Easy Desktop Navigation

Being a mostly Mac user, I’ve become used to the functionality and convenience of OS X’s Expose program and its ability to display an overview of all windows with a single key push or just hide everything that’s on your desktop. Not that I have anything to hide, but pushing that F11 button has come in handy for me several times. I’ve used it to clear everything off the desktop to get to something quickly and to conceal what I’m doing from nosy people looking over my shoulder.

TopDesk 1.4.1 from Otaku Software has given you the possibility for a Windows machine to mimic these same Expose-like functionalities. It gives you a quick and easy way to switch between applications. With a single key press, you can instantly view thumbnails of all open windows, display thumbnails of windows belonging to the current application, or hide all windows to quickly access the desktop. The thumbnails can be viewed in 2D and 3D views.

You can use the hot keys to navigate your way around. By default, F9 will tile all windows, including minimized windows, F9+Shift tiles all visible windows and F10 tiles all windows belonging to the current application. F11 hides all visible windows, which is my favorite function. Or if you wish you can personalize your keys.

TopDesk actions can also be activated by moving the mouse over a mouse hotspot. Each mouse hotspot can be assigned a different TopDesk action or be disabled. It can also be operated with floating buttons. These buttons float above all other applications and allow TopDesk actions to be activated by a single mouse or TabletPC pen. If you’re a dual (or multiple) monitor user, TopDesk is supported with it.

A side note: if you want to keep an ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) friend busy, this is the perfect thing to put on their computer, as I well learned when reviewing this software. It’ll keep ‘em occupied for hours.

Go to www.otakusoftware.com/topdesk to download TopDesk 1.4.1. It’s $9.95 to purchase or there’s a free 30-day trial version available.