Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Speed Launch from Office Labs - Your applications, web pages, documents and searches are just a Windows+C away

Microsoft Office Labs - Project: Speed Launch

speedLaunchSplash SpeedLaunchLauncherII

"This is the first community prototype from Office Labs. Community prototypes are projects Microsoft employees work on in their spare time. Speed Launch's goal is to let you get to the stuff you use faster and with less frustration.

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Project: Speed Launch - Speed Launch - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers 

"...

Why do I need Speed Launch?
Work faster and with less frustration. Speed Launch gives you lightning quick access to all the documents, files, and websites you use often. In the past when you used something a lot you might have created a desktop shortcut, added it to your IE favorites, or placed it on your quick launch bar. Speed Launch allows you to create centralized shortcuts to all the stuff you need and allows you to access them effortlessly.

What is Speed Launch?
Speed Launch is an application launcher that extends the functionality and usability of Microsoft Windows. With Speed Launch, users can select their own words to open frequently used websites, documents, and applications. The most compelling feature of Speed launch is the use of a drag and drop interaction model to make this advanced functionality more intuitive to novice computer users.

How is it used? How does it work with Windows?
Speed Launch is a downloadable program available at www.officelabs.com After you've download Speed Launch, simply drag the file, document, or website url onto the Speed Launch bull's-eye to create a Speed Launch shortcut. From then on, any time you need to access that file, document, or website, just hit "Windows+C", type the shortcut name, and what you need will immediately appear.

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Seems like an interesting utility. Sounds like kind of like SlickRun?

Installs easily (Vista x86) and seems to work great (even on my lower-end notebook). I like how very easy it is to add new shortcuts. Hard to beat drag-n-drop ;)

(via The Road to Know Where - Microsoft Releases Windows "Speed Launch" - Quick Access Application Launcher)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes but it uses 30MB of memory for this "simple" task.

Greg said...

On my system it's current only using 13mb (13,288kb) which is about what Live Messenger is using, a third of what Twirl is using, etc...

Anonymous said...

Actually reminds me more of Direct Access than Slick Run. Even has the hub in the corner.