WinLaunch: Get Launchpad on Windows

A Return to the Apple Ecosystem: Discovering WinLaunch

Allow me to share a personal note. My experience with Macintosh computers dates back to the 1990s, but I haven’t regularly used one for over fifteen years.

Interestingly, I was an early adopter, utilizing a mouse-driven interface while many peers were still navigating DOS. However, my primary computing devices have since shifted to iPhones, iPads, and iPods.

Introducing Launchpad and the Desire for Similar Functionality

Despite my distance from the Mac environment, I’ve become aware of Launchpad. This is a feature native to Mac OSX designed to streamline application launching with an emphasis on visual appeal.

Having found application launching on my iPad to be exceptionally convenient, I began seeking a comparable solution for my Windows operating system.

WinLaunch: Bringing a Mac-Like Experience to Windows

If you, too, are interested in customizing the aesthetic and functionality of your Windows PC, perhaps to emulate aspects of the Macintosh experience, WinLaunch is a tool worth exploring.

It offers a way to modify your Windows interface and introduce features reminiscent of the Mac environment.

Introducing WinLaunch

WinLaunch is designed as a program launcher for Windows operating systems including XP, Vista, and 7. Its primary goal is to replicate the user experience of Apple’s Launchpad interface. Begin by downloading the WinLaunch software, then locate and open the downloaded zip archive.

Extract the folder corresponding to your specific system architecture – either x86 or x64. Following extraction, execute the WinLaunch.exe file to initiate the application.

Initially, the application may appear inactive. Upon the first execution, a notification window will inform you of current limitations and known issues, as WinLaunch is still under beta development.

To activate WinLaunch for the initial launch, simultaneously press the Shift and Tab keys on your keyboard.

The screen will briefly become blurred, and a message will be displayed. It’s important to note that WinLaunch does not automatically scan your system for installed applications.

Instead, you must manually add the applications you wish to include. Press the ‘F’ key to enter application adding mode, and then drag and drop the desired application icons into the WinLaunch interface.

This constitutes the fundamental operation of WinLaunch. You are able to add an unlimited number of applications.

When the current screen becomes full, WinLaunch will automatically generate additional pages to accommodate further applications. Navigation between these pages is achieved by left-clicking the mouse and sliding it across the screen, mirroring the gesture-based navigation of a touchscreen device.

Let's now explore the additional functionalities available within WinLaunch.

Organizing Applications with Folders and Renaming in WinLaunch

WinLaunch provides a folder creation experience mirroring that found on Apple operating systems. To create a new folder, simply drag one application icon onto another after adding your applications to the interface.

This action will automatically generate a folder, into which additional applications can be added as needed.

Renaming Folders and Applications

To modify the name of a folder, or to alter an application’s title, initiate the process by clicking the plus sign located in the bottom left corner of the WinLaunch window.

Subsequently, select the “Rename” button at the screen’s base, and then click directly on the icon or folder you wish to rename.

This functionality allows for the assignment of more informative names to folders, and the correction of any application titles that may be undesirable.

Accessing and Launching Applications

Folders can be opened with a single click. Once a folder is open, any application contained within it can be launched by clicking its respective icon.

WinLaunch streamlines application organization and access, offering a user experience comparable to Apple’s Launchpad.

Customizing Your WinLaunch Experience

WinLaunch offers a significant degree of customization, allowing users to tailor the application to their specific preferences. Access to these settings is gained by clicking the “Settings” button located at the screen’s bottom edge.

Within the settings panel, you have the ability to enable or disable hotkeys and HotCorners. These features determine the methods by which WinLaunch is activated. Remember the configurations you establish here, as they will dictate the sole means of initiating the program.

I personally discovered that utilizing a hot corner proved highly effective, serving as a convenient toggle for both enabling and disabling the application. Selecting the “Show desktop when activated” option prevents WinLaunch from maximizing; conversely, it will launch to occupy the full screen.

Furthermore, adjustments can be made to icon size, text size, and the overall color scheme. Initially, identifying the specific function of each color setting may present a slight challenge, but experimentation quickly clarifies the process.

A selection of pre-designed themes is also available, and users even have the option to upload custom images for the launcher’s background.

Additional customization options include adjustments for multi-monitor setups, allowing you to specify the display on which WinLaunch will appear. However, the most engaging aspect is undoubtedly experimenting with the colors.

As demonstrated in the screenshots, a wide variety of styles and backgrounds can be created, resulting in appearances such as this:

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Or even this (though achieving truly exceptional results may require some artistic talent).

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The possibilities for personalization are extensive. One noted drawback of WinLaunch is its relatively high RAM consumption. During testing, it utilized up to 50MB of RAM even while running in the background.

While this is somewhat considerable, the developer is actively working to address this issue. Beyond this, WinLaunch operates very efficiently, particularly considering its beta status, and quickly integrating its use into your application launching workflow becomes intuitive.

Therefore, if you are seeking improved methods for launching applications within Windows, exploring WinLaunch is highly recommended!

Do you know of other Launchpad alternatives, or innovative approaches to launching applications in Windows 7? Please share your insights in the comments section below!