A good, fast launcher for WM?
 

I've been looking everywhere and I can't believe no one has made a simple launcher for WM.

I am talking about a super lightweight, single-keystroke launcher that can be used to launch one of several often used apps. Kind of like the OSX dock does, or the quicklaunch bar in Windows.

The WM start menu only holds 7 items for some unknown reason. These are the only apps you have fast direct access to. Otherwise, you have to go to programs and find what you're looking for, which is not so easy when you have dozens and dozens of apps in there.

On PalmOS, there is a great app called Scrnbtn. It's a super fast launcher where you can configure any number of pages to hold any number of icons. From any app, you press one key, and the launcher comes up instantly, you press the icon of the app you want, and off you go, in a single action and with a single finger. It's very similar to the way the iPhone works as well: press the home button, and choose your app with your finger.

Some people use the Today screen for this (with one of the many apps that offer Today screen launchers), but it's just not ideal - it's generally slower than it should be, you have to switch to it before you can launch, and eats lots of screen real estate that is better suited for information readouts.

My dream would be for something to replace the Start menu in WM: pressing the Windows key instantly summons a lightweight (maybe full screen) configurable launcher that lets you hit one icon and gets out of the way immediately. It would have to support custom icon sizes and arrangements. Supporting speed dials would be a huge plus. Hell, it could even include a small task manager and multiple categories, like Scrnbtn and other POS apps do.

I find this way of interacting with a device much faster and friendlier than the "programs" window, and would leave the Today screen free to show all the info you want: weather, mail, appointments, feeds, search, etc.

The closest thing I've found on WM is PocketLauncher by conduits, but it's not very good. It's a bit buggy, way more difficult to customize than anything should be, and for some reason refuses to remember some settings. It's also $10 which would be ok if it was freakin' great but it's merely acceptable.

Anyway, just wanted to put this rant out there, maybe there's cool info to share in the PPCGeeks community about this.

spb mobile shell has that

i use claunch for WM5 which works well. but claunch does not support WM6 well. i don't wanna go back to spb plus or such stuff. i am still looking for one for wm6.

I think a good fast launcher, real fast, no frills but looks like regular windows is Small Menu Plus.

http://tillanosoft.com/ce/smenu.html

search for an app called handylauncher

Also search for iLauncher, it has some other great features I can't live without. :)

i use Wisbar Advance Desktop

Its all about 'WM5 New Menu', check it out, I think its about as lightweight as you can get.

The smallest yet out performs much larger launcher's is:

http://www.scottandmichelle.net/scott/cestuff.html

Launcher is a Today screen add-on for PocketPC's. It adds an icon bar, much like Windows's Quick Launch bar. You can place as many applications (screen space permitting) to it's list as you wish simply by copying link files into the Launcher folder, and launch the applications with one tap.

ILauncher gets my vote, less footprint than SPB.

Another iLauncher vote here. Not necessarily the smallest, but it does everything I want.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I like iLauncher as a program, but I don't want to use Today screen space on a launcher. It's a waste of prime display space in my opinion, especially on my little Treo 700wx screen. I want to have calendar, email, messaging, alarm, weather, speed dials, etc. there, not half of my screen for static items like program icons.

If I could launch a separate screen containing iLauncher by itself, than THAT would be awesome.

spb Shell's launcher is ok but I don't want to run the shell itself - I don't care for the idea and I like the way my phone works now without it...

All the other launchers - newmenu, smallmenu, etc. - are ok but not really finger friendly. You have to read the items and scroll to them with the dpad.

I guess I'll keep waiting for someone to write a really nice launcher :)

have you looked at rlToday?

Make you own today screen the way you want it.

http://rotlaus-software.de/

Or check out pBar. I've attached the zip to this post. It resides in your top menu (little icon appears right next to the time in upper right corner of screen). It's not d-pad activated but you can navigate through it once you open it with your stylus. You get to select which programs it opens. A number of other cool features too.

Check it out!

late,
Coz

Looks like you would want to use SBSH PocketBreeze, SPB Mobile Shell, or SPB Diary to save space and incorporate all of those plugins.

Has anyone here even tried SmallMenuPlus? It gives you the feel of real windows on your Treo. It can be used with the Start Key on the device, and if you make folders in Explorer it can even look exactly like Windows with Start, Programs, Etc.... Give it a look if you've never used it, they have a trial period. I've been using it for 4 months not a hitch, works perfectly.

http://tillanosoft.com/ce/smenu.html

I really like SmallMenu and have used it for years.

But I have to say SPB Mobile Shell is much better.

To the OP: you don't have to run the today plugin or the startup screen when you use SPB MS, you can just run it as a Today menu. I find it hands down the most logical and easiest way to launch apps and it's very fast, with no slow downs.

I can't really even use WM Smartphone anymore since there is nothing similar.