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Monday, November 15, 2004

Desktop Chaos?
Apparently you won't have to wait for Loggerhead, er, Longhorn if you want desktop management. Blinkx has just released V. 2.0 beta of its Smart Folder software. Yeah, I know, most of you guys aren't hot for software stuff. Neither am I. But you know what, sometimes you can get so busy stuffing and yanking hardware that you can forget to put other stuff back where it belongs --and then forget where you put it at all. I'm not saying this is the end-all and be-all of desktop management (it also works over the Web --and yes, it supposedly works with FireFox), but when you're in a canoe with no oars, even 1 oar is a marked improvement.

Late breaking news: Cyrus the Intern (the "C" in A&B+C&T) says SmartBarXP is a better option for you leghorn, er, longhorn can't wait wannbees.
# Permalink Posted at 6:52 PM 7 comments Email this Link

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Thats a nifty program, but for me, all I wanted was a desktop sidebar emulating the one included with Longhorn. I found SmartBarXP, and it was brilliant, its highly customizable, and even very useful. Check it out at www.smartbarxp.com If you want info on other "easy" ways to get longhorn now, either pick up your October issue of Maximum PC (pg 37) or email me at cyrus.artz@aliceandbill.com for my picks.

# posted by Cyrus 7:09 PM

Bill,

I've been using Blinkx ever since they first came out and have been extremely satisfied. In fact, for all Microsoft products (including Outlook & Outlook Express), I've stopped using the "Find" command in the separate applications!

Additionally, Blinkx claims they do a 'concept' search instead of just a keyword search. Whatever it is they do, it's extremely useful!

abhijit. (Link to my blog)

# posted by abhijit 8:59 AM

Samurize allows one to create many different widgets, including the ability to arrange them to resemble the Longhorn sidebar.
http://www.samurize.com

# posted by Anonymous 9:01 AM

also check out "copernic desktop search" - not a side bar thingy but a great desktop search (very much like blinkx but better IMO.

# posted by Anonymous 2:57 PM

I think I have to answer some confusion as to what SmartBarXP really is. It is not a desktop search program, instead it is a fully customizable sidebar. It is customizable in any number of colors, as well as "translucent" to any degree you wish. It can be configured to display interactive panels known as 'panes'. These panes include media players, slideshow and image viewing panes, a virtual desktop manager, and live news, weather and stock feeds to mention but a few. The panes can be repositioned on the bar, and scrolled if the bar becomes too full. The bar can also be host to extra sections, which include a recycle bin, explorer shortcuts, and taskbar replacement sections (start button, taskbar buttons and system tray sections). My favorite 'pane' by far is the quick launch area, I have icons for as many programs as I want, and even a button to return the to desktop, so I don´t need to minimize everything. For screenshots, just Google Image Search "SmartBarXP" for a host of different shots.

Again, this bar is not desktop search (or "Database style" file allocation like winFS (www.dtsearch.com)), but is an emulator of the Sidebar that will be a major feature of LH.

www.smartbarxp.com

# posted by Cyrus 3:06 PM

I agree with abhijit. blinkx is useful. At the moment I mostly use it to find things on my desktop but am starting to try its suggestions more often when I’m on the web as well and the smart folders are an extremely cool addition. Go on guys, make my search even easier!

# posted by francine 5:25 PM

I downloaded blinkx a few days ago and am very impressed with the tool. It is better than all of the other ones i downloaded. it searches for me! I am just so excited about the possiblity of this. I can use it for everything i do, smart folders are great

# posted by Harry 12:06 PM

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