stole the focus.
UPDATE – Also see this post DeskPins – Help to Stop Other Windows Stealing Focus
To change settings install TweakUI from here:
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Popularity: 48% [?]
22 Comments »
What Is It?
A Firefox Add-on that provides a simple RSS Reader based on Firefox Live Bookmarks contained in any bookmarks folder.
Why Would You Want It?
Provides a quick and easy way to read your Firefox Live Bookmarks RSS feeds from within your favourite browser and make full use of Firefox tabbed browsing and other add-ons to read pages in tabs, save pages, save sessions, etc.
What Does It Do – The Essentials?
Summary:
- Displays Live Bookmarks in a simple interface
Pros: What’s Good?
(more…)
Popularity: 19% [?]
5 Comments »
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